Richarlison scored two late headed goals to edge Tottenham past 10-man Marseille as Champions League football returned in north London
It had been over two years since a ball in this competition had been kicked at their magnificent stadium and although it took them 76 minutes to find their stride, it was the Brazilian that hauled Spurs to victory
Marseille had looked comfortable up until Chancel Mbemba was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity just after half-time for wiping out Heung-Min Son
Even then, Spurs lacked any real conviction in their attacking play and Richarlison's opener - a header from 10 yards out - was Antonio Conte's side's first effort on target
Spurs then went and scored with their second effort on target when Richarlison showed superb finishing skills to divert a Pierre-Emile Højbjerg cross home with another header
The overwhelming nature of his achievement on what was his Champions League debut became too much for him at full-time when he was embraced by his family
 Spurs' new number nine was left in tears, realising the stage he had just performed on
Marseille were 30 minutes late arriving to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but it was Spurs that looked unprepared in the early stages
 In an uneventful first half where Spurs relinquished possession and allowed the visitors to strike efforts from distance it was Harry Kane who had the best chance on 40 minutes but he sent a low drive wide of the far post
Of their efforts from range it took 45 minutes until Marseille tested Hugo Lloris as former Arsenal man Matteo Guendouzi sent a stinging low drive from 25 yards that was palmed away
The game-changing moment came when Mbemba - formerly of Newcastle - timed his last-man challenge badly on the sprinting Son, who was too quick for the defender
 The referee had little choice but to brandish the red card
A Spurs siege was expected on the Marseille goal but it didn't materialise with the visitors quite happy to defend deep in their box
 The introduction of Dejan Kulusevski sparked the hosts into life as his direct dribbling gave Marseille a different problem to negotiate
When the goal came it was simple but effective in its execution
 Ivan Perisic found Richarlison with a precise right-footed cross from the left
 The Brazilian powered a header through the gloves of Pau Lopez, who probably should have done better
There was little the goalkeeper could do with Richarlison's second which came five minutes later
 Hojbjerg delivering the ammunition from the left this time and Richarlison bulleting a clever-headed finish off the post
For the boy from a small town in south-east Brazil, it's what dreams are made of
In times of trouble and frustration it is usually Harry Kane that gets Tottenham out of a sticky situation
 He wasn't needed on this occasion as Tottenham now have another world-class finisher that only needs a moment to make a difference in a game
 It was Richarlison riding to Tottenham's rescue here as they ground out a rather ugly win
One of Spurs' problems in trying to reach the next level with Kane at the forefront has been the tough task of convincing a central striker of sufficient talent to make the move and potentially play as Kane's understudy
 This is why Richarlison is such a savvy signing from Antonio Conte
 They now have a Kane understudy, who on his day isn't too far away from the England star's ability, but the beauty of Richarlison is that such is his flexibility and desire he can play anywhere across the front-line and is darn good at it too
 There is a child-like joy in the way Richarlison plays football, especially in a competition he is obviously so keen to make his mark on
"I'm happy for Richarlison," said Conte
"He deserved to have a night like this
 I remember him telling me when he signed he wanted to listen to the Champions League music and play in this competition
 Those were important words from him
""I tried also to create difficulties with the substitutions because we forced a lot to be really, really offensive to have Deki and the three strikers with Perisic one v one," he said after the game
"Then I changed the two central defenders with fresh central defenders to push on one side with Japhet and Ben Davies on the other
 Then at the end we got three points and very important for us
 To start this competition in the best possible way is really important
"I am a bit worried because we are going to play against City in only two (sic) days and it is not easy because I think some players need to rest and to recover
"Now we have to manage very well the big decisions for the game against City
 I trust in my players and for sure we have to make rotation because it would be impossible to play with the same players on Saturday and then also on Tuesday
It will be impossible
 Not easy against City, for sure
"September 13:  (A) - kick-off 5
45pmOctober 4:  (A) - kick-off 8pmOctober 12:  (H) - kick-off 8pmOctober 26:  (H) - kick-off 8pmNovember 1:  (A) - kick-off 8pmcan go top of the Premier League with a win at champions  on Saturday, ; kick-off 5
30pm
will look to continue their Ligue 1 title challenge at home to on Saturday in an 8pm kick-off
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