Referee:- Benoit Bastien FRA
Assistants:- Hicham Zakrani FRA & Aurelien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth official:- Thomas Leonard FRA
VAR:- Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant VAR:- Jerome Brisard FRA
Booked:- Chaloupek (foul on Xavi), Ogbu (foul on Pedro Porro), Sanyang (penalty foul on Pedro Porro), Zima (foul on Kudus)
All was well and Sonny's mural is swell!
Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this image
Spurs legend Heung-min Son was in town to say a proper farewell to the fans before kick-off. Earlier he had inspected his newly inaugurated wall mural on the High Road just to the north of the stadium, and I can confirm it looks swell!
I wouldn't call it a particularly comfortable win because Slavia Praha came to try and get something out of the game, forcing Vicario to make a number of saves, none of which were as sensational as that of his counterpart Jindrich Stanek just 39 seconds into the game!
Spurs were thankful for a first half own goal and two second half penalties to give them a win, which in the context of this league phase of the Champions League was vital to our hopes of progress to the knock-out phase.
We sit ninth before tonight's games. One more win will ensure a play-off place, perhaps as a seeded team. A win both at home against Dortmund and away to Eintracht Frankfurt (who gave Barcelona a run for their money last night) should give us a top eight last 16 position, but I think that's a big ask.
As for this game, Thomas Frank rotated less than expected, with Palhinha replacing Bentancur and Odobert instead of Muani. One notable change to the bench was the inclusion of Mathys Tel, originally left out of the Champions League squad, but now permitted to replace the injured Solanke. Tel was given a great reception when he came off the bench for Kudus, as was Ben Davies, making his first club appearance of the season.
"Sonny" was presented with a memento by Ledley King before we kicked off playing towards the North Stand. That early chance came after a great ball down the line by Spence to Odobert, who got the better of his opponent before sending a cross which Richarlison volleyed towards goal. Somehow Stanek managed to block and turn the ball over the bar.
After seven minutes, "Richie" headed on a long clearance by Vicario, but Xavi couldn't quite control the ball. Romero hit a good long ball forward and Kudus won a corner on the right after Stanek blocked his effort.
Provod had a left-footed shot pulled wide before Spurs attacked again. Xavi was fouled but referee Benoit Bastien allowed Spurs the advantage and Richarlison's shot from just outside the box was saved again by Stanek to his left.
Chaloupek was the first name into the referee's book for that foul on Xavi. Monsieur Bastien seemed a little card happy and in the early stages it seemed any foul was punished by a yellow card. Van de Ven felt injustice when he was booked for a perceived foul on top scorer Chytil. Micky will have to sit out our next Champions League game at home to Borussia Dortmund in January as a result.
After the free kick, Vicario saved low to his left from Provod's shot. Moses put the follow-up into the side netting. A clever flick by Xavi sent Kudus away and when he crossed Odobert's shot was deflected wide for a corner off Slavia captain Tomas Holes.
The corner came to nothing and Slavia attacked again. Doudera crossed from the right and Sadilek headed over the target. Kudus made a great run and passed to Odobert, whose cross was into the goalkeeper's arms. Richarlison fed Kudus who could not fully control the ball but won a corner on the left.
The corner was taken by Pedro Porro and headed on from the near post by Romero. Zima, taken by surprise no doubt, headed into his own net and Spurs had a deserved lead.
Vicario was tested again by Sanyang's shot, and he also had to save low from Sadilek. Palhinha was another who felt badly done by when he was booked for fouling Doudera when he felt he had been the victim.
We didn't have to wait long in the second half for our second goal. Pedro Porro reached the bye-line inside the area on the right following Gray's pass and was fouled by Sanyang, who was booked for his trouble. Kudus stepped up to the plate and smashed home a left-footed shot to score his first Champions League goal.
Gray advanced down the left and fed Odobert, who shot from a sharp angle, only for Stanek to save again.
Tel was one of a raft of substitutions by both sides and forced another save by the Prague keeper with a shot from a tight angle. Sarr's follow-up was well saved too.
Ben Davies replaced Pedro Porro with Spence moving to right back.
Vicario was in action again to save low from Sadilek. Spurs took a quick free kick going the other way and Xavi's shot was carried over his bye-line by Stanek.
We won another penalty (an easy decision) after Muani fielded Bergvall's cross from the right and Xavi was brought down by Ogbu. Xavi took the honours and converted his penalty with aplomb.
Thereafter, Spurs only had to see out the game. Zafeiris hit a free kick which found its way to Vicario and then had a better chance following a deflected cross but put his shot wide.
Stanek had more work to do, saving from Spence after Bergvall won a corner on the right. After combining with Spence, Xavi hit a shot on the turn which passed wide. Tel also won a corner with another effort in added time. Vicario had one more save to make from a long shot by Cham, but we could celebrate a good win.
Next up is a tricky visit to the City Ground, Nottingham on Sunday afternoon. Then we have a week off before our pre-Christmas game at home to Liverpool!
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