Tottenham 3-0 Slavia Prague: Own goal and two penalties hand Spurs comprehensive win in Champions League
Tottenham bolstered their hopes of securing a top-eight spot in the Champions League league phase with a 3-0 home victory over Slavia Prague.
A chaotic game saw Spurs go ahead through David Zima’s bizarre own goal, before Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons each scored penalties in the second half to complete the win, though things could have been different had Slavia Prague taken one or two of their chances.
It was Tottenham’s third home win in as many games in the Champions League this season, conceding no goals across those three victories.
Thomas Frank’s men climbed into the top eight for the time being at least as they bid to secure automatic progression to the last 16 in their remaining two games, which will see them take on Bundesliga duo Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in January.
Tottenham vs Slavia Prague: All the key moments
Tottenham took just 45 seconds to test opposing goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek, who had to be on hand to brilliantly tip Richarlison’s header over the bar. It was a wonderful save from the Slavia stopper but the Brazilian should probably have given him no chance with the effort.
Spurs’ early pressure continued and they took a deserved lead in the 26th minute when David Zima bizarrely headed the ball past his own goalkeeper after Pedro Porro’s dangerous corner was nodded on by Cristian Romero.
In all honesty, it was a welcome helping hand for Spurs, who for all their possession had struggled to regularly create chances against an otherwise resilient Slavia defence.
While happy to go into the break ahead, Thomas Frank will have been concerned by the open nature of the game with the hosts lacking thay composure to really turn the screw on their opponents.
Shortly after the break, Spurs were 2-0 up courtesy of Kudus from the penalty spot after a dangerous Youssoupha Sanyang challenge inside the box.
The Ghanaian sent the keeper the wrong way to dispatch the spotkick and settle the nerves inside the stadium.
Another warning shot was sent to the hosts though as David Doudera dragged a shot wide after a neat passage of play, with the offside flag sparing his blushes due to what was a poor effort.
And it was the same sloppiness from the visitors which allowed Spurs to put the game out of reach after a clumsy foul by Igoh Ogbu tripped Xavi Simons.
The summer signing dusted himself off to take the penalty, which he squeezed in for his second goal in as many games.