Spurs Seal Top Spot in Group with Last-Minute Victory, But Some Players Struggle
Tottenham secured their place in the Champions League knockout stages as group winners with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Marseille. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s last-minute strike capped a dramatic finish that sent Spurs through to the last 16 and eliminated the French side.
The match got off to a difficult start for Antonio Conte’s men, as Chancel Mbemba’s header in first-half stoppage time gave Marseille a deserved lead. However, Spurs fought back after the break, and Clement Lenglet equalised with a well-taken header from an Ivan Perisic free-kick.
The game ended in an intense final few minutes, with Hojbjerg striking the crossbar and Saed Kolasinac heading wide from close range. In the dying seconds, Hojbjerg was on hand to score the winner, sending Spurs through in dramatic fashion.
Player Ratings:
Hugo Lloris (7): Pulled off a superb save to deny Jordan Veretout but could do nothing about Mbemba’s header.
Eric Dier (7): Not entirely comfortable in a new right-sided role in the back three, but he was key in Spurs’ defensive efforts during the second half.
Clement Lenglet (7): Struggled defensively at times but made a vital contribution at the other end with a fine equaliser.
Ben Davies (7): Although he didn’t provide much support for Perisic on the left, Davies was solid defensively and made crucial interventions.
Ryan Sessegnon (3): Struggled to adapt when moved to right wing-back and was unable to contain Nuno Tavares, leading to his substitution at half-time.
Rodrigo Bentancur (8): Composed on the ball and tireless in his efforts, Bentancur has been Tottenham’s standout player for some time, though his final ball was occasionally off.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (8): Despite missing a golden chance to win the game earlier, Hojbjerg redeemed himself with a dramatic late winner. His leadership was crucial throughout the match.
Ivan Perisic (6): Delivered the perfect free-kick for the equaliser, but has otherwise underperformed recently. His set-piece ability remains a valuable asset.
Lucas Moura (4): A disappointing performance from the Brazilian, who struggled with the ball and was often out of sync with his teammates.
Heung-min Son (5): Forced off with a head injury early in the first half, limiting his impact on the match.
Harry Kane (7): Was isolated upfront for much of the game, especially after Son’s departure. He showed more threat in the second half and played a key role in Hojbjerg’s winner.
Substitutes:
Yves Bissouma (7, for Son, 29′): A solid performance in the second half, winning tackles and maintaining possession well.
Emerson Royal (7, for Sessegnon, 45′): Brought balance to the right flank and was steady in possession, although not particularly inspiring.
Oliver Skipp (6, for Bentancur, 84′): Worked hard in the closing stages, winning the ball that led to the winning goal.
Bryan Gil (N/A, for Lucas, 90′): Came on too late to make an impact.
Not used: Forster, Austin, Doherty, Sanchez, Spence, Tanganga, Sarr, White.
The win ensures Tottenham finish top of Group D, securing their place in the knockout rounds. Despite the dramatic ending, there were notable struggles for some of the Spurs players, particularly Lucas and Sessegnon, though Hojbjerg and Bentancur’s performances helped drag the team through.
