For the second week in a row, we take a closer look at Lucas Moura’s game, in a man-of-the-match winning performance away to Manchester United.
The first half was some of the sloppiest football I’ve seen Tottenham play in a while, with every pass seemingly a yard behind its man, and a lack of movement proving to be a huge problem in midfield.
However, the one shining light in a sub-par half, was Lucas Moura. His running down the channels, his hold up play, his great leaps in the air to win headers. He was a continuous threat and an out ball for the entire 45 minutes.
30 minutes- A mesmerising powerful run by Moura up against two defenders far bigger in stature. He drove into the box with pace, and Jones appeared to shove the winger to the ground. No penalty was given, despite the pundits and commentary team watching on disagreeing with the ref’s decision.
After Harry Kane’s superb header in the 49th minute, Tottenham’s tails were finally up, and little Lucas Moura took full advantage as he doubled the Lilywhite’s lead only two and a half minutes later.
52 minutes- Christian Eriksen breaks free down the right hand side and pulls the ball back with pace to the far side of the box. Lucas Moura arrives perfectly over the ball and sweeps it perfectly into the bottom corner.
Despite making this finish look incredibly easy, it takes great skill to keep your head over the ball and to strike it so sweetly without lifting it off the ground. Keeping the ball skimming along the ground made it impossible for David De Gea to get a hand to it.
MORE SPURS STORIES
Another period of Man United pressure ensued, but that was to be expected. Being two nil down, after losing to Brighton last week, the Red Devils were never going to take this lying down.
Once again Moura drove us up the pitch and relieved the pressure on countless occasions, looking like it was only a matter of time before he found that crucial pocket of space.
85 minutes- He found that pocket. Moura picked up the ball far from goal, got his head up and ran at the United defence. Chris Smalling managed to get shoulder to shoulder with the Brazilian, but the little winger could not be shaken off. The ball popped through into the box and Moura finished with aplomb past the Spanish number one.
During a period of pressure, and after Dele Alli and Harry Kane had missed near-open goals to put the game to bed, it was so important to finish United off before they grabbed a goal back.
Once Moura got his chance, unlike Alli and Kane, he took full advantage and finally put the game beyond Manchester United.
Full time- After literally running non-stop for the entire 90 minutes, and almost single-handedly putting the game beyond our rivals, Moura wasn’t too tired to head over to the travelling faithful to thank them for their support.
Moura was still on the pitch well past 90 minutes taking selfies with fans, which completely sums up how he’s taken to life in North London.
Class. Simply class.
Will we see a hat trick of In Focus features for Moura after the Watford game?
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
