Pochettino says Lamela's goal one of best he has ever seen

By foxsports
Published

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted Erik Lamela's 'rabona' strike was one of the best goals he has ever seen.

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in Thursday's 5-1 Europa League win over Asteras Tripolis but he was upstaged by Lamela's impudent first-half effort.

The club's £30million record signing endured a disappointing, injury-interrupted first season with the north Londoners but his quality in evidence at White Hart Lane, his 29th-minute stunner followed after the break by an impressive volley from an acute angle.

"It was a very big goal, a great goal, an unbelievable goal," Pochettino said of the game's magic moment.

"I am happy for him and it helped us to get the three points. Maybe it is the best (by one of my players ever). Probably."

Lamela tweeted: "Happy with the win, I want to dedicate my goals to my family, my girlfriend and all spurs fans who supported me at all times."

Several Spurs players also took to social media to congratulate Lamela. Ben Davies wrote: "Unbelievable goal Coco Lamela. My reaction said it all."

Jan Vertonghen added: "Must be the best goal I've ever seen!! Congrats to Harry Kane as well."

Kane, fresh from scoring his first hat-trick for Spurs, had to don the goalkeeper's gloves for the final minutes after Hugo Lloris was sent off for bundling over Tasos Tsokanis.

The resulting free-kick from Jeronimo Barrales squirmed through Kane's grasp and Pochettino admitted defensive lapses had blotted the copybook.

"I am happy with the result - 5-1 - but disappointed with the last five minutes because we gave the possibility for them to play one-on-one with our keeper," he added.

"We need to manage better the game. I am disappointed with the last five minutes but after that happy with the result. Our objective was to get the three points and it was done.

"I think that Hugo's behaviour was correct. Unlucky because it was a red card but I am not happy with the last minutes because our line defensive was very high.

"We gave the possibility to play in behind our defensive line and at 5-0, with three minutes before the end of the game, we were not ready and focused in that action.

"We gave them the possibility to play well one-on-one with the keeper and for that I am not happy."

Kane later tweeted: "Well...that was an eventful night! Buzzing to get my 1st hat-trick. Think I need to practice my goalkeeping skills!"