10 for 10: Our games of the decade – 2014
Tue 24 December 2019, 13:50|
Tottenham Hotspur
What a decade! Book-ended by incredible performances and hat-tricks in the Champions League, it’s been an amazing 10 years for the Club we all love – all culminating in the historic move to our world-class new stadium and the Champions League Final in 2019.
What games have defined the decade? There are too many to mention, from that triumphant night at the Etihad in May, 2010, to walking out at the Wanda Metropolitana in Madrid in June, 2019, via that night at the Amsterdam Arena and the opening of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It’s a decade that has seen it all at Spurs and in this special festive feature over 10 parts, we’ve selected our matches of the past 10 years. It’s not a definitive list – as we all know, the game is about opinions – but here’s our take on the 2010s. Here’s to the 2020s!
10 for 10 - 2014
Aston Villa 1-2 Spurs (Chadli 84, Kane 90)
Premier League
Villa Park, 2 November, 2014
It looks like a 'bread and butter' away match on a grey November Sunday in Birmingham, but the significance of this late, late show at Villa Park can never be underplayed. This was the day Harry Kane arrived for good.
A substitute in seven of our first nine matches in this 2014/15 Premier League campaign, Harry had already scored eight goals in seven cup matches, including his first hat-trick against Asteras Tripolis.
On the bench again at Villa, Harry, then 21, replaced Emmanuel Adebayor just before the hour.
We were in a spot of bother. Trailing 1-0, we'd travelled to Villa Park on a run of four defeats in seven in the league. If it stayed at 1-0, we'd be sitting 14th after 10 games.
Thankfully, the script was written differently. For a start, Christian Benteke was sent off on 65 minutes. Then Nacer Chadli headed home Erik Lamela's corner to equalise with six minutes remaining.
As we ticked into the final minute, Andros Townsend was fouled by Carlos Sanchez. Harry took the responsibility and his free-kick sailed into the top corner via a slight deflection. Cue absolute scenes as Harry did a 'Klinsmann' celebration followed by just about the rest of the players in front of our fans.
Harry didn't look back. He started our remaining 28 games in the Premier League that season, scoring another 20 goals. He ended the campaign with 31 in all competitions.
Now third in our all-time goalscoring list with 179, England captain, twice Premier League Golden Boot winner and World Cup Golden Boot winner in 2018, it's safe to say Harry will remember that grey day in Birmingham for the rest of his life.
Team: Lloris, Naughton, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose, Capoue (Townsend 72), Mason, Eriksen (Lamela 46), Chadli, Adebayor (Kane 58), Soldado.
Other contenders...
1/1/14 - Manchester United 1-2 Spurs - Christian Eriksen's late header secures victory at Old Trafford.
11/1/14 - Spurs 2-0 Palace - Jermain Defoe's last goal in a Spurs shirt.
7/4/14 - Spurs 5-1 Sunderland - Harry Kane's first Premier League goal capped this convincing win.
16/8/14 - West Ham 0-1 Spurs - Eric Dier's injury time winner at Upton Park in Mauricio Pochettino's first game.
24/9/14 - Spurs 3-1 Forest - Ryan Mason's belter, Harry Kane on target - Academy graduates taking their chance.
23/10/14 - Spurs 5-1 Asteras Tripolis - Erik Lamela's 'rabona', Harry Kane's first hat-trick and he ends up in goal!
The story so far...
2010 - elation at the Etihad
2011 - memories in Milan
2012 - theatre of dreams
2013 - Bale's belter beats Hammers
