Connections - Russia 2

With the World Cup in Russia this summer Connections takes another look at some of the links between Spurs and that country.  
We returned to Russia in September 2016 when we played CSKA in our Champions League group.  It was the first CL game in their new stadium.

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The Tottenham team missing four first choice players still outplayed their hosts restricting them to a few efforts as Spurs dominated play. The only goal in that game coming with twenty to play when Lamella played Son in. His shot was parried by the keeper and the ball rolled over the line in slow motion.
The second game came at Wembley and neither side unable to proceed in the Champions League Tottenham needed just a draw to continue in that seasons Europa League. Spurs went behind in the 33rd minute but Dele Alli leveled five minutes later. Harry Kane scored in injury time at the end of the first half and an own goal when An Alli effort is kicked into the net by the goalie. Thus Spurs won 3-1.
Top - Son in the away leg.

Two more pictures from the 1959 tour of Russia - Left The Spurs players (L-R) Blanchflower, Reynolds, Harmer, Henry, Jones, Dunmore, Brooks, Mackay, Medwin, Baker, and Norman.

Two friendly ties occurred in the days of floodlight friendlies before the advent of European competition. In November 1959 Moscow Torpedo visited White Hart Lane and were beaten 3-2,  Mackay, White and Smith scoring the goal that night.

Left - Tibilisi at WHL 1960.

Almost exactly a year later during that Double season and Dinamo Tbilisi were our guests. Due to a colour clash Spurs wore their blue away kit. Medwin gave us the lead after seventeen minutes.

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They pulled it back then just before the break Mackay was kicked in the head and was carried from the pitch. However he came round and returned to the fray and almost immediately finished off a move to give us the lead. Mackay and Medwin both scored again before Dyson got the fifth with the Russians scoring late on.

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Above Right - Martin Peters before the Tbilisi game in 1973 ( see part 1) -
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/connections-russia

The story of the Russian tour can be found @
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-russia-1959

Right - The Russian tour 1959.

COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f -
https://www.facebook.com/keith.harrison.9659
My profile / archive is @
http://www.indiaspurs.com/keith_harrison.html

The rest of the Connections series is @
http://www.indiaspurs.com/blog/hotspur-towers-the-international-index

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