Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their Europa League journey with a commanding 3-0 win over Qarabag, despite being reduced to 10 men in the seventh minute.
The game, delayed by 35 minutes due to travel disruptions, saw an early setback for Spurs when defender Radu Dragusin received a straight red card for bringing down Juninho in a one-on-one situation. The Brazilian forward had broken free and was charging towards goal, leaving the referee with no choice but to send Dragusin off.
Despite the disadvantage, Tottenham quickly responded. Just five minutes later, Brennan Johnson found the back of the net after capitalizing on a defensive error by Qarabag. Dominic Solanke set up the chance, allowing Johnson to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner. It marked Johnson’s third goal in as many matches.
Tottenham doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, with Pape Sarr scoring from close range after a loose ball fell to him at the far post. Qarabag nearly reduced the deficit minutes later when they were awarded a penalty, but Toral Bayramov’s attempt struck the crossbar after Yves Bissouma fouled Elvin Cafarquliyev in the box.
Although Qarabag created numerous opportunities, Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made several crucial saves to maintain a clean sheet. Lacking sharpness in front of goal, Qarabag couldn’t match Spurs’ clinical finishing. Solanke sealed the win in the 68th minute, netting the rebound after Mateusz Kochalski failed to clear Son Heung-min’s long-range shot.
Postecoglou’s Takeaways
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, who made six changes from the side that beat Brentford in the Premier League, saw positives despite the challenges. He used this fixture to rotate his squad, giving valuable game time to young players like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. However, Dragusin’s red card forced a tactical adjustment, with Destiny Udogie replacing Bergvall after just seven minutes.
Though Bergvall’s early substitution was disappointing for the Swedish youngster, who joined Spurs over the summer after rejecting Barcelona, there were many positives. The team kept a clean sheet, and key players like Solanke and Johnson gained confidence with important goals.
On the defensive side, Tottenham remained vulnerable to counter-attacks, but Qarabag’s attackers were unable to convert their chances. Juninho had a goal ruled out for offside, while Bayramov and Cafarquliyev both came close to scoring, only to be denied by the sharp reactions of Vicario.
One concern for Tottenham might be the sight of Son Heung-min limping off the field in the second half. With a crucial Premier League match against Manchester United just days away, Postecoglou will be hoping his star forward recovers quickly. Tottenham will also face Ferencvaros in Hungary next week in their ongoing Europa League campaign.
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