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3 vs 0
Played
March 7, 2013 3:05 PM EST
White Hart Lane — London
Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu‎
Attendance:‬ 34353‎
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

Player Ratings: Tottenham 3-0 Inter

Goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jan Vertonghen and Gareth Bale's 21st of the season consigned Inter to another humiliating defeat at White Hart Lane

By Jay Jaffa

  • Brad Friedel
    32
    6
    3.00

    Brad Friedel

    Had to be quick off his line at times but was otherwise untroubled in the opening half, even when Alvarez ran in on goal. The next chance was tougher but he was sharp and saved Cassano's effort with his feet to preserve his clean sheet.

  • Jan Vertonghen
    59
    9
    4.00

    Jan Vertonghen Top of the Match

    Defended stoutly and seems to relish playing in the middle rather than left-back. Growing into an influential figure and was keen for his team-mates to remain patient in the fantastic opening 20 minutes. Unlucky to see his looping header get clawed away from goal by Handanovic and sliced wide from Bale's free-kick in the second half before he powered a corner in for Tottenham's third. He was faultless.

  • William Gallas
    31
    7
    3.50

    William Gallas

    Not at his usual jittering worst and kept the defensive line sharp. Unfortunate to see his attempted interception allow Alvarez in on goal, though the chance was wasted. Won his tackles and carried the ball well. Improved lately.

  • Kyle Walker
    26
    7
    3.00

    Kyle Walker

    Bombed forward when he could and helped peg back Pereira before finding greater freedom up against Palacio. Started to find Lennon more frequently but forgot about Palacio once or twice and had to use his pace to bail him out.

  • Benoit Assou-Ekotto
    24
    10
    3.00

    Benoit Assou-Ekotto

    His one-touch passing helped Spurs change the point of attack and he supported Sigurdsson well from the left. Defended stoutly when required (not that often) and had a good game.

  • Aaron Lennon
    30
    7
    3.00

    Aaron Lennon

    Won't be credited with the assist for the second but his clever cutback to Defoe opened the space for the initial shot. Found it easier going against Pereira as he began to nip in behind his marker and was unlucky not to score as he nutmegged Chivu on the edge of the box. Went off late with a hamstring injury.

  • Scott Parker
    33
    9
    3.50

    Scott Parker

    Gradually beginning to get close to the form that had him named Spurs' player of the year last season and his driving runs from central positions hurt Inter time and time again. Passing can still be a little loose but on the whole this was one of his better games.

  • Gareth Bale
    49
    7
    3.50

    Gareth Bale

    Started brilliantly, guiding a header beyond Handanovic to open the scoring and fizzed around the pitch from a central position. Faded a tad as the half wore on but delivered the telling corner for Vertonghen to make it 3-0. Not at his thrilling best but didn't need to be.

  • Moussa Dembele
    38
    9
    3.00

    Moussa Dembele

    Carried the ball well and showed no after effects of the knee injury he sustained on Sunday. Constantly created openings and gave Gargano and Cambiasso the runaround. Replaced on the hour.

  • Gylfi Sigurdsson
    52
    8
    3.50

    Gylfi Sigurdsson

    Finally finding his feet at Spurs and swung a fine cross over for Bale's opener before netting the second, tapping in a rebound. Got stuck in and won his tackles but faded a little as the game wore on. Still, a vast improvement on his early season form.

  • Jermain Defoe
    22
    14
    2.50

    Jermain Defoe

    Unlucky not to double Spurs' lead moments after the first but his shot was too near to Handanovic. His second chance was also saved but credit to him for creating the opportunity that Sigurdsson tapped home. Had another saved by Handanovic but wasted a great four on two in the second half as he selfishly looked for the shot.

Substitutions

  • Kyle Naughton
    17
    9

    Kyle Naughton

    Came on late for the injured Lennon

  • Lewis Holtby
    14
    20
    3.00

    Lewis Holtby

    Came on for Sigurdsson and played off the left. Should perhaps have done better with his one shooting chance but saw it easily saved by Handanovic.

  • Jake Livermore
    21
    9
    3.00

    Jake Livermore

    Came on for Dembele with 30 to play to add a bit of bite and energy to the midfield. Did the job.

  • Samir Handanoviç
    29
    6
    3.00

    Samir Handanoviç

    Showed sharp reflexes to save twice off Defoe and, although he got away with parrying into a dangerous area the first time, he wasn't so fortunate on the second occasion. Tipped over the bar well from Vertonghen's header and made a couple of routine saves in the second half but was well beaten by Vertonghen's header.

  • Javier Adelmar  Zanetti
    32
    6
    3.00

    Javier Adelmar Zanetti

    Won the first tackle of the night and was keen to get forward from right-back. Regularly found himself struggling with Sigurdsson and Assou-Ekotto, but never enough to fluster the legend.

  • Andrea Ranocchia
    11
    22
    2.50

    Andrea Ranocchia

    The giant defender looked unbeatable in the air but was as slow as a bus on the turn. He and Chivu never got close to Defoe or Bale.

  • Cristian Chivu
    9
    36
    1.50

    Cristian Chivu Flop of the Match

    Allowed Defoe too much space and was subsequently punished. May have had other things on his mind as he asked Bale for his shirt at half-time and lost Vertonghen for the third. Was nutmegged by Lennon and had a game to forget

  • Alvaro  Pereira
    3
    30
    2.50

    Alvaro Pereira

    Happy to get forward when he could but perhaps guilty of not tracking Walker's runs. Moved further forward second half but struggled to get the ball under control in his one main chance, dragging his shot well wide.

  • Juan
    8
    24
    3.00

    Juan

    At left-back he looked like he'd be overrun at times but grew into the game and kept Lennon relatively subdued. Replaced at half-time by Palacio.

  • Ricardo Gabriel Álvarez
    11
    23
    1.50

    Ricardo Gabriel Álvarez

    Had Inter's first shot of the night but sent it high and wide and then faded from view for the rest of the half until he latched onto a loose ball for the best chance of the first 45. Dragged his shot wide of the far post under no pressure and later saw a deflected shot fly just wide. Subbed for Guarin.

  • Esteban Matias Cambiasso
    10
    23
    2.00

    Esteban Matias Cambiasso

    Full of running in his favoured central midfield position and though he pressed high, he didn't have as much joy as he'd like as Dembele and Parker worked hard. Beaten in the air by Bale for the opening goal and also lost Vertonghen for the third.

  • Walter Gargano
    5
    27
    2.00

    Walter Gargano

    Badgered the opposition in front of his defence, doing his best to put a halt to Dembele and Bale's driving runs. For all his chasing and harrying he was fighting a losing battle in the middle of the park.

  • Mateo Kovačić
    16
    26
    2.00

    Mateo Kovačić

    Had a good chance which he blasted over but showed neat touches in behind Cassano. However, he couldn't influence the game as he'd like and was later taken off for Jonathan.

  • Antonio  Cassano
    13
    22
    2.50

    Antonio Cassano

    Looked frustrated for a while but found his groove as he dropped deeper and wider. Threaded Alvarez in rather fortuitously but was angered to see him put it wide. Had his own chance in the second half but Friedel saved well with his feet.

Substitutions

  • Jonathan
    8
    22
    2.50

    Jonathan

    Came on as a late sub to inject more purpose to his team and, although he harried and pressed, he couldn't create anything of note.

  • Fredy Guarín
    9
    24
    2.50

    Fredy Guarín

    Came on and was booked for diving. Didn't get forward or find a chance for a shot, which would have been his main brief.

  • Rodrigo Palacio
    12
    20
    2.50

    Rodrigo Palacio

    Came on at half-time and looked as though he would cause Spurs problems on the break but he was either not found or too easily subdued by the athleticism of the home side's defence.

Results
 
Player Ratings
Tournament
Position
Ranking
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Libor Kozák Libor Kozák
Striker
Lazio
10 0
Ó. Cardozo Ó. Cardozo
Striker
Benfica
8 3
Rodrigo Palacio Rodrigo Palacio
Striker
Inter
8 0
Eto'o Eto'o
Striker
Anji Makhachkal
7 2
Edinson  Cavani Edinson Cavani
Striker
Napoli
7 2