Tottenham 2-1 Anderlecht: Mousa Dembele stunner sends Spurs top
Friday 6 November 2015 11:26, UK
Mousa Dembele’s cracking late winner sent Tottenham to a 2-1 win over Anderlecht and also to the top of Group J in the Europa League.
Harry Kane scored for the third game running as Tottenham took a first-half lead in a close encounter at White Hart Lane but Anderlecht equalised through substitute Imoh Ezekiel.
With time running out a moment of magic was needed and substitute Dembele stepped up with his third goal in three games, firing home from 25 yards with a spectacular half-volley.
As Monaco drew 1-1 against Qarabag FK earlier in the evening, the result leaves Tottenham top of the table on seven points with two games remaining and in positive mood ahead of the north London derby with Arsenal on Super Sunday.
Mauricio Pochettino spoke in his programme notes about how this was an important night for his side after suffering a 2-1 defeat in the corresponding fixture in Brussels.
Live Ford Super Sunday
Despite a north London derby against Arsenal being on the horizon, Pochettino named a strong team that included Kane, Christian Eriksen and his first-choice centre-back pairing of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.
Those two needed to be alert in the opening stages as Stefano Okaka kept them both busy with some forceful runs. Hugo Lloris had to fling himself across his goal and tip away an effort from Okaka on eight minutes before Guillaume Gillet headed wide from just 10 yards moments later.
It was hard work for the hosts for the opening quarter of the game but they stood strong, weathered the pressure, and when you have Kane in your ranks you're always just one chance away from turning the game in your favour.
He took that opportunity on 28 minutes, linking up with Eriksen on the edge of the box before planting a trademark strike into the far corner. After just one goal in his first 13 games for Spurs this season, he now has five in his last three.
Belgian international Steven Defour's movement caused Tottenham problems all night and he forced Lloris into a low save on 48 minutes after drifting into a dangerous area.
The visitors could smell blood but were soon on the back-foot and had their crossbar to thank as Spurs left-back Ben Davies rattled the woodwork from 20 yards with a crisp left-foot volley.
However, with their next attack, Anderlecht were level. Ezekiel had only been on the pitch for five minutes but he latched onto a Fabrice N'Sakala long ball into the box and turned the ball past Lloris via the post.
Pochettino responded by replacing Ryan Mason with Dembele and he looked a man with a taste for goals when firing a low drive straight at Silvio Proto within minutes of his arrival, but the former Fulham midfielder soon sent White Hart Lane wild with three minutes remaining.
Another substitute, Son Heung-Min, who was returning from over a month out with a foot injury, teed up Dembele from 25 yards and he showed fantastic technique to control a half-volley with pace and power right into the top corner.
It was a goal worthy to win any European match.
