10 for 10: Our games of the decade – 2010
Wed 18 December 2019, 14:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
What a decade! Book-ended by incredible performances and hat-tricks in the Champions League, it’s been an amazing 10 years for the Club we all love – all culminating in the historic move to our world-class new stadium and the Champions League Final in 2019.
What games have defined the decade? There are too many to mention, from that triumphant night at the Etihad in May, 2010, to walking out at the Wanda Metropolitana in Madrid in June, 2019, via that night at the Amsterdam Arena and the opening of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It’s a decade that has seen it all at Spurs and in this special festive feature over 10 parts, we’ve selected our matches of the past 10 years. It’s not a definitive list – as we all know, the game is about opinions – but here’s our take on the 2010s.
Here’s to the 2020s!
10 for 10 - 2010
Manchester City 0-1 Spurs (Crouch 82)
Premier League
Etihad Stadium, 5 May, 2010
The stage was set. We sat fourth in the table, one point ahead of City with two games remaining. We’d travel to Burnley on the final day, City to West Ham. But we didn’t want it to go to the last weekend – qualification for the Champions League incarnation of the European Cup for the first time was in our hands on a Wednesday night in Manchester.
We’d fought so hard to get to this position. A little over a fortnight earlier, we’d recovered from our FA Cup semi-final loss to Portsmouth to beat both Arsenal and Chelsea in electric back-to-back matches at the Lane.
On a night where nervous tension was almost tangible, we delivered. The better team on the night, Ledley King had a goal disallowed, Peter Crouch hit the post and was denied by Marton Fulop, who also saved from Jermain Defoe.
With eight minutes remaining, the dream goal. Younes Kaboul bundled past Craig Bellamy of all people down the right wing, City didn’t deal with the cross and Crouch pounced to head home. The celebrations will never be forgotten.
Victory left us four points clear of City with one game left. Champions League, here we come!
As I ran behind the goal in celebration, I just remember looking at our supporters and seeing the pure joy on their faces.
Crouchy told us: “It was certainly a special goal. I’ve been lucky enough to score a few important goals in my career but that one is up there as one of the most vital. The lads had put in so much hard work and effort to get us into fourth place, so it was a real bonus to get the goal that got us over the line. It was perfect for me to score at that end as well, in front of the Spurs fans. As I ran behind the goal in celebration, I just remember looking into our supporters and seeing the pure joy on their faces. It was a special moment for me and for all of them too!”
Team: Gomes, Kaboul, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Bentley), Huddlestone, Modric (Palacios), Bale, Crouch, Defoe (Pavlyuchenko).
Other contenders...
14/4/10 - Spurs 2-1 Arsenal, Premier League - Danny Rose’s thunderous volley on his debut.
2/8/10 - Spurs 4-0 Young Boys, Champions League - play-off victory and CL group stage secured.
29/10/10 - Inter 4-3 Spurs, Champions League - Gareth Bale takes off with a hat-trick in the San Siro.
2/11/10 - Spurs 3-1 Inter, Champions League - Bale masterclass as we beat the holders.
20/11/10 - Arsenal 2-3 Spurs - 2-0 down at half-time, we win 3-2 at the Emirates.
