Tottenham Hotspur recorded a Champions League Wembley win against CSKA Moscow, to qualify for the Europa League. We rate Mauricio Pochettino’s players in their dominating performance and 3-1 victory.
GK: Hugo Lloris (7.0/10.0) – For the game’s opening goal, the French international remained on his line to provide Alan Dzagoev with even more space than Eric Dier was already giving the CSKA scorer. Aside from Dzagoev’s strike, Lloris coped with what little he faced for the remainder of the encounter.
RB: Kyle Walker (8.0) – A typically attacking display from Walker – who dominated the right hand side in tandem with Christian Eriksen. Walker supplied Harry Kane and Dele Alli with superb opportunities to open the scoring during the one-sided opening period.
CB: Eric Dier (6.0) – Caught ball watching for Dzagoev’s goal after half-an-hour, allowing the Russian forward to run untracked whilst Dier dragged himself towards the ball. Appeared far more comfortable upon being moved to his holding midfield role following Toby Alderweireld’s introduction.
CB: Jan Vertonghen (6.0) – Remained statuesque after losing an aerial challenge with Dzagoev in the lead up to the game’s opener. Looks far more confident alongside usual partner Alderweireld, compared to his pairing with Dier.
LB: Danny Rose (7.5) – Energy and determination along Spurs’ left side, but Rose’s final ball let him down on too many first half occasions – until a well executed cross goal ball to set Harry Kane to score Spurs’ second goal.
CM: Victor Wanyama (5.5) – In the line-up to provide the shield for Vertonghen and Dier, the Kenyan midfielder vacated space with regularity – rendering him far less successful in his role than he should have been. His poor positioning for CSKA’s goal typified Wanyama’s disappointing display. Subsequently replaced by the returning Alderweireld (7.0) before the 70th minute.
CM: Harry Winks (7.5) – Kept the ball moving through the central areas, without making too much of an impact on the game. Acted as an impressive link between defence and main creator Eriksen, in addition to showing more energy and combativeness than Wanyama.
AM: Christian Eriksen (9.0) – Deployed in an inside right role, Eriksen enjoyed plenty of ball and delivered numerous quality supplies to Dele Alli and Harry Kane in particular. Eriksen’s accurate cross provided Alli with Spurs’ equalising goal and a marvellous ball through to Rose led to Kane’s goal just before half time. Spurs’ best player, Eriksen consistently pulled the strings throughout.
AM: Dele Alli (8.5) – Should have scored as early as the seventh minute, in the form of a wide headed attempt from an Eriksen delivery. Alli also missed a fantastic chance to score on the 23rd minute, scuffing a shot when facing Akinfeev. However, the 20-year-old showed his quality on 38 minutes when converting the equaliser with an excellent touch and finish. Contributed to Tottenham’s third, via a headed effort from a Kane cross.
AM: Son Heung-Min (6.5) – Involved in the impressive start from Spurs, notably testing Akinfeev in the early stages – but the South Korean forward experienced a quieter game on the whole. Replaced by the enthusiastic Georges-Kevin N’Koudou (7.0) on the hour mark.
FW: Harry Kane (8.5) – Scored his seventh goal in six games since a return from injury, to give Spurs a 2-1 lead at half time. Kane’s movement was outstanding throughout his Wembley display – as the England forward led the line with great effect. Kane assisted Spurs’ third with an accurate delivery to Alli. Replaced by Joshua Onomah (6.0) for the closing stages.
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