Tottenham came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Hotspur Way.
A late addition to Spurs’ pre-season schedule, the fixture was only announced on Wednesday with Thomas Frank explaining it was designed to give players as many minutes as possible heading into the new season.
Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Brandon Austin were certainly among the beneficiaries as they were handed their first minutes of pre-season. However, Tottenham suffered a setback before kick-off when Rodrigo Bentancur was pulled from the matchday squad due to illness.
The hosts started the stronger of the two sides and it was no surprise when Pape Matar Sarr broke the deadlock inside 15 minutes. The Senegal international - operating as the most advanced midfielder - pounced to score the rebound after Mikki van Sas had parried Odobert’s powerful effort.
Spurs had further chances to increase their lead as captain Heung-min Son, Pedro Porro and Richarlison all went close.
Wycombe, who had barely offered a threat going forward in the opening half hour, found themselves level against the run of play when Armando Junior Quitirna’s effort took a wicked deflection which deceived Brandon Austin.
It was a moment to forget for the Spurs goalkeeper as while taking the deflection into account, he allowed the ball to squirm through his legs and into the back of the net.
That said, there was nothing Austin could do about Quitirna’s second of the day.
Daniel Udoh did well to hold the ball up for the visitors and he squared for Quitirna who produced a thumping finish to put the League One side ahead early in the second half.
Cristian Romero could count himself lucky to avoid a red card after catching a Wycombe player in the face with his elbow before Porro saw a deflected effort hit the crossbar as Spurs chased an equaliser.
Tynan Thompson was one of several Tottenham youngsters to feature in the second half and he certainly caught the eye. First claiming an assist for Sarr to ram home the equaliser before dragging an effort just wide in the closing stages.
As planned Spurs’ remaining first-team players were withdrawn in the 75th minute and the youngsters saw out a draw in the club’s first pre-season fixture of the day.
