Everton 2 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs Champions League hopes are done following draw on the road

Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of Champions League football are all but over as they could only manage a point on the road against Everton by the final score of 2-2.

Jose Mourinho opted for a back three formation, going with Joe Rodon, Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld, who hadn’t started in the league since March. Moussa Sissoko slotted into the midfield while Giovani Lo Celso was moved to the bench. The move was curious, given that the first half of the match against United was one of the best spells the team had in recent memory.

Key Moments

First Half

7’ - Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is forced to commit a professional foul, earning a booking. Not a great start to have our anchor in the book that early.

10’ - Jordan Pickford commits a stupid pass and gives the ball away to Aurier. Two passes later, Spurs give it right back trying to get in behind the defense.

21’ - Tom Davies goes into the book for a pretty reckless challenge. No argument from the Everton midfielder.

23’ - Chance for Everton as Richarlison somehow finds space among three center backs to get a curling effort on net. Hugo Lloris makes the save.

25’ - Serge Aurier goes down awkwardly trying to get the ball away, though it looks like he’s okay after a minute of recovering.

27’ - GOAL SPURS!!! Who else but Harry Kane? After some dreadful defending by Everton, Spurs take advantage and get the ball into Kane who is hilariously unmarked. One volley later it’s 1-0!

31’ - Penalty Goal to Everton. Reguilon commits a bad foul almost right on top of the spot. Sigurdsson takes the penalty and drills it home. 1-1.

38’ - Does anyone feel like playing defense? James and Sigurdsson link up for another chance that forces Hugo into a diving save to his left. It’s still level but Everton look the better side currently.

45+1’ - Set piece chance for Everton as James swings it in and finds Ben Godfrey, but he couldn’t keep the header down.

Second Half

46’ - No changes for either side. I didn’t really expect anything else but a guy can hope to see Lo Celso or Dele, right?

50’ - Nice exchange for Spurs after an Everton turnover. Kane feeds Dier who chips it for the far post. Hojbjerg tries to get there but Digne heads it out for a corner.

52’ - Sonny gets into the swing of things and leaves Keane for dead. Pickford is forced to make a sliding save to keep him off the scoresheet.

57’ - Good chance for Spurs as Kane breaks free and finds Tanguy Ndombele at the top of the penalty area. His shot is deflected and loops just over the goal. The ensuing corner results in another chance as Toby gets on the end of a great ball but finds the side netting.

60’ - Everton crack open the Tottenham defense as Richarlison slots one into the net, but he’s offside by at least a yard.

62’ - Goal Everton. Sigurdsson gets a brace as he scores a brilliant one-timer on a great ball from Seamus Coleman. Hugo had zero chance to stop that one. 2-1.

64’ - Substitution for Spurs: Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela check in for Sergio Reguilon and Tanguy Ndombele.

69’ - GOAL SPURS! Thanks again, Everton defense! Michael Keane commits his second major blunder of the night as he tries to clear Lamela’s ball and practically Kane his brace.

72’ - Kane smells blood and wants his hat trick, trying an outrageous header from 12 yards out and almost found the top corner. It looked like nothing and yet it nearly gave Spurs the lead.

76’ - Rather ambitious attempt by Lamela as he breaks into the middle. Sonny was open with the right pass but he ends up taking it himself and sending it into the tenth row.

85’ - Insanely close as Everton force a midfield turnover. James finds King on a run but is denied by Hugo. Richarlison’s follow up is a skyward shot that ends the threat.

90’ - Three added minutes and Spurs still have a sub to burn. Time is a flat circle of pain.

93’ - WELP. Kane hobbles off limping as Dele gets to make a cameo for about 14 seconds.

FULL TIME.

Thoughts on the Match

• Ugh. Just...ugh. Spurs might have been gifted two goals because Michael Keane doesn’t know how to properly head a ball, but why in the world did we not see our third sub made when there was still time to get it?
• Building upon that, leaving Lo Celso on the bench is just a bonkers decision. Sissoko was not good and bringing Gio into the fold could have helped immensely.
• And then there’s the whole terrifying thing of Kane limping off. Hopefully it’s nothing serious given we have a cup final in nine days but Carlos can start Wednesday if Kane needs the time to be ready for City.
• I’m struggling to think of anyone who was truly a standout performer. Ndombele was good but after that, it was just a slog of a match.
• If Mourinho is going to save his job, this result doesn’t help. Spurs are now looking at Europa League for the second straight year and even that’s not a guarantee. Winning the League Cup is only good enough for Conference League now, by the way.
• Spurs have Southampton on Wednesday in the league next up.