Tottenham Hotspur survived a scare in Marseille before fighting back to win 2-1 at the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday and clinch a place in the Champions League last 16 as group winners.
Spurs, with coach Antonio Conte serving a one-game suspension from the touchline, went behind the French side in stoppage time of the first half thanks to Chancel Mbemba‘s header.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.)
But despite losing Son Heung-Min to an early head injury, Tottenham turned things around at the start of the second half and equalized through Clement Lenglet in the 54th minute.
As they held on for a point that would have been enough to progress, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg struck with the last kick of the game to confirm Tottenham’s place in the knockout stage.
JUMP TO: Player ratings | Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Post-match quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures
Rapid reaction
1. Ex-Arsenal stars can’t stop Spurs’ Champions League run
The ex-Arsenal contingent did their best but Tottenham survived. Former Gunners defender Sead Kolasinac, on as a substitute, had an 87th-minute free header five yards out at the back post to effectively knock Spurs out of the Champions League but he somehow put it wide. Nuno Tavares, on loan from Tottenham’s north London rivals this season, then fired over in stoppage-time.
Two more players from Arsenal’s past, Matteo Guendouzi and Alexis Sanchez, probed throughout but Spurs got the win they needed to reach the last 16 courtesy of Clement Lenglet’s 54th-minute header and a stoppage-time winner from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. After pipping their fierce rivals to qualify for this competition last season, they survived an almighty scare from Arsenal’s past to stay in it.
Spurs walked a tightrope at times here but a night of high drama ended with the gleeful travelling supporters singing: “Are you watching Arsenal?”
