Spurs 1-1 Monaco (UYL, 3-1 on pens) - report from Stevenage

Goalkeeper Brandon Austin heroically saved from Monaco's Francesco Antonucci to set up a 3-1 penalty shootout victory in our UEFA Youth League round of 16 clash at Stevenage on Wednesday afternoon.

The 19-year-old stopper, excellent throughout the game, dived low to his right to ensure it was 2-1 after three kicks each, with Oliver Skipp subsequently tucking his penalty away before Moussa Sylla hit the bar to spark wild celebrations among our players.

Monaco's Under-19s, who we’d lost to at home and away during the group stage of our debut campaign in the competition last year, made life very tough for us and took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Nabil Alioui.

But a moment of individual brilliance from Keanan Bennetts saw us draw level five minutes into the second half and, from there, both sides had chances to win it.

Benoit Badiashile Mukinayi somehow fired wide for Monaco and striker Kazaiah Sterling rattled the bar for us, while the centre-back pairing of TJ Eyoma and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster both made crucial contributions in the closing minutes, as did Austin, but with the scores at 1-1 at 90 minutes, the match went straight to penalties. The lottery of the shootout saw us come up trumps to book a home date with FC Porto in the quarter-finals next month.

Key action

Saves: good stops from both keepers - 20-23mins
In a competitive first half, we had more of the ball early on, often playing in to central striker Sterling who was looking dangerous as he tried to spin in behind, while Monaco stifled our attempts to find a constant attacking rhythm as time progressed. We nearly found an opener 20 minutes in when Bennetts delivered from the left and Sterling climbed to produce an excellent downward header from eight yards out but Emmanuel Mifsud in the Monaco goal saved it. Moments later, Austin did well to save Sylla's drive after seeing it late.

Goal: Spurs 0-1 Monaco - Nabil Alioui - 45mins
Just when it appeared we'd be going in level at the break, Monaco struck. A cross from the right was sent back into a crowded area by Ibrahima Diallo and Alioui was there to fire in from eight yards with bodies all around him.

Above: Paris Maghoma drives forward.

Goal: Spurs 1-1 Monaco - Keanan Bennetts - 50mins
A good start to the second half was needed and one was forthcoming thanks to Bennetts. He stayed strong to win a tackle at the left corner of the box, skipped inside, rode another challenge before curling beyond Mifsud into the far corner on his right foot – a fantastic strike and not his first of that manner in the competition either.

Woodwork: Sterling so close to a late winner - 82mins
Monaco had a great chance to retake the lead on 73 minutes when Sylla's cross was only half-cleared as far as Badiashile Mukinayi who was free in the box, but he missed the target from 12 yards. Paris Maghoma was working hard to transition us from defence to attack and after his shot was well saved by Mifsud, a big chance came our way as Tariq Hinds got to the byline on the right and cut back for Sterling, but his fierce strike rattled the crossbar.

Saves: late opportunities spurned by both teams - 90-90+1mins
Knowing what was at stake, both teams pushed forward in added time, leaving themselves open to counter-attacks. Austin saved brilliantly from Sylla but the flag went up for off-side anyway, Sterling's crisp strike was tipped over by Mifsud before Austin was there once again to push Alioui's shot wide with the Monaco striker under pressure from Eyoma as he went through on goal. One final chance came from a long ball over the top for Monaco in the 92nd minute, again Alioui bursting through, but this time it was Lyons-Foster who got a vital toe in to poke it back to his keeper.

Penalty shootout

Spurs - S Shashoua - hit post 
Monaco - Alioui - scored
Spurs - Sterling - scored
Monaco - Bongiovanni - hit bar
Spurs - P Maghoma - scored
Monaco - Antonucci - saved
Spurs - Skipp - scored
Monaco - Sylla - hit bar

Coach Scott Parker said

“We’re buzzing with the result and the way the lads played. It was a tough game and the lads had to show another side to their game, dig in and show a little bit of grit. In the first half we didn’t really cause them too many problems but the boys took on board what we spoke about at half-time and we mixed up our game a little bit. When you’re in the knockout stages of a competition like this, you have to get the result so it was a big learning curve and ultimately, to come through and win on penalties was pleasing.

“We had our moments but Monaco certainly had their moments as well and I thought the longer the game went on, they might feel a little bit aggrieved that they’ve not got the winner, but some heroic defending and a couple of great saves from Brandon kept us in the game and we know penalties can go either way. We practiced penalties yesterday a little bit, we tried to prepare the players as much as we could but I don’t know how much you can replicate the nervousness of actually playing in a shootout. Thankfully we did well and Brandon made a good save in there as well, so it was pleasing.”

Match data

Spurs: Austin, Hinds, Reynolds, Skipp, Eyoma (c), Lyons-Foster, Oakley-Boothe (Duncan 87), P Maghoma, Sterling, Roles (S Shashoua 67), Bennetts. Substitutes (not used): De Bie, Brown, Griffiths, Marsh, Tanganga.

Monaco: Mifsud (c), N'Gakoutou-Yapende, Silva, Serrano, Badiashile Mukinayi, Diallo, Zerkane (Bongiovanni 68), Antognelli (Thuram Ulien 85), Alioui, Antonucci, Sylla. Substitutes (not used): Hagege, Massengo, Utkus, Iglio, Abanda Mfomo.

Goals: Spurs - Bennetts 50; Monaco - Alioui 45.

Yellow cards: Spurs - Roles 15; Monaco - Serrano 13, Antognelli 64.

Referee: Ville Nevalainen.

Up next

After a week-and-a-half of important cup matches, we return to Under-18 Premier League action on Saturday when Reading visit Hotspur Way for an 11.30am kick-off.