Europa League
MonacoMonaco1TottenhamTottenham Hotspur1

Monaco 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

By Shamoon HafezBBC Sport
Erik Lamela
Erik Lamela scored his third goal in his last four games

Tottenham conceded a late goal to draw against a poor Monaco side in the Europa League.

At a lifeless Stade Louis II stadium, the home side grabbed an equaliser through Stephan El Shaarawy, who headed in Nabil Dirar's brilliant cross.

Nacer Chadli struck a shot narrowly over the bar in the first half, before Erik Lamela gave Tottenham the lead by finishing off a slick team move.

Harry Kane could have grabbed a second but had a low shot and header saved.

Tottenham are unbeaten in Group J after a win over Azerbaijani side Qarabag in their opening match.

Against Monaco, they looked like coasting to the three points after controlling most of the game, before two substitutes combined nine minutes from time to claim a point the hosts did not deserve.

Alli looks the real deal

After an exciting start to the season for Spurs, Dele Alli was given his first England call-up earlier in the day, and the 19-year-old showed his credentials with another eye-catching performance.

The former MK Dons man is strong enough to handle the physical side of the game and, despite his age, showed maturity in dealing with his defensive responsibilities. He worked hard to win back the ball, as well as making a crucial block on the edge of the area in the first half.

Offensively, his crisp forward passing and neat footwork put Tottenham on the front foot on numerous occasions, but most impressive was his composure in the opposition penalty area.

It led to the opener as he turned a Monaco defender before seeing his shot saved, with Lamela on hand to tap into an open net. Striker Kane was also a beneficiary of his good work but he could not find the back of the net.

Alli's all-action style may just provide the drive Roy Hodgson needs in England's central midfield, reminiscent at times of former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard in the early part of his career.

Man of the match Lamela finally proving his worth?

Erik Lamela

It has taken a while, and it is still early in the season, but Argentine midfielder Lamela looks like he is finally beginning to repay the club record £30m fee that Spurs paid Roma in 2013.

He pulled the strings for Tottenham in their Premier League victory over Manchester City on Saturday and was impressive in the 65 minutes he was on the field in Monaco.

His graceful touch and ability to carry the ball has never been in question, but there is an end product to his game now. He started and finished the move for Tottenham's goal and has now netted three times and provided two assists in his past five games.

Lamela's performance was made easier by the time and space the hosts gave Spurs, but the visitors lost their focal point once he went off.

Monaco, who saw over £100m worth of talent depart in the transfer window including Anthony Martial to Manchester United, created little until a well-worked leveller that will leave Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino frustrated.

What they said

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli: "It was a strong first half and we could have seen the game out. It feels like a loss and we are down but we will pick ourselves up."

On his England call-up: "I was speechless. It has been a really good start to the season for me and I maybe didn't expect it to go this well."

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: "We are disappointed and it is two points lost. We could have been more clinical, I am happy with the display and effort.

"I am very happy for Dele. It is important to look after him. We have a great relationship with England manager Roy Hodgson and his staff."

The stats you need to know

  • Tottenham have only kept one clean sheet in their last eight Europa League away matches, having kept four in a row prior to that
  • Harry Kane has now scored just once in 10 games for Tottenham this season

What next?

Spurs can extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven games when they face Swansea on Sunday. Their next match in the Europa League is against Belgian side Anderlecht on 22 October.

Line-ups

Monaco

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Subasic
  • 2Fabinho
  • 24Raggi
  • 6CarvalhoSubstituted forDirarat 76'minutes
  • 4da Silva Coentrão
  • 8João Moutinho
  • 28ToulalanBooked at 59mins
  • 27LemarSubstituted forEl Shaarawyat 60'minutes
  • 10Bernardo Silva
  • 19TraoréSubstituted forCarrilloat 68'minutes
  • 23Traoré

Substitutes

  • 7Dirar
  • 11Carrillo
  • 13Fortuna dos Santos
  • 14Bakayoko
  • 16Nardi
  • 20Pasalic
  • 22El Shaarawy

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Lloris
  • 16Trippier
  • 4Alderweireld
  • 5Vertonghen
  • 3Rose
  • 15Dier
  • 20Alli
  • 11LamelaSubstituted forN'Jieat 65'minutes
  • 23EriksenSubstituted forCarrollat 90+1'minutes
  • 22ChadliSubstituted forTownsendat 70'minutes
  • 10Kane

Substitutes

  • 13Vorm
  • 14N'Jie
  • 17Townsend
  • 21Fazio
  • 27Wimmer
  • 28Carroll
  • 29Winks
Referee:
Artur Dias Soares
Attendance:
7,216

Match Stats

Home TeamMonacoAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home50%
Away50%
Shots
Home13
Away10
Shots on Target
Home3
Away6
Corners
Home10
Away3
Fouls
Home9
Away18

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Monaco 1, Tottenham Hotspur 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Monaco 1, Tottenham Hotspur 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Adama Traoré (Monaco) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.

  4. Post update

    Andrea Raggi (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Clinton N'Jie (Tottenham Hotspur).

  6. Post update

    Andrea Raggi (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur).

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Tom Carroll replaces Christian Eriksen.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Nabil Dirar (Monaco).

  10. Post update

    Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Nabil Dirar.

  12. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  13. Post update

    Foul by João Moutinho (Monaco).

  14. Post update

    Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Adama Traoré (Monaco) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by João Moutinho.

  16. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  17. Post update

    Delay in match Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) because of an injury.

  18. Post update

    Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Danny Rose.

  19. Post update

    Attempt saved. Nabil Dirar (Monaco) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adama Traoré.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur).

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Thursday 1st October 2015

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Molde21104224
2Celtic20204402
3Ajax20203302
4Fenerbahçe201135-21

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1FC Sion21103214
2Liverpool20202202
3Bordeaux20201102
4Rubin Kazan201112-11

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1B Dortmund21103214
2FK Krasnodar21013303
3PAOK Salonika20201102
4FK Qabala201112-11

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Napoli22007076
2FC Midtjylland22004136
3Legia Warsaw200203-30
4Club Bruges200218-70

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Rapid Vienna22003126
2Viktoria Plzen21012113
3Villarreal21012203
4Dinamo Minsk200203-30

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Sporting Braga22002026
2Marseille21013123
3Slovan Liberec21011103
4FC Groningen200204-40

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lazio21104314
2Dnipropetrovsk21102114
3Rosenborg201123-11
4Saint-Étienne201145-11

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lokomotiv Moscow22005146
2Besiktas21102114
3Sporting201124-21
4Skenderbeu200203-30

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1FC Basel22004136
2Fiorentina21015233
3Lech Poznan201102-21
4Belenenses201104-41

J

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Tottenham21104224
2FK Qarabag210123-13
3Monaco20202202
4Anderlecht201112-11

K

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Schalke22007076
2Sparta Prague21103124
3Asteras Tripolis201115-41
4Apoel Nicosia200205-50

L

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Partizan Belgrade22006336
2Ath Bilbao21014313
3AZ Alkmaar21014403
4Augsburg200226-40
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