Tottenham reserved their place in the Carabao Cup semi-final with a 3-1 win over Stoke at the Bet365 stadium on Wednesday night.
Spurs took the lead after 22 minutes, with Gareth Bale glancing at Harry Winks’ delicate home as Jose Mourinho’s side dominated the first half.
Having barely come out of their own half in the first 45, let alone registering a shot on target, Stoke gave a much better account of themselves in the second half, and after 53 minutes they were level. , Jordan Thompson took the cool side of Jacob Brown. meet Hugo Lloris.
A goal from Ben Davies – a very rare sight for Spurs fans!
His first in over 3 years! ?#STKTOT pic.twitter.com/Mh7H5BQjA2
– 90min (at 90min_Football) December 23 2020
But Spurs regained the lead with a superb long-range effort from Ben Davies, before Harry Kane finished the Spurs semi-final nine minutes from time with a thunderous finish at close range.
Let’s move on to some player ratings.
Andy Lonergan (GK) – 6/10 – Produced three very good first-half saves to keep Kane, Alli and Alli out again.
Danny Batth (CB) – 5/10 – Bale drifted between Batth and Souttar and was gifted all the time in the world as Stoke fell behind. Made an important interception early in the second half with Moura facing goal
Harry Souttar (CB) – 4/10 – Gave Bale far too much time and space as he walked home, without question, from Spurs’ opener. His second-half clearance attempt was flawed and fell to Davies ‘feet as Spurs regained the lead, and Kane gained the upper hand for Spurs’ third.
Nathan Collins (CB) – 7/10 – Enjoyed a very nice battle with Alli, making a particularly impressive block as the Spurs man shot towards goal. Looked strong, calm and confident.
Tommy Smith (RWB) – 5/10 – Pinned down by Moura and Davies in the first half, progressed a little more in the second without ever really asking Davies many questions. Sliced off a wide effort in the dying stages.
Jordan Thompson (CM) – 7/10 – Tied the scores in the second half with a perfectly timed backstroke, before taking a half volley past Lloris. Possession conceded in accumulation to Spurs third.
Jordan Cousins (CM) – 6/10 – Overwhelmed in the first half but just like Stoke, Cousins improved his display in the second half, taking the ball more and pushing the ball forward with determination.
Morgan Fox (LWB) – 5/10 – Box with injury to the half hour after spending much of the first 30 minutes stuck in his own half by Bale.
James McClean (LW) – 6/10 – Moved to left winger after Fox injury. Stubborn and industrious, he made a real defensive turn, but rarely had the opportunity to venture.
Jacob Brown (ST) – 7/10 – Gone to feed on leftovers in the first half, but was instrumental in Stoke’s equalizer in the second half; winning the initial lead, taking off wide and sending a formidable cross and tease on the way to Thompson.
Tashan Oakley-Boothe (RW) – 6/10 – Playing against his former club, fell in midfield after Fox’s injury as Stoke moved up to two at the top. Like all of Stoke’s side, turned into a much improved second half display. Replaced after 78 minutes.
Steven Fletcher – 6/10
Nick Powell – 5/10
Sam Vokes – 5/10
Hugo Lloris (GK) – 6/10 – Barely had a save to make, Stoke’s goal being the only shot the hosts recorded on target – and Lloris couldn’t have done much about it.
Matt Doherty (RB) – 6/10 – Often advanced and spent much of the game camping in the Stoke half. Question marks over his whereabouts for Stoke’s equalizer, with Thompson drifting unbranded to the right side of the Spurs goal
Davinson Sanchez (CB) – 6/10 – Tasks were largely limited to keeping possession as Stoke rarely threatened Stoke’s goal and Hojbjerg effectively protecting all four full-backs.
Eric Dier (CB) – 6/10 – Like Sanchez, Dier had a lot more to do in possession than in defense. Retained the ball well, keeping Spurs in possession of the ball.
Ben Davies (LB) – 7/10 – Put the lead back to Spurs with superb distance training, shifting a low, gently slapped effort into the lower right corner
Harry Winks (CDM) – 8/10 – Floated in a glorious and measured cross from which Bale led Tottenham in the lead. Stopped play and sent Spurs back to the counter as Alli nearly doubled the visitors’ lead in the first half.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CDM) – 8/10 – Helped dictate play during periods of Spurs domination. Expertly protected all four and kept them simple in possession.
Dele Alli (CAM) – 6/10 – Right in the thick of the action in the first half, pulling two good saves from Lonergan. Quieter in the second, and was replaced after 65 minutes.
Gareth Bale (RW) – 7/10 – Deftly guided Winks cross into the net with his header to open the scoring for Spurs, finishing the move he had started halfway. Replaced by Sound at break.
Harry Kane (ST) – 8/10 – The bonding and heist games were impressive – including sending Alli to goal in a good opening in the first half. Caught Spurs third with a fantastic finish in the roof of the net.
Lucas Moura (LW) – 6/10 – Perfectly caught Alli in the first half with a clever, cushioned header that Spurs almost doubled their lead. Replaced after 65 minutes.
Son Heung-min – 7/10
Erik Lamela – 6/10
Moussa Sissoko – 6/10
