‘Did so well’: Paul Merson stunned by Tottenham player who didn’t get on scoresheet v Marseille

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Tottenham Hotspur have reached the last 16 of the Champions League thanks to their 2-1 win over Marseille on Tuesday night.

For a short while, Spurs fans feared elimination from the competition after the hosts took the lead in first-half injury time.

As has often been the case, Tottenham were dreadful in the first half, mustering just one shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

Chancel Mbemba opened the scoring for Marseille with a powerful header past Hugo Lloris after the Spurs defence was caught napping.

However, Tottenham equalised in the 54th minute, Clement Lenglet glancing Ivan Perisic’s deep free kick in at the far post.

Harry Kane had drawn the foul which resulted in the crucial free kick, and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson liked what he saw.

“It’s a great header,” he said. “They’re back in it and Spurs have been much better in the second half.

“Kane did so well to win the free-kick in the first place. Tottenham are on their way through as we speak.”

After Lenglet’s goal, both sides pushed hard for a winner, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg struck the crossbar for the visitors.

Marseille should have scored late on when Sead Kolasinac somehow missed an open goal with a header.

And then, Hojbjerg sealed the victory in stoppage time, rifling an effort in off the post.

Kane was crucial to this goal too, providing the assist for his teammate to go through and score the winner.

‘He was superb’

Football.london gave Kane 9 out of 10 for his efforts.

‘Had Spurs’ first shot at goal after 52 minutes – at the end of seven minutes of added time in the first half – with an effort that Lopez tipped over,’ wrote Alasdair Gold.

‘Came close a couple of times in the second period before putting the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.

‘In the second half he was superb, holding up the ball and taking men on to relieve pressure on Spurs.

‘He provided the late assist for Hojbjerg to run through and score.’