Tottenham 2-2 Bayern Munich: Spurs win Audi Cup on penalties

Tottenham Hotspur lifted the Audi Cup thanks to victory in a penalty shootout after tying Bayern Munich 2-2 in regular time.

The starting lineup was heavily rotated following the team’s 1-0 win against Real Madrid only the day before, Mauricio Pochettino made seven changes. Featuring an attacking group of Dele, Érik Lamela, Georges-Kévin Nkoudou, and Lucas Moura, the team enjoyed a dominant start to the match. A sixth minute header from Lucas was saved by Manuel Neuer, but Spurs eventually had something to show for its early dominance.

The game’s opening goal came in the 19th minute, courtesy of Lamela. Nkoudou sent a slick ball across the goal line, which Lamela then tapped in from close range.

The first half leveled out as it went on, with both teams creating more goalscoring opportunities. However, the pace of the match also slowed down following the goal, and the half ended with Spurs carrying a narrow lead.

Spurs made nine subs at halftime, leaving on only Moussa Sissoko and Lucas, and again enjoyed a lively start. A 2-0 lead looked almost certain as Son Heung-min’s 57th minute shot went just wide of the goal, but Spurs’ second goal came soon after.

In the 59th minute, Harry Kane ended up with the ball in the penalty area, and passed it to Christian Eriksen in the center of the box. From there, the Dane sent it into the bottom left corner of the goal to double his side’s lead.

The joy was shortlived as the hosts began their comeback two minutes later. Jann-Fiete Arp received the ball from Alphonso Davies, and then managed to outrun Toby Alderweireld before easily sending the ball behind Paulo Gazzaniga.

Bayern very literally went on the attack from there, switching in the likes of Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski in search of an equalizer. The momentum shifted their way, and the reward finally came in the 81st minute.

Müller’s ball from one side of the pitch to the other ended up at the feet of Davies, who then shot from outside of the penalty area for the equalizer. The match ended as such, meaning a penalty shootout would decide the Audi Cup champion.

Spurs were victorious on penalties, which had to go to sudden death after Eriksen missed his and Gazzaniga saved David Alaba’s effort. It was Japhet Tanganga with the winning penalty, as Gazzaniga made another save on Jérôme Boateng’s effort. The final score of the penalty shootout was 6-5.

Despite the victory, Spurs walk with away with an injury, as Juan Foyth was stretchered off in the second half with a currently undiagnosed injury.