Chapter Ninety-Three: The Red Card
Tottenham's side of Lloris was suspended for a red card, and Alisson was given a chance to start.
In addition, Brazilian defender Alex Sandro came in for N'Golo Kante, who had suffered some knee discomfort after the previous round.
N'Golo Kante is an indispensable part of Tottenham's midfield, especially against strong teams, and the absence of the Frenchman's interception and sweep in midfield will add a lot of pressure to the Lily's defence.
In addition, Frank Lampard returned from injury earlier than expected and was named in the squad for this game.
On November 5, in the fourth round of the Champions League group stage, at Wembley Stadium, Benjamin's Tottenham Hotspur hosted CSKA Moscow.
Before the game, it was unanimously optimistic that Tottenham, who were in hot form and dominated the Champions League and the league, would win comfortably at home.
However, less than two minutes into the game, Danny Rose handballed a free-kick in front of the visitors.
CSKA midfielder Nathjo crosses from a free-kick and Dumbia's header from the middle of the box breaks Alisson's goal!
1 to 0!
It was the fastest goal Spurs have conceded in Champions League history!
Although they had just played a league game three days ago and were not in the best form.
But the opponent is the same, but he has an extra day of rest than them.
But this is an away game, and it was actually scored by CSKA at the beginning.
This was something Benjamin did not anticipate.
But fortunately, it was not the first time that Tottenham had conceded a goal, and they quickly calmed down and waited for an opportunity to counterattack.
In the eighth minute, Sadio Mane drew a foul on his opponent when he cut inside to the edge of the box and won a well-placed free-kick for Tottenham.
Eriksen took a deep breath and he opted for a free-kick to go straight to goal!
The Dane's free-kick went around the wall and into the top left corner of the goal!
Russian international Akinfeev didn't make a save when he saw the ball behind him.
One-to-one! Tottenham equalised!
The game then went to a stalemate, with Zagoev's through ball unsuccessful, Vertonghen unsuccessfully, and a powerful shot from the edge of the Dumbia box that grazed the left-hand post.
Eriksen's through ball was met by Harry Kane, who had successfully countered offside, facing the goalkeeper on the left side of the box, but Akinfeev was on the spot to block the ball.
Eriksen's corner was driven into the box and Alderweireld's header was saved by the visiting goalkeeper.
Dembele passes the ball and Mane's diagonal shot from the corner of the box goes wide of the far corner.
In general, Tottenham, who are still playing at home, have the absolute upper hand, but they have not been able to score goals for a long time.
At the end of the first half, Tottenham played out a temporary draw at home to CSKA Moscow.
Benjamin, of course, was very dissatisfied with the performance of the players.
'I don't know what you played in the first half, I don't see the slightest hint of wanting to win.
To put it mildly, some people are as if they didn't wake up.
I repeat again, if you don't want to play, you don't have to play, you don't have to force it, who doesn't want to win the game, tell me, don't want to play in the future.
……”
Obviously, there is no problem with the tactics, but the way it is played is completely a problem with the players' performance.
Benjamin pointed at the players' noses behind closed doors in the dressing room.
Tottenham's players seem to have become accustomed to receiving such "advice" from the manager when the game is not going well.
If you don't hear harsh criticism, players who don't perform well will feel panicked.
Back on the field, the two sides changed sides and fought again.
In the cheers of the home fans, the Lily Army played more aggressively than in the first half.
In the forty-eighth minute, it was another pass from Nathoe, and Dumbia burst into the penalty area!
Alisson swooped in in a panic to find Dumbia, who was about to shoot.
Referee Anastasias Sidilopoulos from Greece was on the scene and blew the penalty for the first time.
After a little hesitation, Alisson was shown a yellow card and did not send him off.
Benjamin's already iron-blue face is even more ugly, what is this called?!
Dumbia, who created the penalty, took the penalty himself, and Benjamin could see that the young Brazilian goalkeeper was in turmoil.
He took advantage of the opponent's celebration of the goal and called Alisson to the sidelines.
"Calm down first, to be a top goalkeeper, composure is an essential prerequisite.
It's just a penalty, it's not over yet, we still have a chance.
If you don't give up like this, then I'll have to replace you. ”
Alisson, reassured by the manager, calmed down a little.
"I see!"
"Okay, let's go."
Dembele, Sunderland and Kyle Walker received yellow cards in quick succession in defence.
And the CSKA players, who also had a lot of defensive moves, were not even whistled for fouls.
Benjamin couldn't sit still, he had only heard of the home whistle, so how could there be a reason to favor the away team?
Oh, and it's not for nothing, it's only been a few years since the Stamford Bridge tragedy next door.
But is UEFA praising Barcelona, CSKA Moscow, how can he be, or is it simply that there is a problem with the referee's ability?
Referee Anastasiaos noticed Benjamin, who was expressing displeasure on the sidelines, and rushed over with a trot.
Then, under Benjamin's astonished gaze, he pulled out a red card.
He kind of figured it out, this guy just didn't think the game was exciting enough and wanted to be the protagonist himself.
Benjamin clapped his opponent and was booed at Wembley Stadium.
Anastasiaos blackened his face and motioned for Benjamin to leave immediately, and the Tottenham manager went into the dressing room without looking back.
The Tottenham players on the pitch looked at each other and didn't know what to do.
The camera quickly found Benjamin in the stands and gave the Tottenham boss a few seconds of footage after receiving his first career red card.
Now the situation is quite unfavorable for the Lily Army, the score is behind, the referee is targeted, and the head coach is sent off.
Someone needed to step up at this point, and Benjamin sent a message to Floyd for Frank Lampard and Bam Adebayo.
Tottenham's formation changed from 4231 to 442, and the playing pattern was changed to a long pass and a cross from the wing, and Adebayor and Kane competed for a header in the penalty area.
By this time, the players of the Tottenham team were already panicked, and they couldn't play any tactical coordination, and the simplest and rude ones could break the game!
Regulation time is over and the game goes into stoppage time.
In the 92nd minute, Eriksen pulled a cross from a 45-degree angle on the right, and Harry Kane got rid of the visiting team's central defender in the box and swooped over to head the ball!
Akinfeev scrambled to save, but Kane's close-range header was not only fast but also hit a corner!
Two to two!
Tottenham finally equalised!
Benjamin in the stands still didn't have any smile on his face, because just as he was about to use a goal card to win the game in one fell swoop, he received a prompt from the system.
[Check that the host is not in the state of directing the game, and cannot use the goal card!] 】
Benjamin:???
What does that mean? After I was sent off, I wasn't in charge of the game?
In the end, Tottenham were held to a 2-2 draw at home by CSKA Moscow.
After four rounds of the Champions League group stage, Benjamin's team is still in first place with three wins and one draw.