Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s last-gasp winning goal saw Tottenham Hotspur come from behind to beat Marseille to finish top spot in Group D.
Spurs looked to be heading for the Europa League after a poor first half in a hostile environment saw them fall behind to Chancel Mbemba’s powerful header.
But a much-improved display after the restart saw Clement Lenglet equalise and Hojbjerg snatch victory in the final kick of the game.
It was fitting that qualification was sealed so late after last week’s VAR intervention against Sporting Lisbon meant their fate went down to the final group game.
The entire 90 minutes was filled with jeopardy as Spurs knew defeat would send them out, but victory ensures they progressed to the knockout stages for the fourth successive time in this competition and they will face a second-placed team when it resumes in 2023.
This was never going to be easy, especially with Antonio Conte confined to the stand due to a touchline ban, and there was a sense of inevitability about how the game started given Spurs’ troubles on the road in Europe and Marseille, with three ex-Arsenal players in their side, were out of the traps fast.
Alexis Sanchez could have given them the lead inside the opening five minutes but he headed Amine Harit’s cross just wide.
The former Gunner, who scored three times against Spurs in his time in England, was looking Marseille’s most dangerous player and he tested Hugo Lloris with a shot on the turn, but the France goalkeeper was equal to it with a parried save.
Spurs were perhaps waiting to catch their hosts on the break, but they lost a key component to that plan on the half-hour as Son Heung-min was forced off after a heavy collision with Mbemba.
The South Korean had a bloodied nose and walked off very wobbly, meaning he could be a doubt for Sunday’s game with Liverpool due to possible concussion protocols.
Lloris was Spurs’ busiest player and he produced a flying save to keep out a fierce Jordan Veretout drive that was heading for the top corner.
But eventually Marseille’s pressure told and they scored in first-half stoppage time.
Ryan Sessegnon’s mistake led to a corner which Marseille took quickly and Mbemba powered home a free header at the far post.
Spurs looked condemned, having not even completed a forward pass in Marseille’s half, but came out in the second half and immediately improved, levelling in the 54th minute.
Ivan Perisic sent in a delicious free-kick which Lenglet headed…
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