GARETH BALE might want cancel his flight after this.
One thing is for sure, he will not be subscribing to Premier Sports.
Harry Kane managed to keep his nerve from the penalty spot as Spurs fought back to beat nine-man Lokomotiv PlovdivCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Harry Kane and Tanguy Ndombele scored to save Spurs from humiliationCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Thousands of Tottenham fans back home were left fuming as the tinpot TV channel covering the early stages of Europe’s tinpot tournament went off air during this clash.
And those disgruntled viewers were arguably the lucky ones – as Jose Mourinho’s men needed two late goals to see off the Bulgarian minnows in this Europa League second qualifying round.
Spurs were in fact trailing 1-0 with 10 minutes to go, before a Harry Kane penalty and Tanguy Ndombele’s winner four minutes from time put them through.
Quite what Bale made of it is anybody’s guess.
The Welsh superstar is scheduled to jet to London this morning to seal his return to Spurs on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
The North London club are certainly now bigger off the pitch than when he moved to Spain in 2013.
But the team are a shadow of the one he left seven years ago.
The good news for Bale, though, is that after finding himself frozen out by Bernabeu boss Zinedine Zidane for the past 18 months, he will certainly feel needed at Tottenham – because my goodness do they need him.
Georgi Minchev scored the opener to give Lokomotiv Plovdiv the leadCredit: Reuters
They dominated possession against but lacked creativity as they failed to make a breakthrough against 11 men.
A defeat was the last thing Spurs and Mourinho needed after their lacklustre loss at home to Everton on Sunday.
The order for this tie to be behind-closed-doors did not stop the home fans from coming out and supporting their team as hundreds of them gathered outside the stadium in what was a comprehensive defeat for social-distancing.
The Plovdiv Ultras – conducted by a big div with a megaphone – could be heard chanting from inside the ground.
And when they started letting off their fireworks the resulting smoke wafted over the wall and across the pitch on another humid night in Bulgaria’s second city.
Mourinho, who won this competition in charge of Porto in 2003 and Manchester United in 2017, has had his sights set on completing a hat-trick ever since it became clear Spurs were not going to finish in the Prem’s top four last term.
Europe’s second club trophy is still maligned by many but he clearly sees it as a way of installing a winning mentality into a club bereft of silverware in recent times.
But they nearly fell at the first hurdle after an encouraging start.
Some fans missed the end of the match as the stream disconnectedCredit: Premier Sports
Steven Bergwijn was denied a penalty in the first halfCredit: AP:Associated Press
Son Heung-min had a shot blocked by the left foot of Plovdiv keeper Martin Lukov in only the second minute.
Steven Bergwijn then smashed a shot against the bar from the edge of the box after Giovani Lo Celso’s cut-back – before the Argentinian floated a shot over from distance.
Spurs were denied a stonewall penalty in the 27th minute when Bergwijn was sent tumbling in the box by Lucas Masoero’s clumsy challenge.
You feared this might not be the Londoners’ night, especially when Son turned a Ben Davies shot over the bar from six yards at the start of the second half.
Sub Georgi Minchev then scored one of the greatest goals in Plovdiv’s history when he put them in front with a 71st header – just two minutes after coming off the bench.
The hosts then nearly added a second moments later when Birsent Karagen’s effort was kept out by Hugo Lloris.
Spurs were heading out until they were awarded a penalty when Davies’ header was handled on the line by Karagen, who was red carded by German ref Harm Osmers.
Jose Mourinho’s side entered the clash after a defeat to Everton Credit: Reuters
Son Heung-min in action against Parvizdzhon UmarbaevCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Kane smashed home the resulting spot kick to make it 1-1 in the 80th minute.
Plovdiv then also had Dinis Almeida for continuing to argue about the penalty.
And Spurs won it when Ndombele fired home a cross from fellow sub Lucas Moura in the 86th minute.
Gareth Bale ‘passes medical’ as Tottenham close in on £20m loan transfer for Real Madrid superstar
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
