The Cheltenham Spurs U21 EFL Trophy tie finished 2-2 before Tottenham lost the penalty shootout 7-6, leaving their progression dependent on other results.
The contest turned on George Miller’s stoppage-time equaliser after Richarlison and Miracle Adewole had put Wayne Burnett’s side ahead. Freddy Willcox then secured the extra shootout point for the hosts.
Cheltenham Spurs U21 turnaround follows first-half setback
Miller gave Cheltenham the lead in first-half added time. Spurs responded in the 56th minute of the Cheltenham Spurs U21 tie when Richarlison finished James Rowswell’s cross into the far corner.
Adewole made it 2-1 in the 73rd minute, moving in from the right and striking a low left-footed shot inside the near post.
Jun’ai Byfield also returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, coming on in the 70th minute for his first appearance of the season.
Late equaliser sends match to penalties
Miller scored his second in the fifth minute of stoppage time following a corner. That left the teams level at 2-2 and sent the Cheltenham Spurs U21 contest to a shootout for an extra point.
Sam Archer saved penalties from George Nurse and Andreas Weimann. Spurs scored six of their nine attempts, but Harry Byrne and Byfield were denied and Malachi Hardy fired over.
Willcox converted Cheltenham’s final kick to settle the shootout 7-6.
Shootout defeat leaves narrow route forward
The Cheltenham Spurs U21 result leaves Spurs on one point after two group matches. The club’s report says they need Oxford United to beat Cheltenham, followed by a Spurs win against Oxford next month, to advance.
The result is a setback in the Trophy despite stronger form in other academy competitions. Burnett’s side are unbeaten at the top of Premier League 2 and began their Premier League International Cup campaign with a win.
Read how Solanke rescued a point for ten-man Spurs at Manchester United. Match events, shootout details and the progression scenario are from Tottenham’s official Cheltenham report.
