Colchester United 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs crash out of League Cup on penalties

Colchester are currently in 10th place in League Two. On paper, Spurs should’ve destroyed them, but they didn’t even come close to doing so.

Tottenham suffered an incredibly embarrassing defeat in the third round of the League Cup to be knocked out of the competition. The score was 0-0 after 90 minutes, but Colchester won the penalty shootout 5-4.

This result will only further feed the idea that there is a lot wrong with this year’s Spurs team. It was an inexcusable ending.

Mauricio Pochettino essentially rotated his entire side. Most notably, there were debuts for talented youngsters Troy Parrott and Japhet Tanganga. Eric Dier also came into the team for his first appearance of the season. Kyle Walker-Peters made his first start since missing time with a hamstring injury, and Oliver Skipp was also tapped to begin the match in midfield. Juan Foyth made the bench after recovering from a hip ailment.

To no one’s surprise, Colchester played conservatively. They packed men behind the ball when it was in Spurs’ possession, and looked to hit on the counter whenever they could.

It was a slow start, as both teams tried to feel each other out and Spurs tried to get used to their rotated lineup.

The first real chance for Spurs came 15 minutes into the match. Dele Alli played a backheel to set up Parrott in the box, but the 17-year-old’s shot was blocked out for a corner kick.

Colchester had to resort to fouling quite a bit to shut down dangerous Spurs attacks. Lucas Moura was cut down on the edge of the area by Luke Prosser, but keeper Dean Gerken got over well to save the Brazilian’s effort.

All in all, it was a boring first half. Spurs’ midfield struggled to really break down Colchester, and the Lilywhites looked frustrated as they trudged off the pitch for the interval.

The second half started with much of the same.

There was a good chance for Walker-Peters that almost came by accident. His cross missed everyone in the box, but came back off the post.

Pochettino, seemingly fed-up with the inaction, brought on Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-Min around 66 minutes in an attempt to change the game.

Spurs looked a bit more desperate after that, but so did Colchester. The home side had some scary counter-attacks and held strong against all the Tottenham pressure.

But the goal wouldn’t come. Things would have to be settled via a penalty shootout.

Eriksen stepped up first, and his shot was saved by Gerken. Luke Norris was up first for the home team, and he scored to give his side the lead in the shootout.

Dele tucked his penalty in off the inside of the post. Frank Nouble’s shot hit Gazzaniga, but still went in.

Erik Lamela had also come on as a sub, and his penalty was perfectly into the top corner. Jeavani Brown, tried a panenka, but Gazzaniga was aware to it and kept it out.

Son came up next and easily sent Gerken the wrong way. Paris Cowan-Hall also scored.

Things were tied after four takers for each club. Lucas took the next kick for Spurs, but he hit the crossbar. Tom Lapslie stepped up and scored to knock Tottenham out.

There will now be serious questions asked of this performance, and of all the other sub-par efforts so far this year.

Tottenham were bounced by a team that plays in League Two. Yikes.