Five things we learned from the penalty loss against Chelsea

Tottenham Hotspur fell at the last hurdle on the way to the Carabao Cup final this evening, as they lost to Chelsea 4-2 on penalties.

Spurs entered the tie 1-0 up on aggregate, but soon went 2-0 down on the night, and looked as if they might be on the wrong end of a battering by full time.

However, Pochettino’s men clawed it back to 2-2 on aggregate after Fernando Llorente scored a second half header, with the scores remaining level until the final whistle.

Here are five things we learned from the defeat:

Llorente can score

Once Tottenham kept pushing the ball out wide to a flying Danny Rose and crossing the ball into the box, Llorente was finally able to show his worth. As a player who has built a career out of aerial prowess, the big Spaniard definitely looked a more confident player in the second half once Spurs changed it up. Good header, should have really been left on with Lamela to make way for Moura.

Spurs should be proud

2-0 down at half time. Losing on aggregate. Needing goals without their four highest goal scorers on the pitch. It didn’t look good for Spurs, but they managed to dig in and find an extra couple of gears, outplaying Chelsea for large parts of the second 45. Danny Rose and Harry Winks were particularly impressive, and the severely depleted Tottenham side should have been proud of the effort they gave.

No pen takers

No Kane. No Son. No Alli. No Trippier. Not a lot of penalty shootout experience at all really. Dier scored one at the World Cup, Eriksen has had a few in his time. You really just have to say hats off for anyone who stepped forward, but it just wasn’t their day.

Spurs have enough

With Moura back, as well as Dier, Sissoko, and Wanyama, Spurs should have enough to get past the next few games until Heung Min Son returns from the Asia Cup. If Tottenham can keep up the level of effort they showed in the second half tonight, that should be enough to see them through some difficult weeks.

Another trophy opportunity gone

Despite a gutsy second half display, another trophy chance has come and gone for Spurs. Without a piece of silverware in 10 years, Tottenham just needed a bit of luck with injuries and penalties tonight, but alas, same old same old. They go again at the weekend in the FA Cup.

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