Spurs Narrowly Beaten in Final Game of Pre-Season

Saturday 30th July 2022 - 7:15pm

Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur 0 – 1 A.S. Roma

Venue: Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel

Competition: Pre-Season Friendly

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Spurs' final pre-season match comes in the shape of Roma, last year's Europa Conference League Champions and Jose Mourinho's new team. The players have jetted out to Israel for the occasion, a decision many will deem unnecessary with the Premier League kicking-off a week today. Hopefully it's worth it.

It should provide a test for this new look Tottenham team anyway. I'm saying 2-2."

Conte made three changes to the side that started against Rangers - Doherty for Royal on the right, Perišić for Sessegnon on the left, and Bissouma for Bentancur in the middle. It was good to see Davies deemed fit enough to make the bench. Still no Skipp though, he remained out with a foot injury.

1' Doherty stretched to intercept a pass but missed it and allowed Zalewski in down the left wing. He pulled it back to Dybala whose first time effort was blocked by a sliding Sánchez. It bounced up to Abraham who tried to squeeze it in from 6 yards but could only knock it to Dybala who stabbed it at goal from right in front of goal but Lloris was there to keep it out at his near post.

5' A through ball was played in behind Romero and while racing back to recover he appeared to push the player latching onto it to ground. Thankfully the ref felt that the player went down too easily, no penalty.

6' Kane on the top of the box played it right to Kulusevski by the byline, he drilled it low across goal and Son was just beaten to it by a defender.

The game was struggling to get up to speed in the humid heat. Sweat was dripping off the players and water breaks were introduced midway through each half.

25' Højbjerg hoisted one over the top, Perišić did well to keep it alive by stretching to head it back to Son on the edge of the box, he struck it first time on the volley but it sailed over.

29' Goal. An out-swinging corner curled in from the left, Ibañez timed his run well and leapt above any Spurs defence to power a header into the bottom corner. It looked like Perišić who was beaten to the header by his man, though there was a cluster of Spurs bodies there who were unable to stop the powerful leaping header. 0-1.

38' Kane shrugged off a defender on the top right corner of the area before laying it right to Kulusevski and receiving the return, he did well to get it under control using his left leg then laced it on the half volley across goal and into the bottom corner. Unfortunately the linesman ruled it out due to Kulusevski being a fraction offside. There was no VAR and replays looked like it could have gone either way.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – The hot humid conditions have undoubtedly played a part out there, things have looked a bit slow and heavy at times. The atmosphere seems quite flat too. We've seen chances at both ends. Kane was unlucky to see his goal disallowed and Conte won't be happy about how we conceded the goal from a corner. Hopefully we turn it around in the second half like last week."

Lenglet and Bentancur were brought on at half-time. Sanchez and Bissouma were the players who made way.

53' Lenglet looked keen to make an impact and his second time bombing upfield from the back saw him make it all the way down the left side of their penalty area. He clipped in a cross towards Romero who headed it down towards goal but it bounced wide.

67' Conte introduced a trio of Brazilians to proceedings, with Royal, Richarlison, and Moura all coming on.

73' Abraham beat Dier and slipped in Zaniolo around the penalty spot. Romero came racing in from behind and timed his last gasp sliding tackle to perfection, winning the ball and sending Zaniolo tumbling. Superb defending from the Argentine.

80' Royal played it into Moura who flicked it first time to Kane. He brought it down brilliantly using his chest to knock it into the box and charge after it muscling his way by a defender before being dragged down. A clear penalty but the referee somehow gave the decision against Kane. Free-kick to Roma. Kane and his teammates baffled by the decision

84' Richarlison allowed a pass to run through his legs, a skilful dummy that deceived the defender and got him in with a chance down the left side of the box. He tried to work his way into a shooting position but was crowded out and eventually went down.

86' Free-kick right on the edge of the box. Won by Kane and immediately grabbed by Kane, despite interest from both Dier and Højbjerg. He smashed it low into the wall. Disappointing.

89' Lenglet charged forward with it again before releasing it wide to Sessegnon down the left wing. He floated in a cross that Kane met central around 6 yards out, but he couldn't control the header and sent it over the bar. It was obvious that he thought he should have done better with the effort.

90'+3' Lenglet yet again found himself on the ball in a threatening position and whipped in another good delivery. Royal rose well to meet it but couldn't get his header on target.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – Spurs looked strong at the end and were unlucky not to find the equaliser they were pushing for. It was a promising sign of the positive effect Conte's relentless fitness sessions have had on the team, especially with Romero, Dier, Kane and Højbjerg all playing the full 90. It's disappointing to see us end such a positive pre-season with a loss, but the fact we should have had a penalty, and Kane's goal being ruled-out with a marginal offside call, shows it could have gone either way. All eyes on Saurday's start to the campaign against Southampton now."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 6 – Scrambled to make a good save from point blank range in the first minute. Didn't have many more to make and not much he could have done with the headed goal from close range.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez – 6.5 – Made some strong sliding blocks and tackles before making way at half-time.

• 15. Eric Dier – 7 – Orchestrated the backline confidently again. Played some nice passes.

• 17. Cristian Romero – 8 – Solid as a rock. Got forward when he could and won most of his tackles, including an excellent sliding challenge to deny Zaniolo when he was in on goal. Never half-hearted in anything, he got a little too involved in the heated moments when he grabbed a player by the neck. He was lucky to only see yellow for it.

• 14. Ivan Perišić – 7 – Lovely step-over and turn of pace to beat a man before being fouled. He made it look routine. Didn't get up for the header he was beaten to for the goal. Sent a rasping drive from outside the box just wide. Keen to get shots away all game which was promising. I think he'll get a few goals for us this season.

• 38. Yves Bissouma – 6 – Got on the ball a bit more. Looked to play it into Kane's feet and bomb on for the return. Seemed to be hobbling off at half-time and was replaced by Bentancur. Let's hope it's nothing serious.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 7.5 – His usual workhorse self in the middle of the park. Broke down Roma attacks and released it early to get Spurs ones started. Chipped a few nice balls into the box to create chances too.

• 2. Matt Doherty – 5 – Looked leggy. Missed a ball in the opening minute that allowed them in down his side. Moments later they were in again but Sánchez covered him well. Did a few decent things going forward but needs to improve defensively.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 6 – A quiet night for him. Didn't see many chances to run at them or get shots in on goal.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 6 – Looked keen to dribble with in the first half. Did play some good passes too. Faded out as the game went on and was eventually subbed.

• 10. Harry Kane – 7 – Had a well-taken goal chalked-off due to Kulusevski being a fraction offside. Probably should have let someone else take the free-kick he struck into the wall. Knows he should have done better with a header at the end as well. He'll be frustrated to not have scored, but he continues to look sharp.

Substitutions:

• 38. Yves Bissouma ⬅ 45' ➡ 30. Rodrigo Bentancur – 6.5 – Demonstrated his usual coolness with a few nice touches and passes.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez ⬅ 45' ➡ 34. Clément Lenglet – 8 – Keen to drive forward into space with it and not afraid to overlap for the return having played a pass. Carried it all the way down the left side of the area and hung up a good cross which Romero headed just wide. Very encouraging performance.

• 7. Son Heung-min ⬅ 67' ➡ 9. Richarlison – 7 – Looks keen to find that first goal. Silky dummy and run into the box. Strong hold up play and touch to control in the area before laying off to Kane.

• 2. Matt Doherty ⬅ 67' ➡ 12. Emerson Royal – 6 – Eager to get involved. Had a chance with a header that I'm not sure whether he was going for goal or trying to find Kane with. Either way it was off target.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski⬅ 67' ➡ 27. Lucas Moura – 6 – Another who was keen to make an impact. Didn't do much though.

• 1. Hugo Lloris ⬅ 67' ➡ 20. Fraser Forster – 5 – Had next to nothing to do.

• 14. Ivan Perišić ⬅ 75' ➡ 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 6 – Put a good cross in with his weaker right foot that found Kane late on. It's going to be a good battle between him and Perišić for that left wing-back spot.

Man of the Match – 17. Cristian Romero