Shootout success over Chelsea - match report and debrief

We were on the right side of a penalty shootout against Chelsea on Tuesday evening as we booked our place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup in dramatic fashion.

Two seasons ago we were knocked out of the competition at the semi-final stage by the Blues on spot-kicks, but in our first-ever League Cup tie at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the shootout went our way as we converted all five of our penalties. Chelsea’s Mason Mount then missed the target to give us the victory after the game had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes – Erik Lamela scoring an 83rd-minute equaliser after Timo Werner had given Chelsea a first-half lead.

Neither side had an effort on goal until the 15th minute when Mount dragged wide for the visitors, who then saw Callum Hudson-Odoi fire straight at Hugo Lloris before they took the lead on 19 minutes. Debutant Sergio Reguilon lost possession mid-way inside our half, Chelsea broke down the right through Cesar Azpilicueta whose cross to the edge of the area found Werner and he drilled low into the bottom corner. Gedson was unfortunate not to level four minutes later when through on goal but Kurt Zouma got back to challenge, while Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was called into action to keep out Lamela’s angled drive on 35 minutes.

We were much improved after the interval and Mendy was forced into a fine save from Reguilon’s fierce left-foot drive five minutes after the restart, although at the other end Werner again found time and space to fire in a shot but Lloris this time saved low down. We continued to push forwards and were finally rewarded for our effort. Toby Alderweireld’s cross-field pass picked out Reguilon, who controlled and dinked in a cross which evaded everyone in the middle and landed at the feet of Lamela, who made no mistake from eight yards out. Neither side could find a winner and so we went straight to penalties after 90 minutes.

First up was Eric Dier who slotted home, as did Tammy Abraham for Chelsea and then Lamela made it 2-1. Blues skipper Azpilicueta converted, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg put us back in front at 3-2 before Jorginho beat Lloris to level it up again. Lucas Moura was next and he made no mistake past Mendy, Emerson scored his spot-kick and Harry Kane did what he does best and put the ball in the back of the net which meant Mount had to score. But after nine perfect penalties, he fired his effort wide and we were through to round five!

Spirited second half changes the game

Chelsea were much the better team in the first half and enjoyed almost 70 per cent possession as we couldn’t really get a foothold in the game in that first 45 minutes. They took the lead through Werner – who also scored for RB Leipzig here in the Champions League last season – and looked confident although in fairness, they didn’t create a lot of chances despite being on top. That meant we came out for the second half trailing by just the single goal and, as we found out on Sunday against Newcastle, that is always a fragile lead.

We were immediately on the offensive, Steven Bergwijn firing high and wide before Serge Aurier went on a surging run down the right and pulled a ball back for Reguilon who strode onto the pass but Mendy pushed away his left-foot rocket. That was a signal of our intent and we started to dominate the match, the introduction off the bench of Hojbjerg, Kane and Lucas during the second half all helping us to keep control of the proceedings.

Apart from a save from Werner, Lloris was barely troubled in the second period and we found that deserved equaliser when Lamela popped up in the right place at the right time to make it 1-1 and send the game to penalties.

Sound debut for Sergio

Jose Mourinho made nine changes from the team that played Newcastle just over 48 hours ago, with only Lloris and Dier retaining their places. We welcomed back Japhet Tanganga, who made his first appearance of the season after injury, and Gedson joined him in the starting line-up for his first appearance of the campaign too.

There was an eagerly-awaited debut for new signing Reguilon following his move from Real Madrid and he will have delighted Spurs fans with his performance. Starting in a familiar left-wing back role, he showed plenty of energy and enthusiasm up and down our left flank and even after we switched to a back four mid-way through the second half, the former Sevilla man still got forward to support our attacking play.

Unfortunately, he lost the ball and was then beaten by Azpilicueta in the build-up to Chelsea’s goal, but that didn’t detract from his overall display, which almost saw him score a fine goal only for Mendy to make a great save and he then played a key role in our equaliser with a cross which Lamela converted.

Reaction on Spurs TV

Jose's pride

Jose Mourinho reflected afterwards: "It’s a victory of a team, of a group. The ones who didn’t play Sunday, they gave everything. The ones who played Sunday, they were ready to help. The ones in the stands, they were here suffering. It’s a great feeling. Eric Dier, maybe one day he can explain his feelings about playing two 90 minutes in the space of three days, and special 90 minutes, because if you go to another league, intensity is lower, but you know, Premier League football is incredible. We beat an amazing team. To beat them was good for us, a great feeling for us."

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Lamela 83; Chelsea – Werner 19.

Yellow cards: Chelsea – Kovacic, Jorginho; Spurs – Aurier, Tanganga.

Referee: Lee Mason.

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Partly cloudy, light winds, 10 degrees.