Dele Alli enjoyed the dream Milton Keynes homecoming as he scored the winning penalty that sent Tottenham past Watford in the Carabao Cup.
Alli, who joined Spurs from MK Dons, returned to his former stomping ground and having drawn his side level in normal time, then sealed a 4-2 penalty shootout win after a lively finish saw the contest end 2-2 after 90 minutes.
Watford had gone in front 39 seconds into the second half through Isaac Success but Alli wiped that advantage out from the spot with 10 minutes to go after being fouled by Christian Kabasele, who was sent off.
Six minutes later Spurs, playing at the home of the League Two outfit because Wembley is unavailable, went in front through Erik Lamela, only for their former player Etienne Capoue to level with a heavily deflected effort and send the tie to penalties.
After Paulo Gazzaniga saved from Capoue and Quina, it was left to Alli to send his side through.
The 23,650 fans who travelled up the M1 hoping for entertainment were left wanting in a dull first half which had a distinct testimonial feel to it.
Spurs controlled the possession, but could not create anything clear-cut, with Lucas Moura’s turn and shot across goal from an acute angle the nearest they came in a 45 minutes where they failed to get a shot on target.
Watford, having made 10 changes from their usual Premier League XI, were not much better, although they did enjoy more moments of danger, with Marc Navarro sending a long-range effort whistling over.
The second half took less than a minute to provide more entertainment than the first as Watford took the lead.
Success was set free by Navarro’s through-ball and the 22-year-old held off Serge Aurier to lash home past Gazzaniga.
Spurs’ response was spirited and they fashioned a couple of good chances to equalise.
First Alli sent a volley just over when he was in a good position before Moussa Sissoko saw his shot blocked by Adrian Mariappa when he should have picked his spot.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men began to crank up in the final 20 minutes as they searched for an equaliser.
Aurier, the source of most of his side’s chances, whipped in a delightful cross which substitute Fernando Llorente headed over and then Son Heung-min had an effort cleared off the line by Ben Wilmot.
The pressure eventually told as Tottenham drew level in the 80th minute as Alli got the goal he will have so desperately wanted.
The England international struck home from the spot after he had been hauled down by Kabasele, who was dismissed just three minutes after coming on as a sub.
Six minutes later the turnaround was complete thanks to a stunning breakaway goal.
Harry Winks fed Mousa Demeble and the Belgian played in Lamela, who made no mistake when he clipped home a first-time finish.
However, after inviting pressure on themselves, Spurs could not see the contest out as Capoue levelled in the 89th minute with a low shot from the edge of the area that took a huge deflection.
It had to be decided by penalties and Gazzaniga was brilliant in saving from Capoue and Quina, allowing Alli to enjoy the perfect evening.
