Sheffield United vs Tottenham: Score, Grades, Reaction from Capital One Cup Game

Christian Eriksen bagged a brace, including a dramatic late equaliser, to send Tottenham Hotspur to Wembley for the Capital One Cup final with a 2-2 draw at League One side Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

Spurs had led through Eriksen's first-half opener but were pegged back by two goals in as many second-half minutes from Sheffield United substitute Che Adams.

The goals were Adams' first senior strikes for the Blades, who appeared set to pull off a memorable cup shock, but Eriksen netted his second of the night in the 88th minute to send Spurs through 3-2 on aggregate.

With the win, Tottenham advanced to the final to face Premier League leaders Chelsea on March 1 at Wembley. Victory in the showpiece event would give first-year manager Mauricio Pochettino a fine start to his tenure with the White Hart Lane club.

Meanwhile, Spurs remain in the chase for the Premier League's top four and a place in next season's UEFA Champions League. Currently in sixth place, Tottenham will hope to make up ground in the top-four race when they visit West Brom on Saturday. 

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Despite the cold and snowy conditions, the home fans created a cracking atmosphere inside Bramall Lane at kick-off. Sheffield United responded positively, working the game's first chance in the 10th minute.

Stefan Scougall lofted a cross into the box from the right, and Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm came out to collect. But Vorm flapped at the ball, which fell to Jamie Murphy in the goalmouth. Murphy seemed destined to score, but his shot was blocked on the line.

Tottenham slowly gained a foothold, with Harry Kane leading the offensive charge. In the 13th minute, Kane saw his low shot from the edge of the box saved by Sheffield United goalkeeper Mark Howard. Kane then directed an audacious effort off target in the 19th minute before blasting wide from a tight angle seven minutes later.

Spurs were on top by that point, and in the 28th minute, the visitors took the lead. After Benjamin Stambouli drew a foul outside the box on Tottenham's right, Eriksen curled the resulting free-kick into the top left-hand corner from a difficult angle. Howard was powerless to stop the shot and could only watch the ball bounce off the inside of the post and into the net.

With that, Tottenham had a 2-0 aggregate lead, and Wembley was within sight. Still leading 1-0 on the night at half-time, Spurs came close again in the 46th minute as Kane pulled a shot wide of the post following good work from Mousa Dembele. Kane had another go in the 68th minute, curling a free-kick too close to Howard, who saved.

Time appeared to be running out for Sheffield United, who needed two goals before the 90 minutes were up to force extra time. But with the Blades seemingly headed for a Cup exit, the match took a dramatic turn starting in the 77th minute.

Attacking down the right flank, Sheffield United's Ryan Flynn crossed from the right into the goalmouth, where two Tottenham defenders prepared to clear. But somehow the ball trickled past both and into the path of Adams, who had entered as a substitute only moments earlier. With only Vorm to beat, Adams slotted in at the back post to level the match and give the Blades a lifeline.

Two more minutes later, the tie was level.

Adams was the scorer again, this time pulling down a Murphy cross before sending a deflected shot past Vorm and into the net for a 2-1 Sheffield United lead with just over 10 minutes to go.

Extra time was beckoning—away goals would not have counted extra unless the game went the full 120 minutes—but Sheffield United were not finished attacking. In the 85th minute, substitute Louis Reed blasted over from a tight angle on the right.

But just when it appeared the League One side was set to pull off an unlikely upset, Eriksen popped up with his second goal of the night. Kane served as creator, setting up Eriksen with an angled pass into the box in the 88th minute. Eriksen ran onto the ball and finished low past Howard to win the tie and send Spurs to Wembley.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Mark Howard	6.7
Ryan Flynn	7.5
Chris Basham	6.5
Jay McEveley	7.3
Robert Harris	7.3
Michael Doyle	6.5
Jamal Campbell-Ryce	5.9
Stefan Scougall	6.8
Jose Baxter	6.9
Jamie Murphy	7.9
Marc McNulty	6.3
Louis Reed (for Doyle, 65')	6.0
Michael Higdon (for McNulty, 74')	6.0
Che Adams (for Campbell-Ryce, 74')	8.1

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Michel Vorm	5.8
Kyle Walker	6.6
Eric Dier	6.8
Jan Vertonghen	7.0
Ben Davies	6.7
Benjamin Stambouli	7.0
Ryan Mason	7.1
Erik Lamela	7.0
Mousa Dembele	7.4
Christian Eriksen	8.4
Harry Kane	8.7
Paulinho (for Dembele, 66')	6.5
Andros Townsend (for Lamela, 74')	5.9
Danny Rose (for Mason, 90')	No rating

Reaction

Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough (Sky Sports via BBC Sport):

"

I am incredibly proud of the players and what they gave over the two games. It was just a bit of quality that made the difference. Eriksen's two goals tonight were superb.

When we were a goal down we knew one goal would change the complexion of the game and the crowd really got into it. We are delighted with Che Adams tonight, we like the look of him. But he is still quite raw but he has lots of potential.

We will take lots of positives from tonight and when we get the crowd behind us we are a force at home.

"

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino (via BBC Sport):

"

For sure I was worried, it is football! Over the two legs we deserved to go to Wembley but you need to create chances, score and kill the game.

We gave the possibility to Sheffield and when they scored the second goal it was difficult. Football is emotion. Now we are happy for the players, they deserve the right to play at Wembley and for our supporters it is the most important goal.

It is my first final at Wembley, it is new to me and new to a lot of our players, but we will enjoy it.

"