A draw (1-1) does not resolve a crisis, but it does provide breathing room and time for the coach. The murmurs have begun to circulate around Ange Postecoglou’s position, recently backed by both the players and the board, and it was only Dejan Kulusevski who prevented Tottenham’s identity and results crisis from escalating further during their visit to Ibrox Stadium. The point earned by the London side in Glasgow, during the sixth and third-to-last matchday of the Europa League group stage, does not break their streak of five matches without a victory, but it does leave them ninth in the table with 11 points and a significant chance of qualifying directly for the knockout stages.
In the lowest hours of the Greek-Australian coach’s tenure at the helm of the North London team, and in his reunion with Rangers following his lengthy spell on the Celtic bench, it was once again the talented Swedish player who salvaged a match destined for defeat. Another moment of brilliance from Dejan Kulusevski, his fourth goal and the eleventh generated so far this season, places him among the continent’s most in-form players. While Kulusevski’s level seems unchanged, little remains of the Tottenham that devastated Manchester City (0-4) just a few weeks ago.
A defensive injury crisis forced Ange Postecoglou to field young Archie Gray, a regular backup right-back for Spurs, alongside Radu Dragusin in central defense. Due to the injuries and the poor form of the London side, Rangers showed a better version during the first 45 minutes. At least, Philippe Clement’s team conveyed a greater sense of danger. After an initial spell of exchanged chances, the hosts forced Fraser Forster into frequent interventions during the closing stages of the first half. The usual frantic and predominantly offensive rhythm of Tottenham was absent at Ibrox Stadium.
Philippe Clement’s players knew well that the Spurs’ Achilles’ heel lay between Archie Gray and Pedro Porro, and just two minutes into the second half, they exploited that weakness to open the scoring. Hamza Igamane, from a great cross into the area by captain James Tavernier, secured the well-deserved lead. Rangers failed to capitalize on their best moment in the match, a phase where they pressed the Londoners and even came close to making it 2-0, and Tottenham responded.
After a fantastic save by Jack Butland from Pedro Porro’s first significant chance of the second half, the equalizer for the visitors was scored by this season’s standout player for Tottenham and one of the most in-form players in Europe. Dejan Kulusevski started the move for the 1-1 goal in the 75th minute and finished it from inside the area with another demonstration of the infinite quality he possesses in his left foot. Tottenham’s final push after the equalizing goal was brief, as a last-minute goal by Rangers was ruled out due to a clear offside position, allowing the match to end in a draw.
