Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dan Kilpatrick

Tottenham player ratings vs Marseille: Bentancur and Hojbjerg drag Spurs through but Lucas and Sessegnon poor

Tottenham qualified for the Champions League knockouts as group winners after a last-gasp 2-1 win over Marseille, which ensured their place in the last-16 and eliminted the French side.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg rifled in a dramatic winner with literally the last kick of the game.

Chancel Mbemba’s towering header in first-half stoppage-time deservedly gave the hosts a lead at the interval following another dismal start by Antonio Conte’s side.

But Spurs improved after the break again, and Clement Lenglet headed them level from Ivan Perisic’s free-kick.

In a frantic finale, Hojbjerg struck the bar and Saed Kolasinac headed wide from point-blank range before the Dane’s late, late clincher.

Dan Kilpatrick was at the Stade Velodrome to rate the Spurs players...

Hugo Lloris 7

Made a flying save to deny Jordan Veretout in the first half but couldn’t keep out Mbemba’s header.

Eric Dier 7

Not always comfortable in a new role on the right of the back three but a key organiser in Spurs’ committed second-half rearguard.

Clement Lenglet 7

Similarly, did not look entirely happy in the central defensive role but made the difference at the other end, with an excellent header to equalise.

Ben Davies 7

Offered little support to Perisic down the left flank but made a number of important interventions defensively.

Ryan Sessegnon 3

Really struggled after starting the game on the opposite side to usual as a right wing-back. Constantly turned inside on his left foot and struggled to contain Nuno Tavares. Hooked at half-time.

Rodrigo Bentancur 8

Composed on the ball and full of running, as usual. He has been Spurs’ best player for some time and the only thing still occasionally lacking is his final ball, evidenced by an overhit pass for Lucas here.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 8

Finished brilliant for a dramatic late winner, having spanked a great chance to win the game off the crossbar with ten minutes to play. Looked jaded by the end but his leadership qualities are so important.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg won it for Spurs with the final kick of the match (Getty Images)

Ivan Perisic 6

Made the equaliser with another inch-perfect dead ball. Generally, he’s been a little disappointing but is worth having out there for his set piece delivery alone.

Lucas Moura 4

Struggled on the ball in a rusy and error-strewn display. Rarely on the same wavelength as Kane.

Heung-min Son 5

Forced off with a head injury inside half-an-hour, having barely had a kick.

Harry Kane 7

Often isolated up front, particularly after Son was forced off, and quiet until a decent effort in first-half stoppage-time. Much more of a threat after the break and set up Hojbjerg’s winner, even if he was a little too hestitant in the final third.

Subs

Yves Bissouma (Son 29’) 7

Had a quietly impressive second half, snapping into tackles and recycling the ball well.

Emerson Royal (Sessegnon 45’) 7

Hardly an inspiring change but added balance down the right, and solid in possession.

Oliver Skipp (Bentancur 84’) 6

Worked hard in the final minutes and won the ball in the build up to the winner.

Bryan Gil (Lucas 90’) N/A

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.