Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 5, Asteras Tripolis 1.
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur5Asteras TripolisAsteras Tripolis1
- Lamela scores with outrageous finish
- Kane claims first hat-trick of his career
- Kane ends night in goal after Lloris red card
- Spurs go joint top of Group C
A hat-trick from Harry Kane helped Tottenham thrash Greek side Asteras Tripolis and saunter to a first win in the Europa League group-stage.
The striker ended the game in goal when keeper Hugo Lloris was sent off, and conceded from the first shot he faced.
Erik Lamela struck twice, the first a stunning 'rabona' strike that bought White Hart Lane to its feet.
The £28m Argentine wrapped his left foot around the back of his right leg to score brilliantly from 20 yards.
It was a breathtaking night of football and a boost for Tottenham's fans, who have seen their team produce some mixed Premier League performances this season.
It had been a similar story in Europe with Spurs held to a stalemate at Partizan Belgrade in their opening game, before Turkish team Besiktas snatched a point with Demba Ba's late penalty.
Those results meant anything other than a win in their first match against the Greek qualifiers would have been a severe blow to Tottenham's hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages.
But initially a victory seemed far from guaranteed against an Asteras side which was lively and always willing to attack.
The Greeks had gone into the contest top of Group C and with a strong defensive record, having only conceded one goal in their first two group games.
Spurs made light work of forcing a breakthrough, however, scoring twice within the opening half hour.
Kane had already come close with one long-range effort when he rifled an inch-perfect shot past keeper Tomas Kosicky and into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Then came a moment of sublime skill as Lamela scored his outrageous 'rabona-style' strike from the edge of the box.
Latching onto a loose ball on the edge of the area, the attacking midfielder produced the most extravagant of finishes to flick the ball into the corner of the net with Kosicky wrong-footed.
In fairness the visitors should have been level at that point. Facundo Parra broke clear seconds before Lamela struck but was denied from close range by a combination of Lloris' heroics and some desperate defending.
The two-goal cushion knocked some of the spirit out of Asteras and Tottenham began to boss proceedings, Andros Townsend twice going close with trademark long-range efforts.
Asteras started the second period well but just when it seemed they might get back into the contest, Lamela struck again.
The 22-year-old, who before kick off had only scored once for Spurs - in last year's Europa League against Moldovan side FC Sheriff - pounced with a volley, though Kosicky should have done better.
Lloris pulled off a fantastic save to keep out a stinging volley from Asteras skipper Fernando Usero, before Kane tapped in after Mousa Dembele's shot had been parried.
Kane completed his first ever hat-trick by heading in 10 minutes from the end.
But his night wasn't done. Lloris was shown a straight red card in the closing moments for bringing down Tasos Tsokanis as the last man and, with Spurs' three substitutes all on the pitch, Kane put on the keeper's jersey.
Unfortunately he proved he is not as adept at keeping the ball out of the goal, allowing Jeronimo Barrales' tame free kick to squirm under his body and give the Greeks a deserved consolation.
Line-ups
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1LlorisBooked at 87mins
- 15Dier
- 21Fazio
- 5Vertonghen
- 33Davies
- 29Capoue
- 19Dembélé
- 17TownsendSubstituted forLennonat 83'minutes
- 18Kane
- 11LamelaSubstituted forEriksenat 76'minutes
- 10AdebayorSubstituted forChadliat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Chiriches
- 7Lennon
- 9Soldado
- 13Vorm
- 22Chadli
- 23Eriksen
- 25Stambouli
Asteras Tripolis
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Kosicky
- 27Lluy
- 15Sankaré
- 13Zisopoulos
- 3PanteliadisBooked at 37mins
- 5Munafo Horta
- 7MazzaSubstituted forBakasetasat 82'minutes
- 8Usero
- 10RolleSubstituted forBarralesat 73'minutes
- 19Tsokanis
- 23ParraSubstituted forAlberto Fernándezat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Barrales
- 11Alberto Fernández
- 14Bakasetas
- 21Theodoropoulos
- 39Badibanga
- 70Gianniotas
- 77Kyriakopoulos
- Referee:
- Ivan Kruzliak
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamAsteras Tripolis
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 5, Asteras Tripolis 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Fernando Usero (Asteras Tripolis) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Fernando Usero (Asteras Tripolis) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jerónimo Barrales.
Post update
Attempt missed. Anastasios Tsokanis (Asteras Tripolis) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jerónimo Barrales with a headed pass.
Goal!
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 5, Asteras Tripolis 1. Jerónimo Barrales (Asteras Tripolis) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Dismissal
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the red card.
Post update
Foul by Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Anastasios Tsokanis (Asteras Tripolis) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Anastasios Bakasetas (Asteras Tripolis) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Aaron Lennon replaces Andros Townsend.
Post update
Foul by Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Nicolás (Asteras Tripolis) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Asteras Tripolis. Anastasios Bakasetas replaces Pablo Mazza.
Goal!
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 5, Asteras Tripolis 0. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Federico Fazio.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nacer Chadli.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Georgios Zisopoulos.
Substitution
Substitution, Asteras Tripolis. Nicolás replaces Facundo Parra.
Post update
Attempt missed. Pablo Mazza (Asteras Tripolis) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Facundo Parra.
