The ball makes its way to the goalkeeper, who swings and misses funnily at the top of the box. After hesitating for a second to see if his team could work the ball back in the box again, he scampers back to his box.
90' +2
Sheriff have a late free kick. Even Tomic is up for this one!
90' +1
Into the first of three added minutes.
89'
HOLTBY! He nearly fools Tomic with a low shot from 20 yards, the keeper fails to smother and Kane, the substitute, is nearly able to profit from the rebound before Tomic recovers and smothers!
88'
Jhulliam enters the game and replaces Luvannor.
87'
The game really dying a slow death here. Tottenham could probably go for another if they fancied, Sheriff look all but spent.
85'
Sheriff are not quite licked yet in group K though, as it's still 0-0 between Anzhi and Tromso in the concurrent match.
83'
Lamela's dribbling is so effortless, as he slides across the top of the box with the ball. He tees up Naughton on the opposite flank, but his drilled cross is right into a defender.
81'
L. Holtby enters the game and replaces C. Eriksen.
Good play from Tottenham to kill the Sheriff revival in it's crib. Paulinho's been excellent for them since coming on, helping to win the ball back and hold off challenges in the opposition half.
Minute
Description
79'
Spurs managing to steady themselves thanks to Paulinho's endeavor at the other end of the pitch. Meanwhile, on the touchline, Lewis Holtby is set to come on.
77'
PAULINHO! Nearly a spectacular conversion for the Brazilian! Walker's cross took a deflection off a defender's head, and Paulinho took it on the overhead kick, but sends it over from point blank range!
75'
Spurs suddenly looking a little rattled on the ball as Sheriff look to swarm all over them.
73'
A. Paşcenco enters the game and replaces Kadú.
The first goal that Spurs have conceded in this season's Europa League. Now where do they, or more importantly Sheriff go from here? After looking dead and buried moments ago, they have a lifeline!
72'
I. Isa has scored a goal for Sheriff!
Isa started the play on the left, laying the ball off the Cadu at the top of the box. He strikes it hard and true, Friedel parries, and Isa follows the rebound into the back of the net!
71'
SHERIFF PULL ONE BACK!
69'
H. Kane enters the game and replaces G. Sigurðsson.
Lamela is stomping all over this game. The 21-year-old has been torturing the opposition defence time and time again, and is playing with a swagger in his step. Has he finally discovered his mojo in a Spurs shirt?
67'
Penalty goal scored by J. Defoe for Tottenham Hotspur!
...Who makes no mistake! Strong penalty high into the roof of the net! Defoe is now Spurs' top scorer in European competition with 24 goals in 39 appearances!
66'
SPURS PENALTY!
A scintillating, mazy, weaving run from the Argentine, who is finally brought down by Paye. Clear spot kick, and up steps Defoe...
64'
Lamela's pounced on a lose ball at the top of the box, and tees it up for Defoe, who has a strike on the turn, but sends it wide of the mark!
62'
What a moment for Lamela, who scores his firs Tottenham goal and looks to have his tail up even further. He's worked very hard in the attacking third all game, he deserves that one.
61'
V. Furdui enters the game and replaces K. Moyal.
60'
É. Lamela has scored a goal for Tottenham Hotspur!
LAMELA BREAKS THE DEADLOCK!
A move started, and finished by the Argentine. He squared to Eriksen at the top of the box, continued his run into the box, and latched onto the Dane's return ball via a significant deflection. Once free at the near post, he was left with a simple finish. Cometh the hour, cometh the man!
58'
Paulinho enters the game and replaces É. Capoue.
Eriksen faces up on goal from 35 yards out and has only one thing on his mind. He lets fly with a hellacious shot that's about to bust the top corner of the net, but Tomic springs in the air to make a MAGNIFICENT save! He just about tips the ball onto the crossbar, and it goes out of play!
56'
That knock to his dome seems to have sparked Luvannor into life, as he cracks a low drive at Friedel from the edge of the area after sidestepping Vertonghen. The American stopper, ahem, stops the ball comfortably though.
54'
Head injury for Luvannor, who comes of decidedly worse in an aerial duel with Walker. The referee stops the game immediately to make sure that the player is alright. He gets to his feet, gingerly, but in generally good shape.
52'
C. Eriksen gets yellow.
Spurs are practically playing this game at walking pace in the second half. It's all too leisurely and lethargic from the Premier League side. Right now, Sheriff are having little trouble anticipating their intentions, and getting bodies in the way to crowd them out.
50'
Eriksen trying to kick start his game after what was a subdued first half. He runs down the flank and does just enough to release a ball into the area, but Metoua is there to get rid of the danger.
48'
Lukewarm start to the second half after the double whammy of chances that concluded the opening period. Tottenham have the ball comfortably in the opposition half, but there's no penetration as of yet.
46'
Here we go again!
45' +1
NOW SHERIFF THREATEN! Spurs back four are caught napping near the halfway line, and Ricardinho is released on goal once again. Kaboul is in hot pursuit though, and manages to bundle the ball away with the Brazilian tries to cut in on his left foot! Ricardinho goes down for some treatment as the referee ends the half!
45'
DEFOE! Oh, Spurs best chance comes on the stroke of injury time! Sigurdsson lofts in a great cross into the near post, but Defoe misses the ball completely! One touch would have steered that in the back of the net!
43'
The match rather petering out with both sets of players probably having one eye on the clock, which reads only minutes to go until half time. Sheriff have done well to brave the early Spurs storm.
41'
Spurs, by the way, are one of five teams in the group stages to have previously claimed this trophy. They won it in 1972 and 1984, with the other winners being Valencia (2004), Eintracht Frankfurt (1980), PSV (1978) and fellow two-time champs Sevilla (2006, 2007).
39'
Play is resumed, and Sheriff return the ball to Spurs.
37'
Spurs sportingly kick the ball out of play for Moyal to receive treatment. Doesn't look to be anything serious.
35'
Sigurdsson spots Defoe and Lamela making runs into the box, an from the left side, he dinks in a clever ball for them to feast on, but Tomic is swift and stout off his line, taking out the English striker and getting the ball at his feet.
33'
Lovely first time ball by Walker intended for Sigurdsson at the far post, bu Metoua gets an important tough with his head to steer it away from danger.
31'
Lamela has another crack at goal from the top of the 18 yard area, but Metoua charges down his attempt, which bobbles wide tamely in the end.
30'
Spurs quickly back down at the other end of the pitch. The ball is whipped in by Walker, it's not properly cleared by Metoua, and Lamela strikes it on the volley from the edge of the box, but Samardzic makes a heroic block! Leading by example, the skipper!
28'
Eriksen coughs up the ball carelessly, and Ricardinho is on it at the top of the box, but in his haste to get a shot off, he shapes his body wrongly, and fires it JUST wide! That could have easily gone in, two chances in as many minutes for the visitors!
26'
SHERIFF HIT THE POST! Ricardinho catches Dembele and Capoue too high up field, and goes barreling down the middle towards the opposition box. He slips in Isa on the right for the finish, which takes a deflection off Kaboul and cracks the post with a thud!
24'
The game has been played virtually exclusively in the Sheriff half since the first whistle. Despite that, there's been only the one save for Tomic to make from Dembele's rasping drive.
22'
PENALTY APPEAL! Lamela showcases that prodigious dribbling ability of his, going past Paye and Moyal on the right hand side, before losing his balance and going tumbling in the box. The referee rightfully waves play on however.
20'
Not good enough from Lamela, who bends the free kick right onto the head of Moyal, who clears on the near post. Not even close to a Spurs touch, that ball.
19'
Walker sells a fake to Paye easily on the right, but strangely opts against angling a cross into the box and cuts a shot pass back to Lamela. The Argentine is clipped instantly, and Spurs have a dangerous free kick on the corner of the area.
17'
Naughton with a rush of blood to the head as he has a pop under pressure from all of 35 yards. No need to dwell on that attempt, which was closer to the parking lot than the goal.
15'
Sigurdsson tries to inch in a reverse ball to Defoe, but despite the forward's good run, Metoua reads his intentions and cuts out the pass well.
13'
No genuine sights for Defoe as of yet. The veteran forward is on the goal hunt tonight, as he will smash Martin Chivers' club European record of 22 goals if he finds the back of the net tonight.
11'
Speaking of the Frenchman, here he goes charging through the middle! Sheriff again can't get close to the Tottenham man on the ball, and he takes that opportunity to strike on Tomic's goal, missing the bottom corner by inches!
9'
Spurs have been fizzing and bubbling to start this one, showing plenty of enterprise in midfield. Dembele and Capoue look in complete control in the centre of the park.
7'
DEMBELE! Oh, that was a FIRM shot by the Belgian powerhouse! He drives through the middle in his typical manner, and takes advantage of the visitors' reluctance to close him down to have a crack, which Tomic pushes away at full stretch!
5'
Spurs trying to set the tempo at max in the early stages as Lamela drives at the Sheriff defence, but is ensconced in a pile of defenders and loses out. Tottenham's record signing could really use a good game and/or a goal today after an unassuming start to his career in England.
3'
Brad Friedel, by the way, is the oldest ever player to participate in an Europa League match. He's no spring chicken at 42 years, five months and 11 days.
1'
Here we go!
Greetings one and all, and welcome to another evening of Europa League action. We're at White Hart Lane tonight, for Tottenham's showdown with Sheriff. I'm Keeghann Sinanan, your guru for all the action.
Jan Vertonghen and Jermain Defoe each bagged a goal as Spurs defeated Sheriff in the reverse fixture on matcday three, and the pair both start today for the hosts. Another win tonight, and Tottenham will wrap up qualification from Group K.
It's been three wins from three for Spurs in the group, with both of their home games ending in 3-0 victories. In fact, Tottenham have not lost at home in their last eight European games, winning six and drawing two.
Sheriff meanwhile are yet to win away from home in this competition in a dozen attempts. Their 2-0 loss to Spurs two weeks ago was the Moldovan club's largest reverse at home in the competition.
Superb noise reverberating around the ground as the players line up on the pitch. We're just about ready to get the ball rolling.
The scoreline does not tell the story of this game in the slightest. Spurs have dominated possession and cranked an unbelievable amount of pressure around Tomic's goal during their best spells of the half. But Sheriff are the side that have created the best chances, taking full advantage of Tottenham's eagerness to get forward and hitting them on the break. It's to early to call this one, which is set up nicely for the second half, so stay tuned!
That's my cue folks, it's been a pleasure. See you next time.
A good day for Lamela and Defoe, the former breaking his Spurs duck and the latter smashing Spurs' European scoring record. Totttenham are heading into the next round after their fourth win in as many games in the Europa Leauge. Sheriff, meanwhile, have to start picking up some points, and will nervously await the conclusion of Anzhi's and Tromso's concurrent game.
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