Richarlison scores for Spurs U21s at Cheltenham after senior exile
Richarlison is scoring again. Just not where you would expect.
The 29-year-old started for Tottenham's Under-21s in a 2-2 draw at Cheltenham on Tuesday 13 October in the Jersey Mike's Trophy. That is the EFL Trophy, a competition that pits League One and League Two clubs against invited Premier League academy teams. He struck in the 56th minute and then scored again in the shootout.
Spurs fell behind at Whaddon Road before fighting back to lead 2-1. Miracle Adewole grabbed the other second-half goal for the visitors, managed on the night by Wayne Burnett, before Cheltenham levelled late to force penalties, according to Tottenham Hotspur. The tie finished 2-2. Cheltenham then won a long shootout 7-6, with Richarlison converting his spot-kick.
He played the full 90 minutes. The EFL confirmed his start and goal on the night. Academy players piled in to join his pigeon celebration after the ball went in.
It was his first goal in any Spurs shirt since the summer turned sour. Richarlison has not played for the senior side since the opening-day defeat at Brentford on 22 August. He was left out of Tottenham's 25-man Premier League squad list, the registered group of senior players a club can use in the league, after being told he was not part of the first-team plans for this season, according to The Guardian.
Proposed moves to Trabzonspor and Vasco da Gama failed. Talks over a return to Everton collapsed in the final days before the transfer window in England shut, the same report said. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi and the rest of the senior squad are currently in Marbella for warm-weather training.
What makes this stand out is the manner of it. Cheltenham manager Steve Cotterill described Richarlison's attitude as immaculate. Afterwards the striker posted on Instagram: "Happy to do what I love the most in life. I was missing it!"
For a player with a World Cup goal to his name, a Tuesday night with the Under-21s was an unusual stage. He took it seriously, and the kids around him loved it.
