'Early elimination crisis instead of getting out of the closet'"SON puts in late and explodes the anger of fans"→"28 minutes fire + 0 shoot'...Tottenham come from behind to win 2-1 against Coventry

Sep 19, 2024

Tottenham was on the verge of eliminating the League Cup against the second division team, but fortunately, it came from behind to win. Tottenham won 2-1 in the third round of the 2024-2025 League Cup against Coventry City at Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry, England on the 19th (Korea time). The British media criticized Tottenham players. England's Guardian pointed to Solanke's disappointing performance, saying, `Tottenham were booed at half-time, and when Solanke was out and Son Heung-min barely played as a substitute. On the other hand, 90 minutes of England gave Son a rating of five and evaluated him as a substitute who did not perform very well. REUTERS Yonhap News

Tottenham was on the verge of eliminating the League Cup against the second division team, but fortunately, they came from behind to win.

Tottenham won 2-1 in the third round of the 2024-2025 League Cup against Coventry City at Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry, England on the 19th (Korea time).

Tottenham played in a 4-3-3 formation. Willson O'Dober, Dominique Solanke and Timo Werner built the three-top. The midfield was home to Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Beribal. Archie Gray, Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogi were among the four backs. The goal was defended by Fraser Foster.

Coventry fought back in a 4-3-3 formation. Haji Wright, Norman Bassett and Brandon Thomas-Asante built the offense, while Josh Eccles, Jamie Elan and Jack Ludoni kept the midfield. The defense consisted of Milan van Eweke, Bobby Thomas, Lewis Binks and Bidwell. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Ben Wilson.

Tottenham, excluding a large number of key players such as Son Heung-min, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, was shaken from the beginning. After Foster's pass error in the first minute of the first half, Ludoni took the opportunity and tried to shoot a mid-range shot in front of the box, but Foster immediately saved it and overcame the crisis.

Even the problem caused by the injury broke out. Odover, who started in the 15th minute of the first half, collapsed by holding his thigh. O'Doubert, who complained of pain, was no longer able to play, and was eventually replaced. Tottenham put Brennan Johnson in place of O'Dober.

Tottenham were not stable throughout the first half. In the 38th minute of the first half, Ludoni's shot attempted by the opponent's counterattack was caught on the right Do-gi's body, and in the 39th minute of the first half, Foster slightly touched the shot attempted by Bassett from the front line and escaped the situation of entering the goal. Both teams finished 0-0 without scoring in the first half.

Even in the second half, Tottenham's situation did not change dramatically. In the 11th minute of the second half, Dragushin and Foster collided in Coventry's counterattack, and Wright had a decisive opportunity, but Davis, who ran to cover quickly, cleared the shot and saved the team just before the loss.

Tottenham scored their first effective shot in the 14th minute of the second half. Davis finished the ball from the corner with a header, but was blocked by the goalkeeper. After that, Tottenham tried to win in the 17th minute of the second half by excluding Solanke and Beribal, and putting Son Heung-min and Madison in.

However, Tottenham allowed a run immediately after the replacement. In the 18th minute of the second half, Bassett's cross was accurately delivered to the front of the gate in a counterattack, and Asante, who Tottenham defenders missed, precisely pushed it into the corner of the goal and scored.

Tottenham, who even allowed a run, became busier. In the 24th minute of the second half, Jed Spence's mid-range shot went out of the goal as it was, and Madison's shot also turned away from the goal.

Coventry, who took the lead, tried to score an extra goal. In the 33rd minute of the second half, Mason Clark tried to finish Ellis Simpson's shot flowing to the side of the goal, but he couldn't reach his feet.

Tottenham scored a dramatic equalizer at the end of the second half. Spence, who received Madison's pass in the 43rd minute of the second half, penetrated the ball connected by Dejan Kulusevski into the box, pushed it in. It was a score that he scored because he did not lose his concentration despite the defense interference.

After the equaliser, Tottenham struggled for an extra goal, paying off. Bentancourt, who confirmed Johnson rushing to the right in the extra time of the second half, attempted a through pass as it was, and the ball reached Johnson's feet and finished with a shot. Johnson's shot flicked past the goalkeeper and shook the net. In the end, Tottenham won 2-1.

Son Heung-min, who played as a substitute for the game and played 28 minutes, did not have a clear performance. There seemed to be not enough time to show sharp performances such as dribbles and crosses in the 0th inning of shooting. Son Heung-min was sluggish in the last match against Arsenal, with only one shot, but he did not rebound significantly against the second division team he met in the League Cup.

The British media criticized Tottenham players. England's Guardian pointed to Solanke's disappointing performance, saying, `Tottenham were booed at half-time, and when Solanke was out and Son Heung-min barely played as a substitute. On the other hand, 90 minutes of England gave Son a rating of five and evaluated him as a substitute who did not perform very well.

digh1229@sportschosun.com