Christian Eriksen fires Tottenham to semi-final spot
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Updated 17/03/2018 at 16:23 GMT
Liberty Stadium, Swansea, FA Cup quarter-final, Swansea 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Eriksen 11, 62, Lamela 45’)
Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with teammate Lucas Moura after scoring his sides third goal during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur at Liberty Stadium on March 17, 2018 in Swansea, Wale
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Spurs, who left Mousa Dembele, Hugo Lloris and Deli Alli on the bench, took the lead through Eriksen’s sublime curling effort and they seized control of the game from then on.
The visitors will feel they should have doubled their lead courtesy of Son Heung-min’s effort but it was controversially ruled out for offside, bringing the Video Assistant Referee under the spotlight once again.
But they did go into the break 2-0 up courtesy of Erik Lamela’s low strike on the stroke of half-time.
Carlos Carvalhal’s side improved in the second half after bringing on Luciano Narsingh but Spurs survived the early onslaught to make it 3-0 from another dipping effort from Eriksen.
And Mauricio Pochettino’s side saw out the rest of the game comfortably to seal their place in Sunday’s semi-final draw and prove they can cope without the injured Harry Kane.
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TALKING POINT
Did VAR cost Son a goal? The South Korean looked level as he fired the ball into the net but was flagged offside. VAR reviewed the decision but the yellow lines across the pitch were inconclusive so the original decision stood. Plenty of improvement needed for the system.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham): In the absence of Kane and Alli, the Dane stepped up with two wonderful strikes to make it 12 goals for the season. His passing and delivery from set pieces was also crisp and he will be crucial in their quest for a first trophy under Pochettino.
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Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his sides third goal with his team mates during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur at Liberty Stadium on March 17, 2018 in Swansea, Wales
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PLAYER RATINGS
SWANSEA CITY: Nordfeldt 7, Naughton 5, Van Der Hoorn 5, Bartley 5, Mawson 5, Olsson 6, Ki 4, Carroll 4, Clucas 5, Dyer 5, Abraham 5. Subs: Narsingh 6, Roberts n/a, Routledge n/a
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Vorm 8, Trippier 5, Sanchez 6, Vertonghen 5, Davies 5, Dier 6, Sissoko 5, Lamela 7, Eriksen 9, Lucas 7, Son 7. Subs: Llorente 5, Alli n/a.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Vorm 8, Trippier 5, Sanchez 6, Vertonghen 5, Davies 5, Dier 6, Sissoko 5, Lamela 7, Eriksen 9, Lucas 7, Son 7. Subs: Llorente 5, Alli n/a.
KEY MOMENTS:
11’ - GOAL FOR SPURS! Stunning curling strike from Eriksen from around 20 yards.
23’ - DISALLOWED GOAL! Eriksen's sublime long ball finds Son who controls it nicely and fires it in off the underside of the bar. He is flagged for offside but VAR is taking a look and rules that the original decision stands.
36’ - GREAT SAVE! Eriksen with a curling drive from distance that the keeper gets his fingertips to and it strikes the crossbar.
45’+1 - GOAL FOR SPURS! Lamela fires the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
46’ - DOUBLE SAVE! Olsson's drive is parried by Vorm who then keeps out Abraham's effort on the rebound.
50’ - GREAT SAVE! Dier with an ambitious 30 yard strike which is heading for the top corner only for Nordfeldt's outstretched hand.
62’ - GOAL FOR ERIKSEN! Moura tees up the Dane whose shot from around 25 yards flies into the bottom corner.
KEY STATS
- Tottenham have reached the FA Cup semi-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1980-81 and 1981-82 campaigns, when they won the competition both times.
- Swansea are now winless in their last 16 games in all competitions against Tottenham (D3 L13).
- 56% of the home goals Swansea have conceded in all competitions in 2018 have been against Tottenham (5/9).
- As well as having the most shots of any player in the match (6), Christian Eriksen also created the most goalscoring opportunities for his teammates (also 6).
- Christian Eriksen has had a hand in 13 goals in 10 games against Swansea in all competitions (8 goals, 5 assists), more than he has vs any other opponent for Spurs.
- Four of Eriksen’s last six goals for Tottenham in all competitions have been from outside the box, including each of his last three.
- Erik Lamela has had a hand in five goals in five FA Cup games this season (2 goals, 3 assists), compared to just two in 17 Premier League appearances (0 goals, 2 assists).
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