Wednesday 18 October 2017

Real Madrid 1 Tottenham 1: Mauricio Pochettino’s men claim famous Champions League point

HARRY KANE missed a golden chance to end Real Madrid’s incredible Champions League home run but still claimed a  famous draw.
Both sides had their chances to win this thriller at the Bernabeu after Cristiano Ronaldo’s first half penalty cancelled out Raphael Varane’s own goal opener. Kane’s big moment came in the 71st minute when Fernando Llorente’s pass found him unmarked in the box with only keeper Keylor Navas to beat.
But Navas managed to get a fingertip to the England striker’s shot to divert it away for a corner.
Christian Eriksen was then denied by keeper as Tottenham were by no means outclassed in their Group H showdown.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino sprang a selection surprise by starting Llorente up front with Kane. But they had a let-off in the third minute when Ronaldo headed against the post and Karim Benzema skewed the rebound wide.
Ronaldo then dragged a diagonal shot just wide of Hugo Lloris’ far post after Modric and Benzema has carved the Tottenham defence and midfield apart with a slick passing move.
But the Spaniards were indebted to keeper Navas for keeping the scores level in the 18th minute when he did well to turn over Kane’s header from Christian Eriksen corner.
Spurs then felt they should have been awarded a penalty two minutes later Llorente was brought down in the box by Casemiro. But Polish ref Szymon Marciniak was having none of it and waved play on. You could not help feeling had it been Ronaldo fouled it would have been given.
Tottenham, incredibly went in front when Serge Aurier whipped the ball into the six-yard box where Kane was arriving with usual predatory fashion.
At first glance from inside the stadium it appeared the England striker had added another stunning back-heeled goal to his collection. But replay showed that in fact it was his marker Verane who had turned the ball into his own net to put Tottenham 1-0 up with 28 minutes played.
Aurier then nearly added a second with a 25-yard drive Navas tipped behind for a corner.
While at the other end, Lloris produced a fine save to keep out a close-range shot from Isco. But there was nothing the France keeper could do about the equaliser after Real were awarded a 43rd minute penalty when Aurier brought down Toni Kroos and Ronaldo sent Lloris the wrong way from the spot.
Lloris kept Tottenham level with two world-class stops.
First he somehow blocked Benzema’s 55th minute header with his legs – before he spectacularly tipped over a shot from Ronaldo eight minutes later.
This draw keeps both teams unbeaten in Group H where Tottenham remain top on goal difference above Zinedine Zidane’s stars.
From The Sun

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