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Kaká and David Villa shine for MLS All-Stars in win over Tottenham Hotspur Kaká and David Villa shine for MLS All-Stars in win over Tottenham Hotspur
(about 5 hours later)
The MLS All-Stars beat Tottenham Hotspur in the annual league All-Star game thanks to first half goals from Kaká and David Villa, with a spectacular Harry Kane goal Tottenham’s only consolation, on a night where he spurned several simpler chances from close range.The MLS All-Stars beat Tottenham Hotspur in the annual league All-Star game thanks to first half goals from Kaká and David Villa, with a spectacular Harry Kane goal Tottenham’s only consolation, on a night where he spurned several simpler chances from close range.
After another hot summer day in Denver, the temperatures had dropped a little by kick-off, along with such degree of expectation as had existed before the game, after the MLS All-Stars found themselves without Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Robbie Keane, Sebastian Giovinco and Obafemi Martins all among the injury absentees. It meant that while the MLS hosts did line up with David Villa, Clint Dempsey and Kaká, the balance of the team was largely made up of less familiar names who had earned their start for their performances so far in the MLS season. After another hot summer day in Denver, the temperatures had dropped a little by kick-off, along with such degree of expectation as had existed before the game, after the MLS All-Stars found themselves without Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Robbie Keane, Sebastian Giovinco and Obafemi Martins – all among the injury absentees. It meant that while the MLS hosts did line up with David Villa, Clint Dempsey and Kaká, the balance of the team was largely made up of less familiar names who had earned their start for their performances so far in the MLS season.
And while the sponsors who continue to drive this particular event may not have been happy for that, arguably the game itself was the better for the presence of so many players keen to make an impression. The All-Stars started in lively fashion, despite having only had a couple of training sessions together, and by the time Spurs greater collective familiarity began to tell, they were already 2-0 down.And while the sponsors who continue to drive this particular event may not have been happy for that, arguably the game itself was the better for the presence of so many players keen to make an impression. The All-Stars started in lively fashion, despite having only had a couple of training sessions together, and by the time Spurs greater collective familiarity began to tell, they were already 2-0 down.
Tottenham were given an early warning just two minutes into the game when Dempsey, perhaps with a point to prove against the team where his European adventures began to sour, chipped Michel Vorm but just cleared the back post as well. Tottenham were given an early warning just two minutes into the game when Dempsey, perhaps with a point to prove against the team where his European adventure began to sour, chipped Michel Vorm but just cleared the back post as well.
Tottenham slowly settled and after 10 minutes Kane had the first of a handful of close range chances against Nick Rimando, all of which he put straight at the Real Salt Lake and USA goalkeeper. It was one of the stories of the first half, as Tottenham continually put themselves in dangerous positions without ever pushing the All-Stars back deep enough to build any sustained pressure. Related: Spurs put end to being Spurs after post-Gareth Bale splurge fades away
Tottenham slowly settled and after 10 minutes Kane had the first of a handful of close-range chances against Nick Rimando, all of which he put straight at the Real Salt Lake and USA goalkeeper. It was one of the stories of the first half, as Tottenham continually put themselves in dangerous positions without ever pushing the All-Stars back enough to build any sustained pressure.
With the All-Stars given enough space to show some flourishes, Tottenham were soon made to pay. In the 20th minute, Kaká, looking in relaxed mood, dropped deep before spinning a dangerous looking ball over the top for Dempsey to chase down and earn a corner. When that out-swinging corner arrived in the box, Nacer Chadli was judged to have handled, and Kaká stepped up to drive the resulting penalty low to Vorm’s right. In the very next sequence of play Chadli nearly set up Kane for an immediate equaliser but his touch at the back post let him down and once again Spurs were made to pay as the hosts soon doubled their lead.With the All-Stars given enough space to show some flourishes, Tottenham were soon made to pay. In the 20th minute, Kaká, looking in relaxed mood, dropped deep before spinning a dangerous looking ball over the top for Dempsey to chase down and earn a corner. When that out-swinging corner arrived in the box, Nacer Chadli was judged to have handled, and Kaká stepped up to drive the resulting penalty low to Vorm’s right. In the very next sequence of play Chadli nearly set up Kane for an immediate equaliser but his touch at the back post let him down and once again Spurs were made to pay as the hosts soon doubled their lead.
Four minutes after the goal, the USA starlet Gyasi Zardes found space on the left and drove the ball square across the box for Dempsey to miscue the ball into the path of the onrushing Kaká doing a rough Carlos Alberto impression. His first-time driven shot was wayward but fierce and David Villa needed only the simplest of deflections on the edge of the six yard box to touch the ball past Vorm. Four minutes after the goal, Gyasi Zardes found space on the left and drove the ball square across the box for Dempsey to miscue the ball into the path of the onrushing Kaká. His first-time driven shot was wayward but fierce and Villa needed only the simplest of deflections on the edge of the six-yard box to touch the ball past Vorm.
Emboldened, the MLS players now began to have fun at their opponents’ expense. Kaká and Villa were cheerfully back-heeling and spinning off the ball at every opportunity and their enthusiasm was infectious. Tottenham, on the other hand, looked a little chastened by conceding twice, at least until Kane finally took matters into his own hands. In the 37th minute the striker picked up the ball in the All-Stars half after Matt Besler slipped while collecting a pass from Zardes. Kane drove straight for goal with Omar Gonzalez backing off him and unleashed a fierce shot from outside the box that flew past the diving Rimando. Emboldened, the MLS players now began to have fun at their opponents’ expense. Kaká and Villa were cheerfully back-heeling and spinning off the ball at every opportunity and their enthusiasm was infectious. Tottenham, on the other hand, looked a little chastened, at least until Kane finally took matters into his own hands. In the 37th minute the striker picked up the ball in the All-Stars half after Matt Besler slipped while collecting a pass from Zardes. Kane drove straight for goal with Omar Gonzalez backing off him and unleashed a fierce shot from outside the box that flew past the diving Rimando.
If Spurs expected to kick on from there though, they actually spent much of the remainder of the half defending, as the All-Stars deduced, correctly, that the movement of their experienced attackers could cause Spurs problems.If Spurs expected to kick on from there though, they actually spent much of the remainder of the half defending, as the All-Stars deduced, correctly, that the movement of their experienced attackers could cause Spurs problems.
If a first half where the All-Stars had often taken the game to the visitors defied the usual pattern of these games, the mass half-time substitutions from them was more familiar territory. The entire team was switched out at half-time and in truth Spurs may have been glad to see the back of some of them. They made four changes of their own, with Kieran Trippier, Kevin Wimmer, Delle Ali and Tom Carroll coming in and Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker, Christian Eriksen, and Nabil Bentaleb leaving the field.If a first half where the All-Stars had often taken the game to the visitors defied the usual pattern of these games, the mass half-time substitutions from them was more familiar territory. The entire team was switched out at half-time and in truth Spurs may have been glad to see the back of some of them. They made four changes of their own, with Kieran Trippier, Kevin Wimmer, Delle Ali and Tom Carroll coming in and Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker, Christian Eriksen, and Nabil Bentaleb leaving the field.
Spurs started with more purpose in the second half and began pressing the All-Stars further up the field, though initially they did little to directly trouble substitute keeper David Ousted’s goal, though Chadli did burst through into the left of the box in the 55th minute to drive a shot just wide of the post from a long raking pass. Such balls became a pattern as Spurs tried to find Trippier over Waylon Francis at left back, with the Spurs full back sending in some inviting crosses that stretched the new All-Star backline. Spurs started with more purpose in the second half and began pressing the All-Stars, though initially they did little to directly trouble the substitute goalkeeper David Ousted, though Chadli did burst through in the 55th minute to drive a shot just wide of the post from a long raking pass. Such balls became a pattern as Spurs tried to find Trippier over Waylon Francis at left back, with the Spurs full-back sending in some inviting crosses that stretched the new All-Star backline.
Kane continued to be a menace without getting clear looks at goal. On the hour he was just boxed out by Chad Marshall as he cut inside on the edge of the box and shaped for a shot. Spurs were now clearly the dominant team with the All-Stars replacements looking nervous as they tried to play the ball out from the back — always a cardinal sin against a Spurs team built to exploit such tendencies. Still the scoreline remained 2-1, and in the 64th minute Spurs made another round of substitutions — as Danny Rose, Josh Onomah, Harry Winks, Federico Fazio entered the game, along with US export DeAndre Yedlin. Kane continued to be a menace without getting clear looks at goal. On the hour he was shut out by Chad Marshall as he cut inside on the edge of the box and shaped for a shot. Spurs were now clearly the dominant team, with the All-Stars replacements looking nervous as they tried to play the ball out from the back. Still the scoreline remained 2-1, and in the 64th minute Spurs made another round of substitutions as Danny Rose, Josh Onomah, Harry Winks and Federico Fazio entered the game, along with the US export DeAndre Yedlin.
As Spurs settled down after the changes the All-Stars forced a chance of their own in the 70th minute. Kei Kamara powered his way into space on the left and swept a ball across the box into the path of Benny Feilhaber but the recovering Rose did just enough to intervene as Feilhaber shaped to shoot.As Spurs settled down after the changes the All-Stars forced a chance of their own in the 70th minute. Kei Kamara powered his way into space on the left and swept a ball across the box into the path of Benny Feilhaber but the recovering Rose did just enough to intervene as Feilhaber shaped to shoot.
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A couple of minutes later Onomah should have done a lot better after some Tottenham interplay up the middle ended with him being found in space on the left of the box. He looked to have composed himself for the shot but it was too close to Ousted.A couple of minutes later Onomah should have done a lot better after some Tottenham interplay up the middle ended with him being found in space on the left of the box. He looked to have composed himself for the shot but it was too close to Ousted.
With the finish line in sight the MLS players were beginning to look more composed, though Tottenham were still the more threatening team, even if the threat was notionally diminished when Kane was substituted out for Shaquile Coulthirst with just over 10 minutes remaining. Again the substitution was a cue for another dangerous All-Star attack as Fabian Castillo, the livewire forward from Dallas, worked a one-two with Kamara on the edge of the area and wriggled his way into the six yard box, where his off-balance shot was cleared off the line. With the finish line in sight the MLS players were beginning to look more composed, though Tottenham were still the more threatening team, even if the threat was notionally diminished when Kane was substituted for Shaquile Coulthirst with just over 10 minutes remaining. Again the substitution was a cue for another dangerous All-Star attack as Fabian Castillo, the livewire forward from Dallas, worked a one-two with Kamara on the edge of the area and wriggled his way into the six-yard box, where his off-balance shot was cleared off the line.
With the game being played at 5,000ft above sea level, the thin air was perhaps a factor in the scrappiness late on, mass substitutions notwithstanding. Still Tottenham pushed forward and Trippier’s floating cross-come-shot in the wind almost caught out Ousted in the 83rd minute, only for the big goalkeeper to flap the ball clear. With the game being played 5,000ft above sea level, the thin air was perhaps a factor in the scrappiness lat- on, mass substitutions notwithstanding. Still Tottenham pushed forward and Trippier’s floating cross-come-shot in the wind almost caught out Ousted in the 83rd minute, only for the big goalkeeper to flap the ball clear.
It proved to be Spurs’ best remaining chance — if anything the lively Castillo looked more likely to add a third for the All-Stars late on. They will return to their clubs for the run-in to the playoffs with league honour intact, while Tottenham turn their thoughts for home and a date with Manchester United. They will need to find another level of sharpness before that one. It proved to be Spurs’ best remaining chance – if anything the lively Castillo looked more likely to add a third for the All-Stars late on. They will return to their clubs for the run-in to the playoffs with league honour intact, while Tottenham turn their thoughts for home and a date with Manchester United. They will need to find another level of sharpness before that one.