Swansea 0-3 Spurs - report from Liberty Stadium

The superb Christian Eriksen scored twice as we cruised past Swansea City to reach the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

A huge influence throughout, the Danish international midfielder cracked home on his left foot from 20 yards to give us the lead inside 11 minutes - and he and the team never looked back as we totally dominated against a Swans side missing a handful of players.

Erik Lamela capped a good individual display with the second goal just before half-time, shortly after Eriksen's sweetly-struck shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

And following excellent saves apiece from Michel Vorm and Nordfeldt at the start of the second period, Eriksen completed the scoring shortly after the hour mark, with his low strike through a crowded area meaning all three of our goals were scored from outside the box.

The draw for the semi-finals will take place following the conclusion of Leicester City's quarter-final tie with Chelsea on Sunday at 4.30pm, live on BBC One.

As a result of our progress, our Premier League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, scheduled for Friday 20 April, has been postponed.

Team News

Seven changes were made to the team that won at AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend, with Vorm, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Moussa Sissoko, Lucas Moura and Lamela coming in for Hugo Lloris, Serge Aurier, Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama, Mousa Dembele, Dele Alli and the injured Harry Kane. Centre-half Toby Alderweireld returned from his latest hamstring injury setback to take a place on the bench.

Key Action

  GOAL: SWANSEA 0-1 SPURS - CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN - 11mins  
Swansea started the game in organised fashion with numerous players in their own half and denied us any space in behind. With that in mind, Eriksen knew what he had to do when he received a short pass from Lamela in a deep area and advanced into space through the middle. With the Swans defenders sitting off him, the Danish craftsman kept going before bending a superb left-footed shot past diving goalkeeper Nordfeldt from 20 yards.

  GOAL DISALLOWED: SON FLAGGED OFF-SIDE - 23mins  
We were in total control and were denied a second goal by the off-side flag on 23 minutes. Heung-Min Son's first touch on Eriksen's magnificent ball over the top was equally superb but he was fractionally off-side as he stepped beyond the Swansea defence and crashed a shot over Nordfeldt and in off the bar. There was a hold-up as the match officials consulted the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but the original off-side decision eventually stood.

   
  Above: Heung-Min Son in possession.

  WOODWORK: ERIKSEN THUNDERBOLT TIPPED ONTO CROSSBAR - 37mins  
Lucas was inches away from steering in Lamela's left-wing cross at the near post but we went closer still on 37 minutes when Lamela again fed Eriksen and he arrowed a left-footed shot towards goal from the right-hand corner of the box. However, keeper Nordfeldt got just enough on it to touch it into the bar.

  GOAL: SWANSEA 0-2 SPURS - ERIK LAMELA - 45+1mins  
Dier headed over from a corner before Lamela made it two in first-half stoppage time - no less than he deserved after a productive display. Moussa Sissoko picked him out from deep, he advanced towards the area and fired a right-footed shot inside Nordfeldt's left-hand post with the keeper rooted to the spot.

  SAVES: HEROICS FROM VORM, NORDFELDT DENIES DIER - 46-50mins  
We were indebted to former Swansea goalkeeper Vorm for a fantastic double-save right at the start of the second half. The Dutchman palmed out Martin Olsson's rasping drive from the left before picking himself up and saving Tammy Abraham's header on the rebound down to his left. A few minutes later at the other end, Dier tried his luck from fully 30 yards and his effort was sailing towards the top corner, only for Nordfeldt to come flying across and tip it away with his right hand.

  GOAL: SWANSEA 0-3 SPURS - CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN - 62mins  
We quickly re-established control of the contest after Swansea's determined start to the second half and it was game over on 62 minutes. Dier wriggled free on the left side of the box and pulled the ball back for Lucas, who was crowded out with his back to goal. He set the ball up for Eriksen to run onto at the edge of the box, his drilled effort sailing into the bottom corner, despite Nordfeldt getting hands to it. The Swansea stopper denied Eriksen his hat-trick from a wide free-kick with five minutes to go, with ex-Swansea front man Fernando Llorente also denied on the rebound.

Mauricio Pochettino said

"It was a fantastic performance, I'm very pleased and happy for the players and the fans. It's important to go to the semi-final and to have the possibility to fight for the trophy. The team played so well, 3-0 - we deserved more. I'm happy with how we dominated the game. We showed great maturity."

Jan Vertonghen said

"We started well, controlled the game and scored at the right times, early and again just before half-time - perfect. We knew we were going to see a lot of the ball so the key was to play with a high tempo, stay focused at the back and score. We did those three things."

Match Data

Swansea City (5-4-1): Nordfeldt, Naughton (Narsingh 46), Van der Hoorn (Roberts 80), Bartley (c), Mawson, Olsson, Ki, Carroll, Clucas, Dyer (Routledge 86), Abraham. Substitutes (not used): Mulder, Fernandez, Britton, Byers.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Vorm, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen (c), Davies, Dier, Sissoko, Lamela (Dele 81), Eriksen, Lucas (Llorente 73), Son. Substitutes (not used): Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Dembele.

Goals: Spurs - Eriksen 11, 62, Lamela 45+1.

Yellow card: Spurs - Sanchez 69.

Referee: Kevin Friend.

Man of the Match

With 71 per cent of fans' votes on social media, Christian Eriksen was named Man of the Match.

Up Next

The international break means we're not back in action until Sunday 1 April, when we travel to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 4pm). The Blues are five points behind us in fifth in the Premier League table, meaning a rare victory at the Bridge would see us take a huge step towards securing a top four finish and a quick return to the UEFA Champions League next season.