View: Five-star Tottenham U21s secure biggest ever EFL Trophy win with thrashing of Colchester United
Tottenham Under-21s blew Colchester United away with four goals in 20 second-half minutes to earn their biggest-ever win in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday 19 September.
It has been a superb campaign thus far for the club’s Under-21s, who made it six straight wins for the season at the JobServe Community Stadium in Colchester on Tuesday.
The 5-0 victory leaves them top of Southern Group D, level on three points with Peterborough after one game played, but ahead on goal difference. The 1,895 in attendance watched Spurs’ youngsters put on a masterclass, with goals from Jamie Donley (2), Jude Soonsup-Bell (2) and Will Lankshear enough to seal all the points.
Colchester made 11 changes from their League Two clash with Mansfield last Saturday (16 September), and did apply some spells of pressure, which forced some smart stops from Josh Keeley, but could do very little to stop Wayne Burnett’s side once they got going.
Donley opened the scoring after 33 minutes, converting Soonsup-Bell’s low ball into the box. Moments later, Keeley tipped Tom Hooper’s looping header onto the crossbar, and despite some moments of worry for the visitors, they continued to do most of their work at the other end.
Eight minutes into the second half Spurs had some daylight, as Soonsup-Bell added a goal to his assist to double the lead for the away side. The 19-year-old danced around the edge of the area before firing his shot home, and from this point, there was no looking back.
It was 3-0 just three minutes later thanks to Donley who grabbed his second, striking low into the bottom corner following Tyrell Ashcroft’s knock-down. On the hour mark Ashcroft supplied another goal, delivering a wicked ball from the right to the back post, where Lankshear was on hand to head home.
This was the 18-year-old’s last action of the game, as he made way for summer signing Alejo Veliz, who came on for the final 30 minutes to make his debut for the club on his 20th birthday.
The young Argentinian striker received a positive reaction from the travelling support in attendance, immediately getting involved in proceedings with some clever play to keep Spurs on the front foot.
Soonsup-Bell added a second with just 17 minutes left to play, once again finishing impressively from the edge of the area. Veliz had a couple of chances to get a goal on his debut but was denied by Tom Smith on both occasions.
In the end, the Tottenham Under-21s held on to ensure a five-star display and continue their fine start to the season, and they will look to make it seven wins on the bounce when they take on Stoke City Under-21s away from home on Monday 25 September.
In other Tottenham news, one player put in an impressive shift against Sheffield United in the Premier League.