Mauricio Pochettino says you 'need to kill' in football and Tottenham must learn after scraping through to Capital One Cup final
Sheffield United got back on level terms in the League Cup semi-final only for Christian Eriksen to score a late winner
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Your support makes all the difference.Christian Eriksen struck late as Tottenham set up an all-London Capital One Cup final against Chelsea by surviving a dramatic late fightback from Sheffield United, to the relief of coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Eriksen fired his second of a pulsating semi-final second leg at Bramall Lane just two minutes from time, levelling the scores at 2-2 on the night and sending Spurs through 3-2 on aggregate.
It came as a great relief for the Premier League side after Blades teenager Che Adams came off the bench to score twice in quick succession and turn the tie on its head.
Spurs had appeared to be cruising after Eriksen opened the scoring with a sublime free-kick in the 28th minute but 18-year-old Adams entered the fray after 74 minutes and quickly levelled the match, turning in a low cross from Ryan Flynn at the back post.
Just two minutes later he had another, putting the League One side level on aggregate with the aid of a deflection off Eric Dier.
Another teenage substitute, Louis Reed, burst through only to shoot narrowly over following a good run. Extra time began to look likely but Eriksen had the final say.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said: "I think that if we analyse the two games, the first and the second leg, I think we deserve to be in the final.
"But in football you need to kill - this is a lesson for us. When you create a lot of chances you need to kill.
"In football you need to know that sometimes it happens and it is a good lesson for us. We need to learn."
Pochettino tried to play down talk of the final in his post-match press conference, stressing the importance of Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to West Brom.
Spurs also have games against Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham, as well as the resumption of their Europa League campaign, before the March 1 showpiece with Chelsea.
But the Argentinian admitted he is already looking forward to the tie, having already beaten the Premier League leaders once this season.
He said: "I think it is one of the best teams in the world, Chelsea, but the final is only one game. All (things) can happen."
Blades boss Nigel Clough was proud of his players but frustrated having pushed their more revered opponents so close.
Clough rued Reed's missed chance and another spurned opportunity early on when Kyle Walker cleared off the line from Murphy.
Clough said: "They are the two crucial ones. The first one changes the complexion of the game totally, if we get a goal after 10 minutes.
"Then the chance when we had them rocking at 2-1, if Louis Reed hits the target I think 3-1 might have done. But we gave it a go, we gave them a run for their money.
"It is disappointment first and foremost but underneath that is a lot of pride for how the players have gone about their task."
PA
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