View: Carey Bloedorn impresses in goals for Tottenham Under-18s in 3-0 win over Blackburn
Following their triumph in the same competition last season, Tottenham got their Under-18 Premier League Cup defence underway with a 3-0 win at Blackburn on Saturday (2 September).
It was a well-earned victory for the youngsters in Lancashire and they will be looking to build on last season and lift the trophy for a second time in as many attempts.
As a result of the win, Spurs sit first in Group E on three points alongside second-placed Chelsea, who are slightly behind on goal difference after their 4-2 win at home against Barnsley.
A couple of good saves from Carey Bloedorn kept Tottenham in the contest at Rovers’ Brockhall Village training base throughout the first half, before goals from Oliver Irow, Callum Olusesi and Mikey Moore ensured they got their defence started with a win.
Bloedorn pulled off an excellent double save, firstly denying Jackson Shorrocks when he’d seemed destined to score, before beating away Patrik Farkas’ angled drive around the 20-minute mark. Eventual goal scorers, Olusesi and Moore began to pull the strings halfway through the first half, creating a host of opportunities for the visitors.
Moore thought he had an assist to his name when his cross toward Olusesi forced a good save out of Nicolas Michalski, although the offside flag was then shown, meaning the effort wouldn’t have counted. However, in the 35th minute, Moore got his assist.
After an impressive run down the left-hand side, he drifted infield and cut the ball back for Irow who turned it goalward from close range. Rovers did have the ball in the back of the net after Bloedorn rose to collect a high ball, but he was knocked off-balance by Joseph Boggan and consequently carried the ball over his line. The referee saw this and adjudged Boggan to have fouled Spurs’ shot-stopper, and ruled the goal out.
Two goals arrived within a minute of each other on the hour mark, which sealed the deal for Tottenham’s youngsters. First, Moore was the creator once again, repeating his tricks from the first half and drifting down the left-hand side, sending a delivery into Olusesi on this occasion, who slid home at the near post to make it 2-0.
Then, a matter of seconds later, he added a goal to his two assists, as his shot from inside the box deflected off of Rhys Doherty and into the back of the net for all three points.
In other Tottenham news, Paul Robinson believes one “outstanding” midfielder is ready to transform the club’s fortunes.