Sensational Scenes as Spurs Leave it Late at Leicester - Bergwijn you Beauty!

Wednesday 19th January 2022

Match Report

Leicester City 2 – 3 Tottenham Hotspur

Venue: King Power Stadium, Leicester

Competition: English Premier League

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Let's hope this one actually goes ahead. Yeah, Leicester aren't as cowardly as Arsenal... They do have a few injuries, and so do we, with Son, Romero, Reguilón and Dier all doubtful. They're off the back of a couple of good results, whereas our boys definitely have something to prove.

I think both sides will be really eager to win this one - 2-2, I reckon."

Three changes from the Chelsea defeat, as Lloris was back in goal for Gollini, Reguilón was passed fit to return for Doherty, and Skipp started in place of Lo Celso. It made for a very defensive looking line-up - a 5-3-2 with none of the three midfielders being known for their attacking threat.

9' Kane found himself in with a chance in the box and his drilled effort across goal beat Schmeichel but was cleared off the line by Thomas.

Despite being the away side, the Spurs fans were heard in fine voice, and the team responded by being well on top through the opening stages.

18' With Son absent through injury, Winks stepped-up to take corners from the right side. He delivered one superbly for Kane, who found himself with a free header that crashed off the crossbar. Many will say he should have scored.

22' Reguilón whipped a diagonal ball over to Sánchez who was in space at the far post, he headed down for the bottom corner but could only find the side netting.

Spurs had created an abundance of chances, that they should have been putting away, then...

24' GOAL! Against the run of play it fell Leicester's way. Lookman passed to Daka in the area, he tried to play it back to him on the edge of the six-yard box, Reguilón got a foot in to make the tackle but it only diverted the ball back into the path of Daka, who slid to squeeze it on target from right by the post, Lloris went down to make the save, but the effort just evaded his glove and found the bottom corner. 1-0.

36' Skipp stroked a sublime ball behind the backline into the path of Moura. Schmeichel rushed out to tackle him on the edge of the area and it fell to Højbjerg, with the Leicester keeper still out of his goal he looked certain to score, but his smashed effort was somehow blocked off the line with a defender's desperate lunge at the last minute.

38' GOAL! Winks curled through Kane who did well to beat the offside trap. He sold the dummy to Söyüncü by feigning to shoot with his right then cutting inside onto his left, sending the Leicester defender tumbling and opening up the opportunity to finish, which he did with aplomb - placing it left-footed across goal, against the inside of the far post and into the net. 1-1.

41' Kane was looking back to his best and showed good pace to beat the Leicester backline in a foot race and reach Lucas Moura's through ball, still running at speed down the right side of the box, he glanced up to think about his finish then ended up getting underneath the ball and blazing it over the top.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – We've played really well so far, and if it wasn't for some sloppy finishing, we'd be two or three up by now. At least the players seem fit and up for it again. Hopefully they'll emerge from the dressing room equally as positive and put this one to bed in the second half."

A somewhat surprise change at half-time, as right wing-back Royal was withdrawn for Doherty. Hopefully not another injury.

Spurs picked up where they left off and remained on top, especially Harry Kane, who was causing them a whole manner of problems.

58' Winks was caught out and Leicester drove forward on a dangerous looking counter attack. Kane was seen making a gut-busting run back to help out, and it was a good job he did, as he was the closest man to Maddison as it was laid-off to him for a free shot inside the area. He laced it first time with power and Lloris did well to stand tall and bat it to safety. The shot was too central and that was thanks to the pressure put on him by Kane.

74' An attack-minded change from Conte, as Winks made way for Lo Celso. A creative player with a point to prove.

76' GOAL! Again, against the run of play... Leicester introduced Harvey Barnes at the same time as the Lo Celso change, and he was immediately involved as Maddison found him on the edge of the box and overlapped for the return, Barnes squeezed it through to him and Maddison's finish flicked up off the boot of a sliding Tanganga which lifted it up over a sprawling Lloris, against the post, and agonisingly into the back of the net. 2-1.

79' Conte's last role of the dice was Steven Bergwijn, he came on for Reguilón.

It looked as if it was going to be a real snatch and grab victory for Leicester, as Spurs' frustration continued and they couldn't find another goal.

But then they threw everything they had at it in the closing moments...

90'+5' GOAL! Højbjerg chipped a lovely ball over the top of the defence and onto the chest of Doherty, who was tackled before he could get a shot away on the six-yard box, but it fell kindly to Bergwijn who smashed it on the half volley into the back of the net! 2-2.

90'+7' GOAL!!! INCREDIBLE scenes as Bergwijn nets another to put us ahead. From the kick-off Højbjerg won it by intercepting a Tielemans pass forward. He was quick to release it to Kane in the centre circle, he turned and slid it inch perfectly through the defence and into the path of the lightening fast Bergwijn, who took it to the right of the outrushing Schmeichel, then sent it back across goal, against the inside of the post and into the back of the net! Elation throughout the Spurs ranks, even Lloris was up at the opposite end's corner flag to join in the celebrations in front of the travelling support. 2-3!

"Thoughts at Full-Time – Wow. One of the best games I've ever seen. Pure unbridled joy. Bergwijn off the bench to score two goals deep into stoppage time and win us all three points that we deserved. Sensational stuff from Spurs, and I think that's the sort of performance that could well set us on course to march on and become top four Tottenham again. COYS!"

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 7 – Great to see our skipper race up there and celebrate the winner. Made a couple of good saves to deny Maddison, and came out to make a brave punch at one stage too. Maybe could have done better at his near post for the first goal, but nothing he could do for the second.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 4 – Didn't do much of note and was subbed off for Doherty at half-time. Hopefully he's not injured.

• 25. Japhet Tanganga – 5 – Good to see him handed another big chance after disappointing against Chelsea. Found the target with a decent long shot which is a sign of confidence. Unfortunate to see his sliding challenge only help the ball in for the second goal. Had a few nervy moments, particularly with his passing.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez – 6 – Made some good tackles and interceptions, but had sloppy moments again, including being done by Barnes and Maddison for their second goal. Almost on the scoresheet but headed into the side netting. Did play one surprisingly accurate long, cross-field ball to Reguilón.

• 33. Ben Davies – 6 – On the whole he was reliable. A bit weak defensively today, but helped out going forward. Almost stole in to score a header in the closing stages.

• 3. Sergio Reguilón – 6.5 – Good to see him back. Was his usual lively terrier-like self trying to find ways in down that left side. Delivery could have been better.

• 29. Oliver Skipp – 8 – Played in a slightly more offensive role and seemed to relish it at times by charging forward with the ball. Made a couple of superb slide tackles tracking back too. Put Moura in with a peach of a pass at one point. Continues to impress.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 8.5 – Instrumental in stoppage time as he played the ball into Doherty for the first of Bergwijn's goals, then intercepted and gave it to Kane for the second. Excellent last gasp slide tackle to deny Barnes making it 3-1 not long before all of that. Worked his arse off and did well.

• 8. Harry Winks – 7 – Lovely assist for Kane's goal. Delivered his corners beautifully, one of which Kane should have headed home. Shaky moment to set them off on a dangerous counter attack. Dropped back in front of the three centre-backs and did a lot of the distribution for them.

• 27. Lucas Moura – 6 – Quiet night for him. Didn't seem confident as a second forward. Decent effort in the first half from a chance he created for himself on the edge of the box. Nice ball through to Kane that he blazed over. Could have done better with a one-on-one assisted by Skipp.

• 10. Harry Kane – 9 – Felt like the engine driving us on all night. You could see the fire in his eyes and he hassled and harried for everything, even sprinting back to defend. It did lead to him getting over-excited and missing a few chances, but his finish for the first goal was, well, Harry Kane-esque, and his swivel and pass for Bergwijn's dramatic second was exquisite. Loved seeing him passionately celebrating an important victory with the fans.

Substitutions:

• 12. Emerson Royal ⬅ 45' ➡ 2. Matt Doherty – 6.5 – Better from him. Came on and got involved including when he snuck in behind to take down Højbjerg's pass and inadvertently assist Bergwijn's first.

• 8. Harry Winks ⬅ 74' ➡ 18. Giovani Lo Celso – 5 – Sloppily gave the ball away on the edge of our area. Didn't get as involved as the other subs.

• 3. Sergio Reguilón ⬅ 79' ➡ 23. Steven Bergwijn – 10 – Unforgettable scenes produced by him tonight. Off the bench to smash home the equaliser from close range, then showed great pace, determination, and composure, to round Schmeichel and put away the winner that sent the Spurs support into raptures. Let's hope he didn't already have one foot out the door, as there have been rumours he's leaving us this window.

Man of the Match – 23. Steven Bergwijn