Christian Eriksen the hero as Spurs keep their Champions League hopes alive

Tottenham Hotspur have kept their Champions League hopes alive with tense 1-0 win over Inter Milan at Wembley.

The Italians had looked like leaving London with the point they needed to secure their place in the knockout stages and dump Spurs out, but substitute Christian Eriksen lashed home with 10 minutes remaining to move Mauricio Pochettino’s side level on points with them.

The goal was set up by Mousa Sissoko. His driving run took him into Inter’s box where he found Dele Alli, the England midfielder cushioned the ball and turned the final defender brilliantly, allowing the Dane to slam home and give Spurs a precious lifeline.

AS IT HAPPENED: Tottenham v Inter

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Tottenham now travel to Group B leaders Barcelona – who have already qualified for the knockout stages – in two weeks’ time knowing that a win would see them join Ernesto Valverde’s side in the next round.

For a match so important to Tottenham’s Champions League future, it appeared manager Mauricio Pochettino had an eye on Sunday’s north London derby against Arsenal.

Gone were Heung-min Son, Christian Eriksen and Eric Dier from the impressive win over Chelsea, in came Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Harry Winks.

For so long, the decision looked to have backfired.

Tottenham struggled to create anything of note in the opening hour as Inter defended brilliantly and frustrated their hosts. The Serie A side were content to soak up the pressure, knowing a draw was all they needed.

However, with Inter lacking a genuine goal threat Pochettino was able to keep his powder dry and change the game on the hour mark with the introductions of Eriksen and Son.

Tottenham started brightly, Moura couldn’t quite connect with an Lamela corner before Harry Kane forced a save from goalkeeper Samir Handanović from a tight angle.

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Dele Alli then rifled a shot centimetres over the bar, and Lamela curled a shot wide.

Tottenham were dominating but were struggling to convert that into genuine chances and were almost made to pay when Mauro Icardi was sent in behind Spurs’ defence. Toby Alderweireld hauled the Inter striker down 30 yard from goal and was perhaps a touch lucky to only be booked.

Harry Winks then so nearly broke the deadlock when his dipping long-range shot rattled the bar.

Inter began to exert some control as the half wore but the Serie A side offered very little in attack. First-half substitute Borja Valero – on for the injured Radja Nainggolan – spurned their only real chance in injury time.

The midfielder found himself in space in Tottenham’s box but the former West Brom man took too long to shoot, allowing Serge Aurier to clear the danger.

After an hour Pochettino had seen enough and sent on Son and Eriksen and both men had almost had instant impacts.

First, Son had his goalbound shot deflected wide, before Eriksen’s free-kick was just headed wide by Jan Vertonghen.

With the score still locked at 0-0, Spurs’ Champions League’s hope were slipping away, but with 10 minutes remaining following fine work from Sissoko and Alli, Eriksen was on hand to ensure that Tottenham go into their final match against Barcelona with their destiny in their own hands.