FRIENDLY MATCH
JE3 FOUNDATION TROPHY
SATURDAY 17TH JULY, 2021
LEYTON ORIENT 1 (0)TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1)
Orient scorer:-
Sotiriou, 72
Spurs scorer:-
Scarlett, 38
Referee:- John Busby
Teams:-
Orient (4-5-1) :- 22 Vigoroux; 8 Clay, 25 Ogie, 5 Happe, 3 Wood; 18 Pratley (Capt.), 26 Kyprianou (sub 23 Papadopulous, 77) , 10 Kemp (sub 21 Young, 87), 7 Smyth (sub 14 Clarke, 68), 11 Nkrvmah (sub 15 Tanga, 77) ; 16 Drinan (sub 20 Sotiriou, 68)
Subs not used:- 27 Phillips; 12 Hobbs, 2 Hobson, 4 Cisse, 24 Sweeney
No bookings
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 1 Hart (sub Whiteman, 46); 27 Paskotsi, Carter-Vickers, 5 Dier (Capt.), 28 Cesay; 20 John, 8 Winks; 9 Lucas Moura, 10 Dele, 12 Bergwijn; 19 Scarlett
Spurs remaining substitutes came on in the 64th minute and lined up in front of Alfie Whiteman as follows:- :- 30 Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, 23 Malachi Fagan-Walcott, 24 Tobi Omole, 21 Eyoma; 31 Mundle, 16 White, 32 Devine, 29 Bowden, 18 Clarke; 17 Parrott
Scarlett scores against the reds!
Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge of Spurs was a gentle affair played in very high temperatures. Dane Scarlett (described last season by Jose Mourinho as a first team squad player for this season) is still only 17 and scored his first senior goal against the “O”s, who played in red. Spurs played in their new home kit. The match was in memory of Justin Edinburgh whose premature passing followed soon after Spurs’ Champions League Final game of two years ago. The first playing of this JE3 Foundation Trophy game was behind closed doors last year when our U-23 side lost 6-2. This year, the trophy was shared as Orient’s 20-year-old Cypriot came off the bench and scored an excellent equaliser against what by then was a Spurs’ U-23 side.
Orient are managed by Kenny Jackett who was involved with the Spurs Youth set-up before he went to manage Portsmouth. He was also one of Nuno's predecessors at Molineux in what is now an 18-year managerial and coaching career. There was a sparse crowd. No away supporters had been permitted for this game, although they can attend Spurs’ next two first team friendlies at Colchester and Milton Keynes. I shall be attending the MK Dons game.
The game was preceded by applause for Dave Dunmore, who died last week, aged 87. He had played for both clubs in a professional career spanning the fifties and sixties. Both teams also took the knee and were applauded for that gesture by those in attendance.
The Orient side included goalkeeper Lawrence Vigoroux, who was once a Spurs Academy player. Orient were captained by 36-year-old Pratley signed in the summer from Charlton. Pratley’s previous clubs included Swansea and Bolton, and I seem to recall an important play-off final appearance or two. The hosts also have a player called Paul Smyth! He is one of their long throw merchants.
Spurs started with perhaps half a first team and included at right back 18-year-old Maksim Paskotsi, who was capped by Estonia’s senior team for the first time in March and now has 5 such caps.
Spurs kicked off, and after one minute Lucas Moura won a corner on the right which was taken by Harry Winks and met by Scarlett whose header passed over the goal. Orient would have their moments and Spurs broke forward through Bergwijn and Dele who was fouled. Nile John, who was on the bench for our last Premier League game at Leicester showed well in midfield and after 8 minutes received a good low pass from Harry Winks, inside the box on the right. John turned inside and tested Vigoroux with a good left-footed shot.
Aaron Drinian was signed by The “O”s from Ipswich in the summer and he was a danger man up front, getting a chance after 11 minutes from a free kick taken on the left but firing over at the far post. There was more danger for the Spurs defence five minutes later when Nkrvmah hit a cross/ shot from the left which passed just above the bar.
There was a drinks break midway through the half. Soon after that Scarlett could not quite reach a long ball over the defence which just reached the area where the goalkeeper was first to the ball. This long ball pass strategy was used several times to good effect with the passer being just inside the opposition half. Dele Alli was playing a deeper role and made one or two of those passes. Winks also made several good passes, some of which were low penetrating diagonal balls. John tested Vigoroux again from one of those Winks passes. The keeper made a good save diving to his right. Once again John showed good skill after 32 minutes, receiving a pass by Cameron Carter-Vickers. Nile was fouled as he tried to turn his defender and won a free kick.
Scarlett’s goal came in the 38th minute. Winks passed low and hard from the left of midfield to the feet of Lucas Moura who was 25 yards out towards the right of the box. Lucas quickly released the ball with a good pass to Dane who beat Vigoroux with a neat left foot shot across his bows.
At the other end, Carter-Vickers was uncomfortable at the back inside the 6-yard box, trying to clear a cross from the right. Joe Hart was able to pick up the ball and clear.
Justin’s son Charlie was interviewed at half time. Charlie is the CEO of the JE3 Foundation whose aim is to widen the availability of defibrillators.
Alfie Whiteman replaced Joe Hart in goal after the break. Orient kicked off and soon had a shot from close range on the right after Smyth's cross. Spurs cleared and Paskotsi made good ground down the right side.
There was a flare-up between Cesay and Drinan after 50 minutes and referee John Busby had “words”
On the hour, after a foul on Kemp 23 yards out, the free kick was touched to Kemp who hit a strong left-footed shot, pushed away by Whiteman diving to his right. In truth after the replacement of Spurs’ whole outfield team it was the home side who offered the most dangerous moments. One of our subs was 21-year-old centre back Tobi Omole who was formerly with Arsenal academy. Omole played beside Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who made his cameo senior debut at the end of our March 2020 Champions League defeat in Leipzig.
The Spurs youngsters tried to play possession football but Orient equalised after Spurs lost possession in opposition half after one such passing move. Substitute Sotiriou broke forward down right channel and turned inside Omole before beating Whiteman with a low left-footed shot.
Kemp had another effort from outside the area, but this was hit well off target.
Spurs had a good move after 83 minutes which ended with Bowden finding Clarke on the left. He got into a good position inside the box and his effort won a corner. Eyoma committed a "yellow card" foul, but being a friendly, the referee had "words" again.
There was just one minute of added time and no time for Spurs to grab a dramatic winner, so the JE3 Foundation Trophy was shared.
Next up for the first team is a trip to Colchester on Wednesday night.
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