Anderlecht 2-1 Tottenham Hospur: Spurs are beaten as Belgians come from behind
It was a miserable evening for Spurs as their awful record in Belgium continued, when they were beaten 2-1 by Anderlecht in Europa League Group J.
Spurs have never won in Belgium and the loss also spells the end of their month-long unbeaten run, after going without defeat in their four matches since they were beaten in the League Cup by rivals Arsenal.
Spurs had a lively start as Christian Eriksen opened the scoring and they pressed for a second. The flow of the game was turned as Anderlecht grew into the contest and were level through Guillaume Gillet. Spurs lost their shape and quality on the ball and Stefano Okaka won it with just over 15 minutes remaining.
Pochettino’s men looked defensively poor defending set pieces, something Eddie Howe may look to exploit when his Bournemouth side host Tottenham on Sunday.
Harry Kane was rested and dropped to the bench by the Pochettino, who handed summer signing Clinton Njie a first start since his transfer from Lyon.
Spurs were without attackers Nacer Chadli (ankle ligaments) and Son Heung-min, who is could be absent for another three weeks.
After Anderlecht’s attacking start saw Hugo Lloris nearly caught out in the opening 30 seconds, Spurs found a breakthrough inside four minutes. Kara Mbodji’s clearance luckily rebounded off a team-mate into the path of Dane Eriksen, who was through on goal and he coolly dispatched.
The Spurs playmaker looked in the mood in the opening stages at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, and he nearly added a second within minutes as his well-struck free-kick was deflected just past the post.
After a poor start, Anderlecht were back on level terms as Gillet scored his second goal in three Europa League appearances. The right-back controlled a bouncing ball on the edge of the box before lashing it home on the volley past Hugo Lloris and it gave the Belgian side the momentum.
Erik Lamela had the ball in the back of the net following a bursting run by Jan Vertonghen, but Spurs’ record buy Lamela was in an offside position and his goal was ruled out.
Spurs nearly conceded before the break as Imoh Ezekiel led a pacey attack, with Vertonghen making a decisive lunge to block the Nigerian’s cross.
Andros Townsend showed his threat from the right as he came inside his marker, curling a shot across goal from 12 yards, just edging past the far corner.
The Jupiler Pro League outfit showed the attack in their ranks when they had good chances early in the second half, Ezekiel going close at the near post after sloppy play by Mousa Dembele.
After Njie had been booked, he had since committed another foul and the Spurs boss acted quickly, substituting the player and introducing England forward Kane.
Lloris punched a fizzing shot clear and Kane's influence on the game was soon evident. The 22-year-old showed good strength and awareness to get goalside of his marker and, from a tight angle, attempted to slide the ball low past Silvio Proto, who saved well.
The home side snatched a deserved win with less than 20 minutes left to play. Frank Acheampong made a run behind Keiran Trippier on Spurs' right-hand side, before squaring the ball across goal for Okaka to stab home from close range.
Lloris was on hand in the final minutes to brilliantly deny Dennis Praet, but it made no difference as Spurs failed to find an equaliser.
Elsewhere in Group J, Monaco were 1-0 winners at home to FK Qarabag and Spurs slip to joint second, level on points with Anderlecht.