Chapter 145 - Tottenham

Southampton's match against Manchester City ended in a 2-2 draw. The club that had benefits from this result was Chelsea. Chelsea took advantage of this opportunity very well. They managed to win the game and equalize the points with Southampton and Manchester City. This made all three teams have the same points.

Next, Southampton face West Ham. In this match, they only fielded a few main players. The reason was to prepare for the 4th round FA cup match against Tottenham. Without Kazuki's presence, Southampton tasted a second defeat. They lost 1-0 to West Ham thanks to Cole goal. Manchester City and Chelsea won their matches in this round.

On 24 January Southampton visited Tottenham Hotspur stadium for the 4th round of the FA Cup. In this match Southampton fielded the main players as well as Tottenham.

Southampton players who were played by George namely, Dean Smith; Freddy, Okhalo, Hilton, Benson; Simone, Rudolf; Wright-Phillips, Bennett, Kounde; Kazuki.

Meanwhile, Tottenham's starting line-up was as follows. Llorente; Zouma, Michel Dawson, Anderson, Kyle Walker; Flaminho, C. Eriksen, Moussa Dembele; Saldado, Luminaire, Son heung-min.

The match then began. Tottenham started the game with a kick-off. The early minutes was crucial, Tottenham started the game with caution. Meanwhile Southampton was not reckless on press Tottenham.

In the 8th minute, Tottenham tried to make the first attack. Eriksen delivered the ball to Moussa Dembele. Dembele received the ball and carried it forward. He then gave Son Heung-min a flat pass. The young man flicked the ball to the side and tried to get past Freddy. However, Freddy was experienced enough to stop the South Korean player.

In the 16th minute, Southampton launched the first attack. Simone gave the ball to Rudolf. Rudolf accepted the pass but Flaminho interrupted him, so he immediately gave Bennet a pass. Bennet took the pass and pushed past Eriksen. Then he gave a lob pass to Kazuki. The ball headed towards the middle of the penalty box, Kazuki ran into the ball. But unfortunately he failed, the ball was successfully secured by Llorente.

In the 20th minute, Wright-Phillips intercepted Kyle Walker, who tried to bring the ball forward. He ran to the right side of the penalty box and gave a flat pass to the middpe. Kazuki broke away from Anderson's guard, he unleashed a powerful kick into the right side of the net. Llorente jumped and pounced on the ball. Kazuki's shot failed to make a goal.

In the 28th minute, Tottenham again launched an attack. Llorente passed the ball to Anderson. Anderson gave Kyle Walker a long pass. Wright-Phillips came in, he waw trying to bring down Kyle Walker. Walker changed the ball route and avoided Wright-Phillips. After that, he brought the ball into the middle. Eriksen got rid from Bennet's mark, Walker sent the ball to him.

Eriksen received the pass, but a sharp tackle knocked him down. Simone brought Eriksen down and cut off Tottenham's attack. The referee blew the whistle and gave Simone a yellow card. Tottenham got a free kick.

Eriksen stood in front of the ball, soon he kicked the ball after the referee blew the whistle. The ball glided like a rocket towards the net. Slowly the ball dipped down, Dean Smith failed to predict the ball's route. So the ball pierced into the Southampton net. 1-0 to Tottenham's advantage.

In the 37th minute, Tottenham, who had dominated the game, launched an attack again. This time Tottenham built a teamwork in the right side of the Southampton defense. Saldado sent a cross pass to Luminaire. Fortunately, this time Okhalo was able to throw the ball in time.

In the 46th minute, Southampton launched an attack, Okhalo who managed to snatch the ball from Luminaire's feet gave the ball to Simone. Moussa Dembele tried to bring down Simone but failed, Second later, Simone took the ball across the halfway line. Then, he gave the ball to Bennett. Bennet flicked the ball forward with a rainbow flick, he ran past Eriksen and passed the ball to Wright-Phillips.

Wright-Phillips did not run vertically forward but horizontally sideways. He received a pass from Bennet and gave Kazuki a through ball. Kazuki beaten Anderson in a duel, after that, he met the pass with a first time kick. The ball flew quickly into the net. Southampton managed to equalize at the end of the first half.

Then the game resumed after 15 minutes of half-time. Neither team made any substitutions. At the start of the first half, Southampton was controling the ball after kick-off. They tried to lower the tempo of the match in early of second half. In the 47th minute, Bennett, who was control of the ball, suddenly, he sent a pass to Kounde. The Southampton left winger picked up Bennet's pass and beaten Zouma.

He then gave a cross to Kazuki. This time Dawson cut the pass and threw the ball off the field.

In the 51st minute, Eriksen managed to cut the ball from Bennet's pass to Kazuki. He then sent a pass to Flaminho. Flaminho got rid from Simone and ran forward with the ball. After that he gave the ball to Moussa Dembele. Dembele crossed to the left. Son Heung-min and Freddy struggled to receive the ball.

Freddy gets the ball but Son kicked the ball, so the ball was out of Freddy's control. Son then chased the ball. Freddy tried to push Son down with his body but Son pulled the ball back and turned his body. Then he broke into the penalty box.

Son changed the ball direction as Hilton approached him. Immediately, he gave the ball to Eriksen who had just entered the penalty box. Eriksen gave a powerful shot towards the Southampton goalpost. The ball hits the goalposts and was thrown off the field. Tottenham failed to score.

In the 59th minute, Southampton got a chance. Rudolf stole the ball from Dembele and then passed the ball to Bennett. Bennet gave the ball back to Simone. Simone continued the pass to Benson who rose forward. Benson brought the ball from the left side. He then gave it to Kounde.

Zouma kept Kounde tight, shortly after that Kounde gave Benson a pass. Benson gave a cross towards Kazuki. Kazuki this time went down and received the ball, at the same time, Bennet penetrated into the penalty box. He then received a pass from Kazuki and sent out a explode shot.

The ball hits the top post and bounced on the goalline. Llorente caught the ball before it crossed the line. Bennett moved his palm through his hair in annoyance, even though he could score a bit more, but luck didn't seem to be on his side. Although Southampton failed to score, these opportunities made them more active in attacking Tottenham.

As the game progressed, Southampton began to take possession of the ball from Tottenham.

In the 63rd minute, George made a change as he entered Crage to replace Wright-Phillips on the right. This showed that George wants to increase Southampton's aggressiveness in attacking. The substitution was also made by Tottenham, they gave a young player named Harry Kane the opportunity to play in place of Luminaire.

In the 67th minute, Hilton stole the ball from Kane. He then sent a pass to Simone. The Southampton captain received the ball, then he sent a pass to Freddy to avoid Flaminho. Freddy dribbled the ball forward, instantly, he released a long pass to Bennet. Bennet's duel in the air with Eriksen, he won the duel and sent a header to Rudolf.

Rudolf received the ball, but Moussa Dembele stole it. Luckily there was Benson who covering the area. He managed to tackle Dembele and return the ball to Rudolf. The player dribbled the ball forward and gave Bennet a flat pass. Bennet returns the ball to Rudolf. The player launched the ball towards Crage. Crage penetrated the box, he faced Dawson and tricked Dawson then he sent a pass to Kazuki.

Kazuki accepted it and bounced the ball towards the Tottenham net, this time Llorente failed to react fast enough so the ball entered the Tottenham net. Even though Southampton fans less than Tottenham fans, but their voice was filling the stadium. Southampton celebrated the goal with gusto.

76 minutes, Tottenham launched an attack. Flaminho passed the ball to Eriksen. Eriksen broke free from Bennet and threw the ball to Kyle Walker. Walker dribbled the ball quickly towards the Southampton defense. After that Walker sent a pass to Son Heung-min. Son pushed the ball to the right but turned it quickly to the left and burst past Freddy.

Freddy swiftly chased Son. However, Son cleverly provided a pass to Walker. Walker then broke into the penalty box without guard. He sent a flat pass that curved into the middle of the penalty box. Kane stuck his foot out and kicked the ball towards the goalpost. But Dean Smith's reaction was very quick, he managed to catch the ball and prevent Southampton from conceding.

In the 81st minute, Crage crossed the ball to Kazuki but this time Anderson intercepted and cut the pass. Anderson sent the ball to Eriksen. Bennet tried to steal the ball from Eriksen but failed, Eriksen provided a progressive pass to Flaminho. Flaminho tricked Simone and got past him. He then brought the ball to the front of the penalty box.

Flaminho sent the ball to Kane. Kane flicked the ball sideways and spun while holding the ball. As soon as he entered the box, Kane launched a powerful shot towards goalpost. Too bad Okhalo blocked his shot well.

The ball bounced off Freddy's feet. Freddy immediately brought the ball forward with full power. He brought the ball slowly into the middle and then gave a pass to Bennett. Bennet took the pass with his chest andpassed the ball to the left. Kounde burst past Zouma and received the ball, then he passed the ball to Kazuki.

Kazuki unleashed a shot from inside the penalty box.. But his shot was too side, so it failed to aim Tottenham's goalpost.