Wed 25 October 2017, 21:59
Tottenham HotspurOur Carabao Cup campaign ended in disappointing fashion at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday evening as we threw away a two-goal half-time lead to exit the competition with a 3-2 defeat to West Ham United.
Goals from Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli capped a commanding first half performance, but we were left stunned at the final whistle after the visitors hit back in the second half with a brace from Andre Ayew and the winner from Angelo Ogbonna.
Only six minutes had gone when Ben Davies and Fernando Llorente combined to set Heung-Min Son free down the left, who in turn found Sissoko and he finished neatly past Adrian. The Hammers goalkeeper saved well from a Dele header on 18 minutes, but could do nothing about our second, Dele’s curling shot deflecting off the head of Declan Rice and in off the far post.
But while we dominated the first half, the Hammers hit three goals without reply inside 20 minutes of the second period to turn the tie on its head. Ayew pulled one back on 55 minutes, pouncing from close range after captain on the night Michel Vorm had saved well from Edimilson Fernandes, before the Hammers striker levelled the scores five minutes later.
And it got worse in the 70th minute when Ogbonna’s glancing header from Manuel Lanzini’s cross beat Vorm and went in off the far post. We applied some late pressure to try to salvage the tie, but the equaliser wouldn’t come and we tumbled out of the competition.
Team News
Left-back Danny Rose started for the first time since suffering a knee injury at Sunderland on January 31, while goalkeeper Vorm captained the side for the first time. Son, meanwhile, made his 100th appearance in a Spurs shirt and Juan Foyth returned to the side for his second appearance, having featured in the last round against Barnsley.
Key Action
Goal: Spurs 1-0 West Ham – Moussa Sissoko – 6mins
Little had happened in the opening few minutes as both teams settled into the game, until we sprung an attack with six minutes on the clock. Davies played a ball out of defence to Llorente whose neat touch released Son down the left. He immediately set off for goal, cut inside the defender and laid the perfect pass on for Sissoko, bursting through midfield from deep. The French international strode onto the ball and tucked it past Adrian just inside the near post.
Goal: Spurs 2-0 West Ham – Dele Alli – 37mins
We went close to doubling our lead on 18 minutes when Kieran Trippier’s deep cross was met by a powerful Dele header, only a great save from Adrian denying us the goal, while at the other end, a goalmouth scramble was the closest the Hammers came to scoring but Vorm eventually gathered the bouncing ball. We did extend our advantage on 37 minutes when, after a patient build-up, Son touched a pass off to Dele whose curling right-foot shot just flicked off Rice’s head to take it out of reach of Adrian’s fingertips and into the net.
Above: Mousa Dembele returns to action.
Goal: Spurs 2-1 West Ham – Andre Ayew – 55mins
It was a low-key opening to the second period, certainly nothing like usual Spurs v West Ham encounters, but the tempo and the atmosphere climbed up a notch after the visitors scored 10 minutes into the half. A corner was cleared as far as Fernandes who drilled a low shot through a crowded penalty area which Vorm did very well to save, but the rebound fell kindly for Ayew who prodded home from close range.
Goal: Spurs 2-2 West Ham – Andre Ayew – 60mins
Five minutes later and the game was all square as West Ham hit us with another hammer blow. Again we didn’t clear our lines adequately enough allowing Andy Carroll to flick a header in to Lanzini deep inside our area and his cross was tucked in by Ayew. Moments later, at the other end, Sissoko’s cross was met with a sweet volley from Dele but it was straight at Adrian.
Goal: Spurs 2-3 West Ham – Angelo Ogbonna – 70mins
It just went from bad to worse on 70 minutes. We’d settled down after the equaliser and enjoyed possession but didn’t really threaten and when West Ham won a corner at the other end, there was immediate danger. Lanzini sent over the set-piece and Ogbonna climbed highest at the near post to glance a header into the far corner. Sissoko then brought a smart out of Adrian and we introduced Mousa Dembele for Llorente as we looked for a swift response. Christian Eriksen and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou were also brought on, but despite some late pressure and crosses into the box, we never tested Adrian’s goal.
Mauricio Pochettino said
"I feel very disappointed because in the second half we were a different team than the first half. We lost focus and allowed them to come back into the game. The way we then conceded the goals made it difficult to come back and turn the game around again."
Vorm said
"We were in control, scored two good goals but in the second half we started normally but after they scored the first goal you could see they had belief and we lost a bit of the momentum. We then lost too many simple balls and couldn’t get back in the game. They kept believing and before you knew it, it was 2-2, 3-2."
Match Data
Spurs (3-5-2): Vorm (c), Foyth, Alderweireld, Davies, Trippier, Dier, Dele, Sissoko, Rose (Eriksen 80), Son (Nkoudou 83), Llorente (Dembele 72). Substitutes (not used): Gazzaniga, Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Winks.
West Ham (5-3-2): Adrian, Byram, Ogbonna, Rice, Kouyate, Cresswell, Noble (c), Fernandes (Obiang 77), Lanzini (Arnautovic 88), Ayew, Carroll. Substitutes (not used): Hart, Fonte, Chicharito, Haksabanovic, Masuaku.
Goals: Spurs – Sissoko 6, Dele 37; West Ham – Ayew 55, 60, Ogbonna 70.
Referee: Mike Dean.
Attendance: 36,168.
Up Next
We’re off to Old Trafford on Saturday for a huge Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Ahead of us in the table on goal difference only, Jose Mourinho’s side lost their first game of the league campaign last weekend at Huddersfield Town, having won six and drawn two of their previous eight.
We’ve lost on our three previous visits to Old Trafford so will be looking to put that right this weekend. Kick-off is at 12.30pm.
