Tour 2019 - AIA 100 1-1 Spurs - report from Shanghai

Dele Alli rescued a hard-earned draw as we took on an impressive AIA 100 team - 100 children aged 6-10 - in a special three v 100 match in Shanghai to mark the Centennial celebrations of AIA, our Global Principal Partner, on Tuesday afternoon local time.

Dele was joined by Harry Kane - fresh from his wonder goal to beat Juventus in Singapore on Sunday - and Erik Lamela at the Yuanshen Stadium.

It has to be said that the home team were on point with both their pressing and transitional play, particularly in the early stages, but a tactical switch brought us back into it and Dele was able to level from the penalty spot with time running out.

We were pegged back by the youngsters from the first whistle and it was no surprise to see AIA 100 take an early lead. We over-committed, lost possession and were left wide open at the back. AIA 100 had players over and one was able to slot into the empty net from the right angle, a clinical finish.

Unhappy with how the early stages unfolded, we switched our one-one-one system around with Kane dropping into the defensive line, Dele patrolling the central areas and Lamela left to prowl up front. However hard we tried, AIA 100 always seemed to be able to get a foot in or make a block. Was it going to be our day?

Thankfully, with time running out, Dele took matters into his own hands with a sharp turn and dart across his man in the box. The challenge went in, Dele went over and the referee had no hesitation pointing to the penalty spot.

The pressure was on as Dele picked himself up to face around 25 goalkeepers from 12 yards but he kept his nerve to plant the ball beyond about 20 despairing hands into the corner. Game on! It was now an aerial barrage from the Spurs men. Kane glanced a header off target and Lamela was denied a certain winner when his close-range shot was was somehow turned wide.

That was the final chance of note - honours even!

The celebrations continued as Harry was presented with an early birthday cake by the children and he was joined by Erik, Dele and Juan Foyth - who had earlier joined our Global Football Development coaches for another match - to sign autographs for everyone at the end.