1-0 v CSKA Moskva - 27 September 2016 - Away

Tottenham Hotspur Badge

Spurs 1

CSKA Moskva

CSKA Moskva

0

Details
Match Number

7194

Opposition
Cska moscow

CSKA Moskva

Competition
Champions league

Champions League

Round / Leg

Group Stage

Season

2016/17

Date

27th September 2016

Kick Off

19:45

Venue

Arena Khimki

Attendance

26,153

Referee

Antonio Mateu Lahoz

Weather at Kick Off

9.5° - Overcast

Facts & Milestones
  • 7158th overall match (3406 wins, 1580 draws, 2159 losses)

  • 5578th competitive match (2502 wins, 1312 draws, 1764 losses)

  • team

    1st match vs CSKA Moskva (1 win, 0 draws, 0 losses)

  • competition

    14th Champions League match (6 wins, 3 draws, 5 losses)

  • 5th match in Russia (3 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses)

  • 1st match at Arena Khimki (1 win, 0 draws, 0 losses)

  • 9th consecutive match with a goal scored

  • There were 2 changes to the starting lineup from the last match.

Report

Son Heung-min continued his superb recent form to give Tottenham the first win of their Champions League campaign at CSKA Moscow.

The South Korean scored his fifth goal in five games to win the game, slotting in after collecting Erik Lamela's pass.

Spurs were sloppy in their opening-game loss to Monaco but were better in an entertaining game in Russia and could have won by more.

Dele Alli also hit the crossbar with a fierce 20-yard strike.

Spurs, who travelled to Russia without Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele, Moussa Sissoko and Harry Kane, had a couple of scares but deserved their win and can now head to face German side Bayer Leverkusen - who drew 1-1 at Monaco on Wednesday - with greater confidence.

Son had a disappointing debut season for Spurs after joining the club in summer 2015 for a reported £22m from Leverkusen, scoring only eight goals in 41 appearances.

But he has hit the ground running this campaign, shouldering the goal-scoring burden for his side over the first few months with crucial strikes.

His input has become even more important as Harry Kane struggles for form and fitness and the England striker's current understudy Vincent Janssen strives to turn effort into impact.

Son followed up his two-goal displays in the league victories at Stoke and Middlesbrough with the winner on Tuesday - another neat finish that squirmed under the outstretched hand of home keeper Igor Akinfeev.

The 24-year-old could have made a hat-trick of braces for the season to ease Tottenham's nerves but after turning well in the box his shot was blocked.

The relief of the goal was clear to see in the Tottenham players, who had just started to show signs of frustration following 70 minutes during which they had plenty of possession but too often failed with their final ball or fired efforts off target.

In their opening game against Monaco they lacked concentration at the back and an inability to capitalise on chances at the other end, and there were echoes of this in Moscow.

As well as striking the bar, Alli also looped a header on to the roof of the net and failed to control a pass from deep after he had broken the offside trap.

Thankfully for the London side, CSKA do not possess Monaco's ruthless edge and wasted the good chances that came their way, Zoran Tosic twice curling shots wide of goal.

The Russians came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Leverkusen in their opening game, but they were managed well by Spurs after Son's goal to prevent another late rally.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "We've played much better tonight [than against Monaco] but it was a tough game as it's always difficult to play here in Moscow. It was very important for us to get three points here as we were in a must-win position.

"We're in the race for the next round. It's a very important three points. But there's four games remaining to play and everything is still open.

"It is very important that not only Harry [Kane], who was good before his injury and scored, that now another player has scored and that is very important for the team.

"I feel very pleased for Sonny {Son Heung-min]. He is on fire and to keep this form is very important for us."

Location
Previous 5 Matches

3 days earlier

5 days later