Eriksen double sends Spurs down Wembley way

Christian Eriksen struck after 88 minutes as Tottenham killed off a stunning Che Adams-inspired Sheffield United comeback to reach the Capital One Cup final with a 3-2 aggregate win.

Nigel Clough’s cup specialists had rescued a seemingly impossible position in the tie as substitute Adams scored twice within five minutes of coming on at Bramall Lane to level the aggregate score at 2-2.

But Eriksen, who had opened the scoring on a night of snow and hail with a brilliant free-kick, had the final say just as the Blades began to entertain hopes of another remarkable cup win.

“When they scored they got confidence, and you saw the crowd but we had to play our best,” said Eriksen.

“To be in the final is what everyone wants at Tottenham.”

Mauricio Pochettino was happy to see his players weather the storm.

“Happy for our players, they deserve to go to the final, Wembley, and happy too for our supporters. They deserve it too, I’m very happy,” he said.

League One United had gone into the game having beaten five Premier League teams over the previous year and sensed another scalp last night despite trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

But Spurs claimed a seemingly decisive edge in the tie just before the half-hour after Benjamin Stambouli was brought down on the right.

There was little doubt Eriksen would go for goal from the set-piece and he did not disappoint, curling a shot over the wall and in off the far post.

Spurs looked like taking a firm grip early in the second half as Lamela and Kane caused further problems for the home defence, and there was a let-off when Kane slipped when in on goal.

Just as it seemed the tie was drifting away from the Blades, Clough turned it on its head by sending on Adams for Jamal Campbell-Ryce after 74 minutes.

Within three minutes he had levelled the score on the night as he appeared in the box at the right moment to turn in a low cross from Ryan Flynn.

Two minutes later the teenager was at it again. This time Murphy got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Adams to strike a shot that took a deflection off Eric Dier and flew in.

The stadium was rocking and another Blades substitute Louis Reed fired narrowly over.

The possibility of extra-time began to loom but Eriksen came to the fore again to rescue the London side.

Kane picked him out and the Dane showed great footwork and composure to finish with a controlled low shot.

Now Spurs can look forward to a Wembley date with Chelsea. “At Wembley anything can happen,” Harry Kane said. “It’s 1-1 between us this season, it’s a decider if you like and no better place for it than Wembley.”

SHEFFIELD UTD: Howard, Flynn, Basham, McEveley, Harris, Doyle (Reed 65), Campbell-Ryce (Adams 74), Scougall, Baxter, Murphy, McNulty (Higdon 74).

TOTTENHAM: Vorm, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies, Stambouli, Mason (Rose 90), Lamela (Townsend 74), Dembele (Paulinho 66), Eriksen, Kane.

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).