LONDON • On June 1, Tottenham have a shot at the ultimate prize.
If they overcome Liverpool in their first Champions League final, there will surely be statues erected, not just for Lucas Moura, but for all the players and manager Mauricio Pochettino.
As it stands, Brazil forward Moura is in line to have a bust outside their new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium alongside one already planned for Bill Nicholson, the club's most successful manager with eight major trophies, including the 1961 double.
Christian Eriksen led the calls for his teammate to be enshrined after his hat-trick ensured Spurs went through 3-3 on away goals after the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie with Ajax on Wednesday.
Having lost the first leg 1-0, Spurs got off to the worst possible start in Amsterdam, going 2-0 down on the night to goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech.
The reverse leg turned on its head after half-time, however, as Moura scored twice in quick succession before netting a 96th-minute effort to complete his treble - only the fifth player in the competition's history to do so in the semi-final stage.
5th min
AJAX 1-0 (AGGREGATE: AJAX 2-0) An early goal like the first-leg winner by Donny van de Beek. Captain Matthijs de Ligt gets away from Kieran Trippier into the box and outjumps Dele Alli to plant a header that leaves Hugo Lloris rooted.
35th
AJAX 2-0 (AGG: AJAX 3-0) Hakim Ziyech's wicked left-foot curler, set up by Dusan Tadic, comes as Trippier fails to track back after looking for a foul in vain for a Tadic high foot. Game over?
55th
AJAX 2-1 (AGG: AJAX 3-1) Not quite. A sweeping Spurs counter-attack, started by Danny Rose who nutmegs de Ligt, ends up with Lucas Moura reducing the deficit after exchanging passes with Alli. Game on.
59th
2-2 (AGG: AJAX 3-2) A goalkeeper-defender mix-up, created by the hugely influential substitute Fernando Llorente's point-blank effort, allows Moura to make space in a crowded box to set up a grandstand finish.
96th
SPURS 3-2 (AGG: 3-3) As the clock just ticks past the five minutes of added time, Llorente knees the ball to Alli, who lays it off cleverly for the charging Moura to slot into the corner for his hat-trick. Spurs go through on away goals.
The Denmark midfielder Eriksen said of the 26-year-old: "Today it was non-tactical, more of a fight and heart performance and Lucas Moura. He deserves it.
CAST IN STONE
Today it was non-tactical, more of a fight and heart performance and Lucas Moura. He deserves it. It has been a roller-coaster of a season, for him to get us in the final, I hope he gets a statue in England after this.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN, Tottenham midfielder, on Brazilian teammate Lucas Moura.
"It has been a roller-coaster of a season, for him to get us in the final, I hope he gets a statue in England after this. We are blown away."
Ironically, Moura, whose January 2018 arrival remains the last player Spurs have signed, would probably not have started the second leg had injured striker Harry Kane been fit.
But Pochettino has instilled an ethos that "the team is more important than any name".
The Argentinian, who has yet to win a major honour as a manager, can now end the term with the biggest prize in European football.
With the endgame close, Pochettino was understandably in tears, branding Moura a "superhero".
He said: "To have brought the club to the final of the Champions League is very close to a miracle.
"No one believed in us at the beginning of the season, we are so close, almost in the top four and in Madrid, playing the final.
"This amazing season in our new home and this chapter that we are going to close now, to close the chapter playing a final, and if we win, it would be an amazing book."
Pochettino also spoke of "no pain, no gain" in the aftermath - in reference to his five-year stint since arriving from Southampton, a period in which he has fought to establish the club as a top-four force in the Premier League and regulars in the Champions League.
Rival fans have long mocked his team's history of perennial underachievement as "doing a Spurs".
However, that has changed under Pochettino despite the lack of silverware. The 47-year-old has worked wonders with a comparatively smaller squad to the other "Big Six" teams and a non-existent budget; they are the only club in league history not to have bought any players in the last two transfer windows.
The possibilities for the future are endless. They are overwhelming favourites to finish in the top four again for their fourth straight Champions League campaign.
And while Spurs have won just one of their last 14 matches against the Reds, there will be no shortage of belief from Pochettino's players.
They might even have Kane back for the trip to Madrid, with the England striker telling BT Sport "rehab is going well".
For now, Pochettino will bask in the glow of a "50-year highlight" for Spurs, saying: "There will be time to talk about Liverpool.
"They are heroes too, and it's going to be an amazing final between two English teams."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN
Reds' win more impressive, say fans
Any other day, a concert by a multiple Grammy Award-winning artiste like Bruno Mars would have been headline news.. But May 9, 2018 wasn't any other day. It was a historic day for Malaysia, one that many of Mars' fans were part of, rushing to the concert after voting at their various constituencies, and proudly displaying their inked fingers like a badge of honour.
May 11, 2019 - YouTube
Next, he must prove that unity of title was severed by a conveyance of either the dominant or the servient estate. Finally, the claimant must prove that the easement is necessary for the use and enjoyment of the dominant estate and that that necessity existed at the time unity of title was severed and at the time the easement was first exercised.
PDF List of Exempted Permits - City of St. Petersburg
Mohamed Salah expressed his delight at playing a full role in Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham on Saturday, after injury ruined his night against Real Madrid a year ago.
Football: Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after
tellmysport.com/soccer/football-salah-lauds-unbelievable-liverpool-after-champions-league-glory/
Football: Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after Champions League glory 06/03/2019 Soccer MADRID (AFP) - Mohamed Salah expressed his delight at playing a full role in Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham on Saturday (June 1), after injury ruined his night against Real Madrid a year ago.
Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after Champions League
yoursoccerchat.com/salah-lauds-unbelievable-liverpool-after-champions-league-glory/
Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after Champions League glory Posted in AFP Madrid (AFP) - Mohamed Salah expressed his delight at playing a full role in Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham on Saturday, after injury ruined his night against Real Madrid a year ago.
Salah Lauds 'Unbelievable' Liverpool After Champions League Glory
Spurs now within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool. Fatigue may yet still derail Tottenham's bid to win a first trophy under Pochettino. Everton struck first in a wildly open contest
Spurs shine to hit Everton for six - Afriupdate
Diehard fans may have to turn to the Internet to watch live broadcasts of the new season, as local TV channels have no chance in broadcast negotiations. It is the first time in many years Vietnam has failed to secure the telecast rights to Europe's biggest club championship.
Obituaries - , - Your Life Moments
Follow all the latest Thai Premier League football news, fixtures, stats, and more on ESPN. champions for a fresh challenge at Thai Honda in the Thailand second tier. the second Thai
Football Strike Tips, Cheats and Strategies - Gamezebo
A fired-up Arsenal needed just 15 minutes to take the lead. Emery urges Suarez to take his chance as Arsenal chase top four Emery. Gunners are the only club in English football not to keep
Gunners march on but Emery seeks stronger starts | Daily Mail
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich - Paulaner am Nockherberg, Munich, Germany - May 18, 2019 Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Franck Ribery during the club's party a
Bayern have not yet tabled bid for Man City's Sane
Football: Noh Rahman embracing learning curve as Home United interim coach 0:0 Comments Football: Singapore's national women's team to compete in Australia's Arafura Games 0:0 Comments NBA: Spurs overcome Nikola Jokic's 43-pt record to force Game 7 with Nuggets 0:0 Comments After Hyflux's fall, Singapore debt buyers are scrutinising these firms
Super fungus Candida auris: What you need to know about
MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has again cast doubt on the Premier League champions' readiness to win the Champions League for the first time despite being favourites for the competition. City host Bundesliga strugglers Schalke on Tuesday with a 3-2 first leg lead in their last
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League
'There was pressure last year and we dealt with it': Jurgen Klopp dismisses talk of Liverpool crumbling in high-pressure Premier League title race Jurgen Klopp insists that Liverpool can cope with
Football news - Klopp dismisses talk of Liverpool crumbling
Warnock says Sala tragedy is most difficult week of his career. The light aircraft carrying the Argentine disappeared over the English Channel a week ago as the 28-year-old flew to Cardiff from
Soccer: Warnock says Sala tragedy is most difficult week of
City must prove setback is temporary, Football News & Top
Cristiano Ronaldo has allayed injury fears after hobbling out of Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia on Monday night with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. The 34-year-old pulled up clutching
Zinedine Zidane allays fears over Cristiano Ronaldo injury
0 comments:
Post a Comment