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Demba Ba returns to deny hapless Spurs with late penalty for Besiktas Demba Ba returns to deny hapless Spurs with late penalty for Besiktas
(about 2 hours later)
A draw of this nature will do little to instil confidence at Tottenham. A one goal victory over Besiktas on home soil was on the cards until the 89th minute and even then it would merely have been a case of job done for Tottenham. Then Vlad Chiriches handled in the box and Demba Ba converted the penalty to snatch the point Besiktas thoroughly merited. Quite how Tottenham led until the final minute of this match was a mystery. Ultimately they left with only a point after a calamitous error by their centre-back Vlad Chiriches – and even a point was rightly viewed by the Besiktas manager, Slaven Bilic, as an injustice.
Harry Kane’s goal midway through the first half coupled with Hugo Lloris’s wonderful goalkeeping proved insufficient. Tottenham will be peeved, but boy did they labour against a Besiktas team who, for chunks of this match, looked superior. Chiriches, who was simply hopeless all evening, handled on the fringe of the box to allow Demba Ba to convert the equaliser from the spot. Harry Kane’s goal midway through the first half, coupled with Hugo Lloris’s wonderful goalkeeping, had almost stymied the visitors. The Spurs duo were the only reasons for cheer, though, as Tottenham laboured against a Besiktas team who, for chunks of this match, looked like they would run amok.
Mauricio Pochettino’s much changed side were lightweight in defence and, though they flickered sporadically in attack, the team was beset by the same lack of confidence that has afflicted them ever since Liverpool punctured their bright start to the season back in August. “I don’t want to sound big-headed but every team that comes here and gets a point thinks it is a good result,” said Bilic. “But we were excellent and the only thing I’m not happy with is the result. We were so good. I told them at half-time just keep passing it. It had to come.”
Danny Rose, who had been an ever-present in the Premier League under Pochettino and who lost his place in the England squad to Kieran Gibbs this week, was among those demoted from the Tottenham team as his Argentinian manager performed his customary squad rotation. In Ba and Olcay Sahan, Besiktas possessed two menacing outlets in attack. Throughout the match, the pair teased and tested Tottenham’s all too porous backline and were denied only by the reflexes of Lloris. Conversely, when Pochettino assessed his attacking options beforehand he must have squirmed. His three main strikers, Kane, Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor, had managed just six goals in 17 appearances – and if that statistic is not immediately damning, the inadequacy of their attacking threat has been. This was a night for Kane and Soldado to set the record straight. Yet, in the opening exchanges, they did anything but.
Indeed, Pochettino overhauled the entire outfield lineup compared to the team which drew 1-1 with Arsenal last weekend. Andros Townsend was picked on the right side of an attacking quartet which featured Roberto Soldado in an advanced role with the young Harry Kane in behind. The visitors, meanwhile, operated with pace and precision down both flanks, the left especially, and Ba almost helped to create a goal in the second minute after Sahan, driving in off the left wing, pounced on an awful lapse by Chiriches. The Senegal striker levered his marker only to see Sahan blaze wide. Ba soon leathered a shot against the bar from an awkward angle. Lloris had it covered but he scarcely seemed to believe the former Chelsea frontman could go so close from such a position.
When Pochettino assessed his attacking options before the match he must have squirmed. His three main strikers, Kane, Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor, have managed just six goals in 17 appearances – and if that statistic itself is not immediately damning, the inadequacy of their threat has been. This was a night to set the record straight. Yet, in the opening exchanges they did anything but. Tottenham’s attacks were tame by comparison and Soldado and Kane were like ghosts at first. Then, out of nowhere, Kane struck low into the bottom corner and Tottenham were ahead. It was the 27th minute, and although the 21-year-old’s run and shot from the edge of the box was not spectacular, it was perfectly placed.
Instead it was the visitors who looked far and away the more confident side, operating with pace and precision down both channels, the left flank especially, and leaving Spurs bewildered. Facing the rugged and predatory Ba, Tottenham’s backline looked feeble. Besiktas came again. Lloris made a stunning save with his outstretched boot to deny Sahan, and Kane was denied by a fine save at the other end when he pummelled a shot goalwards from a tight angle. Tottenham were, at least, improving.
Ba almost helped to create a goal in the second minute after Olcay Sahan had pounced on an awful lapse by Vlad Chiriches. Ba levered his marker before Sahan blazed wide. The linesman swiftly flagged for a foul by Ba, which seemed harsh. Promise in the second half came via the industry of Kane and the skill of Nabil Bentaleb. Kane was at the heart of a slick move which saw Andros Townsend curl a shot over, and momentarily Spurs looked lively. But, again, Besiktas began to dominate the ball and, as their fervent fans let off flares – actions which could have ramifications for both clubs, should Uefa opt to sanction them – there was a sense an equaliser would come.
Besiktas carved another chance in the 11th minute and again Ba was the target. Though his first touch to collect a pinpoint cross was poor, Federico Fazio, the Spurs centre-back, was still beaten, and Ba leathered a shot against the bar. Lloris had it covered, but he scarcely seemed to believe the Senegal striker could go so close from such an angle. Lloris made a magnificent fingertip save from Sahan after another blunder by Chiriches. In truth though, Sahan would have done better to pick a spot low down, where the keeper would surely have had no chance.
Tottenham’s attacks were tame by comparison and Soldado and Kane were like ghosts. Then, out of nowhere, Kane struck low into the bottom corner and Tottenham were ahead. It was the 27th minute, and although the 21-year-old’s run and shot from the edge of the box was not spectacular, it was perfectly placed. Besiktas then resorted to outlandish efforts in their quest to score the goal they deserved: Ba tried a piece of skill befitting Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he cartwheeled his right leg to steer a shot goalwards, then Sahan mirrored the technique of Wayne Rooney’s memorable goal against Manchester City, with a scissor-volley which flew inches wide. It was so nearly the perfect strike.
Besiktas came again. Lloris made a stunning save with his outstretched boot to deny Sahan, while Kane was denied by a fine save at the other end when he pummelled a shot goalwards from a tight angle. Tottenham were, at least, improving. Ba would be denied yet again by Lloris before the night was out as the Frenchman, standing tall, pushed over a poked effort. It was a remarkable save by a player who looked unbeatable. “I didn’t need tonight’s game to rate him,” said Bilic. “He’s brilliant. One of the top, top keepers.”
Promise in the second half came via the industry of Kane and the skill of Nabil Bentaleb. Kane was at the heart of a slick move which saw Townsend curl a shot over, and momentarily Spurs looked in command. But, again, Besiktas began to dominate possession. Ultimately, Chiriches’s gaffe meant Ba, after a stunted run-up, was finally able to beat Lloris. “I don’t talk about the action by Vlad,” said Pochettino, skirting the embarrassing issue entirely. “It is an unfortunate action but in football you can always make a mistake.”
Lloris made a magnificent fingertip save from Sahan after Ba had jinked free of the hopeless Chiriches and slipped a weighted, sideways pass to his partner. In truth, Sahan would have done better to pick a spot low down, where the keeper would surely have had no chance.
Besiktas then resorted to outlandish efforts in their bid to score the goal they deserved: Ba tried a piece of skill befitting Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he cartwheeled his right leg to steer a shot wide when the ball had been behind him, then Sahan mirrored the technique of Wayne Rooney’s memorable goal against Manchester City with a scissor-volley which flew inches wide.
Ba would be denied yet again by Lloris before the night was out. Having brought down an aerial ball he poked a shot goalwards. Somehow the Frenchman, standing tall, pushed it over. It was remarkable save by a player who looked unbeatable on the night.
Then Chiriches was penalised for handball and Ba, after a stunted run-up, left Lloris rooted as he netted the equaliser.