Spurs march on thanks to Kane, again

Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the first goal for Tottenham. Photo: Peter Cziborra

Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the first goal for Tottenham. Photo: Peter Cziborra

Published Nov 27, 2015

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London - They huffed and puffed but for 78 minutes in the City of Wind Tottenham were not going anywhere. Then Harry Kane turned up, did what he does so often and off they went, sails full and into the knockout stage of the Europa League.

The Group J table might suggest it was easy, done with a home game against Monaco to spare. But the truth is Tottenham have flattered to deceive at times in this competition, fielding strong teams yet making hard work of their assignments away from home.

This game was no different, with manager Mauricio Pochettino apparently chancing the domestic matter of Chelsea at home on Sunday by loading his aces for a continental fixture 3 000 miles away in Azerbaijan.

His frustration was clear in those moments he spent pacing when it looked as though Qarabag would take a point.But up stepped Kane, that wonderful striker who is a prime target for Chelsea and in form good enough for anyone. His winning header was scruffy, a nudge into the net from one yard. But who cares when his current tally stands at nine goals in six games and 10 for the season?

Tottenham are not light on talent, but in the nuts-and-bolts business of scoring he is the man who puts it all together. Spurs are already moving to improve the terms of the contract he signed at the start of the year and Pochettino, for one, is convinced Kane will follow the lead of Hugo Lloris in snubbing the affections of a bigger club.

‘I am happy that a big club want our player. This is because it shows they are a top player with top performances,’ Pochettino said. ‘It is good when they are linked. But Harry, like Hugo, wants to stay here. He is one of the best players and he is very happy. ‘He wants to grow up with us and try the next few years for the top four and win titles with Tottenham. This is his challenge.’

It is some challenge, but Tottenham are a club gaining momentum, with growing ambitions both at home and abroad. If there is a danger, though, it is that the progress they made here might come at the expense of matters in London.

The risk in this instance was clear, with only Danny Rose, Kyle Walker and Mousa Dembele granted a rest ahead of the Chelsea game. All the men that might need a break, like Kane and Christian Eriksen, were on from the start. With a six-hour flight home and Friday scheduled for a day off, that leaves only one day to prepare to face the champions.

Pochettino said: ‘The objective to qualify in the Europa League is done. Now we will make sure we will arrive in a good condition to play Chelsea. We have a strong squad and a strong mentality. It is true we arrive maybe not in the best condition to compete in the right way but respect to our medical staff for what they do, they will work during the flight and on Friday we have a day off.

On Saturday we will assess.’ A good result conceals many issues, but his assessments will surely include how such a strong Tottenham side made extremely hard work of this fixture. The first half was woefully dull, 45 minutes stuck to a rigid template of Tottenham attacking and Qarabag dipping the occasional toe outside their half for a counter. That ploy generated the best opportunity of the half but, on the whole, Tottenham were more dangerous, even if they were about as far from impressive as they were from home.

Ryan Mason had two efforts from distance inside the opening eight minutes, but they amounted to nothing. Likewise, Dele Alli’s foraging from a more advanced position than normal, with his clearest chance a dreadful slice from 10 yards after good work from Son Heung-min, who for a time was Tottenham’s only lively player.

Qarabag, meanwhile, were offering and trying precious little until they almost sucker-punched Spurs with the final attack of the half. Tottenham had packed the home area for a corner but after clearing to Afran Ismayilov, they suddenly had to defend a two-on-one situation, with Jan Vertonghen outnumbered.

Ismayilov took the centre half out of play with a pass right to Dani Quintana, but Qarabag’s playmaker made a hash of shooting from the right instead of squaring back to Ismayilov, who was free in the middle. Lloris saved; Pochettino shook his head on the sidelines.That moment could have turned this tie. But instead Tottenham improved after the second half, with Alli hitting the post, Son struck against the bar and Kane, for so long starved of space, drew a good save.

Qarabag tired and Tottenham, one of the fittest teams around, did not. By the time Kane nodded the winner, Spurs had taken 23 shots to Qarabag’s six. ‘It was a massive effort and an important result,’ said Pochettino. ‘I’m very happy.’ With that, Tottenham move on. Their challenge now is to ensure Kane does not do the same.

@riathalsam

Daily Mail

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