MATCH REPORT: AFC Wimbledon - Tottenham Hotspur (Capital One Cup)

Wibbly Lane, Fourth Round

AFC Wimbledon Starting XI: Worner; Fuller, Bennett, Frampton, Kennedy; Porter, Francomb, S. Moore, L. Moore; Green (Bald), Green (Other) [c]

AFC Wimbledon Substitutes: Brown, Sainte-Luce, Weston, Midson, Sweeney, Bamba, Sheringham

Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI: Gomes; Walker, Chiricheş, Vertonghen, Rose; Sandro; Lennon [c], Capoue, Paulinho, Chadli; Bale (Soldado 75’)

Tottenham Hotspur Substitutes: Lloris, Dembélé, Soldado, Kaboul, Lamela, Defoe, Assou-Ekotto

You would think that Spurs would have fielded their B-team. It’s the League Cup. No one in the top flight really cares about it (except maybe Liverpool, but they’ve got a record to maintain), the money isn’t that great, there’s a stigma attached to trying too hard in the tournament that’s surprisingly hard to shake off, and, critically, their opposition were from League Two. Even with their current Premiership struggles the League Cup shouldn’t have been a priority for mighty Tottenham, except perhaps as a chance to give some reserves and academy players a run out.

Apparently it was. Tottenham Hotspur fielded their Best XI against our beloved, scrappy fourth division club, and it went about as well as you’d expect.

Maybe a little better than you would expect. The Womblys had trouble keeping possession in the first half but were markedly improved in the second. (They finished the game at 52%!) They held the ball well, their forward movement was better, they even had some solid chances (including one or two that were only undone by the woodwork). There was hope, even when things were looking grim, that maybe the Blue and Yellow could fight back and at least force extra time.

But of course that didn’t happen, because Spurs were out for blood. Gareth Bale (who was supposed to leave for Real Madrid over the summer but didn’t, because apparently leading Tottenham to the League Cup Final is the last thing on his bucket list) opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a beautiful shot at the end of a slick through-ball that neither the back line nor Ross Worner could do anything about. They dominated possession in the first half and had the better share of scoring chances. They defended efficiently in the second half, giving the impression that while Wimbledon were pressing, they were never really on their back foot. When Chadli scored from a header at point blank range in the 80th minute, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Dons were never in it.

But then suddenly they were. The Womblys recovered immediately after Chadli’s goal with some patient build-up play that culminated at Other John Green’s feet outside the box and ended in the back of the net. 2-1 with seven minutes (plus injury time) to play. They continued to press and got a very promising chance just moments later that only ended with a questionable offsides call. Maybe, just maybe, they could pull out a miracle.

The impossible does happen in football on occasion. It didn’t tonight- Spurs held on, barely, dispersing a late corner kick chance through dumb luck more than anything else- but that shouldn’t be taken as damning evidence to the contrary. With their first loss in all competitions this campaign, Wimbledon are out of the League Cup, but that doesn’t detract from a performance with moments of brilliance against steep opposition. Tonight was as much of a moral victory as you can find in modern football. There’s no shame in this.

AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Scoreline: Bale (TOT) 16’, Chadli (TOT) 80’, Other Green (WIM) 83’

Discipline: n/a