Paulo Gazzaniga did it again in a penalty shoot-out as we lifted the Audi Cup against hosts Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night. UK Cypriots Anthony Georgiou and Jack Roles were on hand to help them.
The goalkeeper saved two penalties in our last shoot-out win against Watford in the League Cup at MK Dons last season and repeated the feat as we came home 6-5 from 12 yards after the final finished 2-2 in normal time.
Harry Kane, Toby Alderweireld and Heung-Min Son all scored from the spot but as the shoot-out continued, our younger players stepped up – Jack Roles, Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga all hit the target, Tanganga with our sixth successful spot-kick before Gazzaniga’s moment. Having denied David Alaba, the Argentine sprung to his right to turn away Jerome Boateng’s effort and secure the victory.
Earlier, we were in control thanks to goals from Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen only for Bayern Munich to hit back through Jann-Fiete Arp and Alphonso Davies.
The team that started the first half against Bayern Munich
We controlled long periods of the first half and only the brilliance of Manuel Neuer denied us an early goal with a textbook save to palm away Lucas Moura’s point-blank header from Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross. Dele and Lamela also had chances before we took the lead on 19 minutes. GK Nkoudou skipped away from Jonas Kehl down the left and delivered the ball on a plate for Lamela sliding in at the far post.
Despite our territorial advantage, chances were few and far between and the home side gradually clawed their way back in with efforts from Paul Will and Sarpreet Singh keeping Hugo Lloris on his toes.
Mauricio Pochettino mixed it up with nine changes in the second half and both Kane and Heung-Min tested Sven Ulreich before we doubled our lead. Toby Alderweireld switched play to Juan Foyth, he found Kane who held the ball up superbly before cutting back for Eriksen to swivel and strike low into the far corner.
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The two-goal lead was short-lived, however, as Jann-Fiete Arp broke onto Alphonso Davies’ flick through the middle before finishing low past Gazzaniga – 2-1, and Bayern’s ‘big guns’ were starting to arrive with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Thiago and Kingsley Coman entering the fray.
Kane forced a fine save from Ulreich but increasing pressure from the home side eventually told when Davies pinged a curler beyond Gazzaniga from 25 yards for 2-2 on 81 minutes. Both teams pressed for a winner – Eriksen closest for us – but the final would be decided from the spot.
Alderweireld slotted and Gazzaniga gave us an early advantage by denying Alaba. However, Ulreich saved Eriksen’s attempt and Thiago levelled at 1-1. Kane, Muller, Son, Sanches and Jack Roles were all successful and Lewandowski took the shoot-out into sudden death. Our youngsters stood up with Skipp and Tanganga showing nerves of steel before Gazzaniga reached high to deny Boateng and clinch it 6-5.
Mauricio’s reaction
Mauricio Pochettino spoke to us moments after the final whistle. “It was a very positive experience, I am so happy with the performance and behaviour of the players,” he said.
“We are learning a lot and improving a lot every day. I am so happy and we keep going. When you play a team like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, always to live this experience is an amazing thing for the players, for the young players and of course for the senior players to build their fitness and to be stronger every day.”
Spurs 2-2 Bayern Munich (Spurs win 6-5 on penalties)
Spurs: First half – Lloris (c), Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Winks, Sissoko, Dele, Lamela, Nkoudou, Lucas.
Second half – Gazzaniga, Foyth (Marsh 77), Alderweireld, Tanganga, White, Sissoko (Georgiou 84), Skipp, Lucas (Roles 70), Eriksen, Son, Kane.
Bayern Munich: Neuer (Ulreich 46), Sule (Zylla 46; Coman 70; Mihaljecvic 77), Pavard, Arp (Lewandowski 70), Davies, Tolisso (Sanches 60), Nollenberger (Thiago 62), Will (Boateng 46), Singh, Johansson (Alaba 60), Kehl (Muller 70).
