Brazil star Richarlison has developed a reputation of being the pantomime villain.
But after two goals in five minutes, there was also a reminder that Tottenham ’s new No9 is also a brilliant forward who belongs in the Champions League. That was Richarlison’s prime motivation behind his £50m summer move from Everton to Tottenham and, after his first two goals in a Spurs shirt, he definitely looks the part.
It settled an often drab, frustrating match for Tottenham as they struggled to see off ten man Marseille in their first Champions League game for two and a half years. But just when it looked like Marseille might sneak something, Richarlison’s double whammy settled it and had the fans chanting for Antonio Conte again as the Spurs boss has allowed them to dream again.
It was Conte who said it would be “unthinkable” for Tottenham to win the European Cup this season and, on this evidence, he is almost certainly right. But Tottenham can still enjoy the ride while it lasts and this was an important victory in Group D to keep their impressive start to the season going on all fronts.
They are not exactly playing greats stuff at the moment, there was even a smattering of boos at half time as the frustrations got the better of Spurs fans.
It feels as if when Harry Kane does not score or deliver then they struggle and, with Heung Min Son below his best form, Richarlison does give them a new dimension. Two headers, a big celebration after both and what went before almost gets forgotten as long as they make progress towards the knock-out stages.
There was also the comedy value of former Arsenal players - most notably Matteo Guendouzi and Nuno Tavares (who is on loan) - getting booed and Chancel Mbemba getting sent off for chopping down Son when he raced away.
But it took a long, long time for a game of football to break out. It happened when Son raced through soon after the restart, Mbemba chopped him down and and referee Slavic Vincic produced a red card… only then to drop it. Emerson Royal picked it up for him and Mbemba got his marching orders and yet still Tottenham could not find a way through.
On came Dejan Kulusevski to give Spurs a new dimension but it was not until the 76th minute when the deadlock was broken. Ivan Perisic cut in from the left, floated over a cross and there was Richarlison to head powerfully home to bring the stadium to its feet and Tottenham had the win in the bag.
Five minutes later, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg put over a cross from the right and there was Richarlison again to head home. Richarlison celebrated wildly and, at the end, he went to the crowd and looked in tears and was highly emotional on a glorious night for Spurs.
It was rough on Marseille who battled well but there was only one winner when Richarlison took centre stage and the visitors self destructed.
