Richarlison scores on Tottenham return as Under-21s lose Cheltenham shootout

Richarlison marked his return to match action with a goal for Tottenham Hotspur’s Under-21s at Cheltenham Town on Tuesday, but Spurs were beaten on penalties in the EFL Trophy. BBC Sport reported that the Brazil international helped Spurs come from behind before a late equaliser forced penalties.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt3QS_7dYDU

George Miller opened the scoring for the League Two hosts. Richarlison levelled by meeting a cross from the right with a first-time finish, before Miracle Adewole put Tottenham ahead. Miller then struck again deep into added time, bringing Cheltenham back to 2-2 and sending the game to a shootout. The BBC’s report identified Spurs as the eventual penalty losers.

The appearance came after a lengthy spell out of Tottenham’s matchday action. According to BBC Sport, the 29-year-old was not included in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad after summer moves to Everton and Vasco da Gama failed to materialise. His only previous appearance this season had been in August’s opening-weekend 3-0 league defeat at Brentford.

The Evening Standard, in reporting carried by Yahoo Sports, confirmed before kick-off that Richarlison had been named in the Under-21 starting side. His return therefore came with the development team rather than Roberto De Zerbi’s Premier League squad, giving the forward his first match appearance since that opening league weekend.

Tuesday’s contest also repeated the broad pattern of the clubs’ meeting in last season’s competition. Tottenham’s official account of that earlier fixture records a 2-2 draw followed by a 3-1 Cheltenham shootout win. On that occasion, Rio Kyerematen scored an 89th-minute equaliser for Spurs, whose other scorer was Oliver Irow. This time, it was Cheltenham who needed the late leveller.

The match formed part of Southern Group A, in which Tottenham were drawn alongside Cheltenham, Exeter City and Oxford United. The club’s published schedule placed the Cheltenham visit between its September trip to Exeter and a final group fixture away to Oxford. That match is scheduled for 24 November at the Kassam Stadium, with a 7pm GMT kick-off.