Tottenham win penalty shootout vs Watford as Dele Alli seals nervy EFL Cup win at Stadium MK

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Standard Sport26 September 2018

Dele Alli was the hero on his return to his boyhood club as Spurs needed a penalty shoot-out to edge past Watford after a 2-2 draw at Stadium MK.

Alli scored from the spot in normal time and then tucked away the winning penalty in the shootout to send Mauricio Pochettino's nomadic side into the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

With their new ground still not ready, and Wembley out of action after hosting Anthony Joshua's latest world heavyweight title defence, Spurs controversially decided to take this 'home' fixture 50 miles north, to the home of MK Dons, where Alli was a youth product.

Javi Gracia made 10 changes to the visiting Watford side which drew 1-1 with Fulham on Saturday, with only Craig Cathcart surviving.

By comparison, Pochettino named a strong Spurs XI, handing the captain's armband to Alli on his homecoming, but granting star striker Harry Kane a much called for evening off.

In Pictures | EFL Cup third round

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It wasn't quite an Alli tribute night, but with plenty of local fans mixed in amongst the Spurs faithful, his touches were met with the loudest cheers during a dismal first half in which neither 'keeper made a meaningful save.

Less than a minute after the break though, the deadlock was broken, when Spurs were caught cold as Isaac Success did brillaintly to hold off a challenge and fire past Paulo Gazzaniga at the near post.

But minutes later, Christian Kabasele, only just on as a substitute, was sent off for bringing Alli down inside the box and the England man dusted himself down to convert the resulting penalty.

Tottenham thought they had won it, when Erik Lamela finished off a flowing counter attacking move, only for former Spurs man Etienne Capoue to equalise a minute from time, with the help of a huge deflection.

But after Capoue and youngster Domingos Quina had missed their penalties, Alli stepped up to send Spurs through.

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