Antonio Conte sat stony-faced high up in the stands while his Tottenham players celebrated wildly.
This was a night of pure torture for the Tottenham boss as he endured a rollercoaster of emotions before Pierre-Emile Højbjerg won it with the very last kick. From despair and frustration to salvation as Tottenham squeezed their way into the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
Tottenham are making a habit of doing things the hard way as they did their best to throw it away, fought back and then won it in the most dramatic fashion. It says a lot for their character and battling qualities even if, at times, it was a performance which would have left Conte watching through his fingers.
Conte, forced to serve a one-match touchline ban after his red card against Sporting Lisbon last week, would have been left in despair at their first half display. But Clement Lenglet levelled after half time and the noisy traveling support chanted the name of their manager while Marseille players were left in tears and the red-hot atmosphere in the Stade Velodrome fell horribly flat.
That just about summed up the emotion of a remarkable and thrilling night which was a fabulous advert for the Champions League. And even if it was not a performance which Conte will take mush enjoyment from, he has built a team which simply refuse to give up.
That is their biggest and best quality and is why they will still hope they can progress even further in the Champions League. Marseille gave absolutely everything, their small army of former Arsenal players tried as they might but ultimately it was ex-Gunners defender Sead Kolasinac who missed the biggest chance of all to win it as he missed a gilt edged header before Højbjerg snatched it.
No doubt that was why Alexis Sanchez, in particular, looked distraught at the final whistle as he struggled to contain his emotions and disappointment. It was Sanchez who went so close for Marseille as headed beyond the post and was then denied by Hugo Lloris who also made a super save to stop Jordan Veretout’s fierce drive.
You can only imagine that Conte was wired for sound because Tottenham were forced into a change after just 29 minutes after Heung Min Son looked dazed and confused after being caught by a stray elbow from Marseille’s Chancel Mbemba.
On came Yves Bissouma and Tottenham also switched to a 3-5-2 formation but it did little to stem the tide. Tottenham were nervous, defensive and disjointed. The pressure eventually told in first half injury time as Marseille went ahead.
Marseille worked a short corner routine before Veretout then swung over a deep cross to the far post. There was Chancel Mbemba to head home unchallenged at the back post. He was sent off in the first game in September and was a hero in the second. Tottenham came out much better in the second half and got level after 54 minutes. Ivan Perisic swung over a free kick, Lenglet lost his marker and glanced home a header into the far corner.
It was Tottenham who were now the more likely winners. Harry Kane went close before Højbjerg crashed a shot against the crossbar. Marseille then rallied in a dramatic finale. Sanchez saw an effort blocked by Perisic before Kolasinac’s sitter. But Højbjerg saved the best for last.
Kane led a breakaway, fed Højbjerg who smashed a shot in off the post to leave the Tottenham fans delirious.
