Player ratings as Spurs beat Marseille to advance into Champions League knockouts.
Tottenham defeated Marseille 2-1 to win Group D, securing their place in the Champions League’s knockout round.
Marseille came out of traps swiftly as they looked for an early lead since they knew they needed to win to progress. Hugo Loris, though, proved to be a serious roadblock for them. The French goalkeeper made a few early stops and was happy to see an Alexis Sanchez header go wide as well.
Tottenham was barely holding on without posing any offensive threat, and they had a significant hit on the half-hour when Son Hueng-min was forced to leave the game with a head injury.
The Premier League team desperately wanted to tie the score at halftime so they could regroup, but they were never given the opportunity. Chancel Mbemba, a former Newcastle defender, smashed a header into the bottom corner of Lloris’ goal, giving Marseille the advantage their play deserved.
In the second half, Tottenham needed a response, and they soon received one, although unexpected. Clement Lenglet went to his highest point to head Spurs level after Ivan Perisic provided a superb set piece from the left.
After that, the game developed a peculiar pattern. Marseille continued to advance despite not seeming to have the same enthusiasm as they had before the break.
That gave Spurs opportunities to break, but they had trouble finding a final ball each time. Although Harry Kane was way offside, the ball was in the Marseille goal.
Late in the game, Tottenham had a great opportunity to win it, but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg missed a goal from 15 yards out. Kane then believed he was in on goal when Mbemba brilliantly stopped him.
However, a former Arsenal player ought to have eliminated Tottenham from the Champions League. Sead Kolasinac, a substitute, had a free header with the goal at his mercy, but his effort failed to even attempt to make a threat.
But there was still time for one more dramatic moment when Hojbjerg burst through in stoppage time to ensure Tottenham’s advancement into the knockout stage as the group winners.
Tottenham player ratings vs Marseille
GK: Hugo Lloris – 8/10
CB: Ben Davies – 6/10
CB: Clement Lenglet – 7/10
CB: Eric Dier – 6/10
RW: Ryan Sessegnon – 5/10
CM: Rodrigo Bentacur – 7/10
CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 8/10
LW: Ivan Perisic – 7/10
RF: Lucas Moura – 6/10
CF: Harry Kane – 6/10
LF: Son Hueng-min – 5/10
SUB: Yves Bissouma (29′ for Son) – 6/10
SUB: Emerson Royal (46′ for Sessegnon) – 6/10
SUB: Oliver Skipp (84′ for Bentacur) – N/A
Manager: Antonio Conte – 8/10
Marseille player ratings
GK: Pau Lopez 6/10
CB: Chancel Mbemba 8/10
CB: Eric Bailly (N/A)
CB: Leonardo Balerdi 7/10
RW: Clauss 7/10
CM: Valentin Rongier 7/10
CM: Jordan Veretout 7/10
LM: Nuno Tavares 6/10
AM: Matteo Guendouzi 6/10
AM: Amine Harit 6/10
CF: Alexis Sanchez 6/10
Subs: Samuel Gigot 6/10
Cengiz Ünder 6/10
Sead Kolasinac 5/10
Issa Kabore 6/10
Luis Suarez (N/A)
Player of the Match: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
