Tottenham Hotspur began their Europa League campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Qarabag FK. Despite being reduced to ten men early on, Spurs showcased their resilience and attacking prowess to secure all three points at home.
The match was marked by an early red card for Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin. However, Spurs managed to overcome this setback with goals from Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr, and Dominic Solanke. Guglielmo Vicario also made several crucial saves to keep a clean sheet for the home side.
Early Drama and Johnson’s Opener
The match started with a significant delay due to travel issues faced by Qarabag. The Azerbaijani side arrived late, causing the kick-off to be postponed by over half an hour. Despite this disruption, the game began at a frenetic pace, and Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin was sent off in the eighth minute for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Four minutes later, Brennan Johnson capitalised on a mistake by Qarabag’s goalkeeper to score the opening goal.
Johnson, in fine form, netted for the third consecutive game. However, he missed an open goal from outside the area soon after. Spurs’ early lead set the tone for the rest of the match, with the home side dominating possession and creating several scoring chances.
Sarr’s Strike and Qarabag’s Missed Opportunities
Tottenham doubled their lead in the 52nd minute when Pape Matar Sarr struck from close range. The young midfielder was at the right place at the right time to convert a well-placed cross, further strengthening Spurs’ hold on the game.
Qarabag, despite their numerical advantage, struggled in front of goal. They accumulated an xG of 2.22 but failed to convert their chances. Juninho missed a crucial opportunity before half-time, and Toral Bayramov’s penalty hit the crossbar after being conceded by Yves Bissouma’s careless sliding tackle.
Vicario’s Heroics in Goal
Guglielmo Vicario was instrumental in maintaining Tottenham’s clean sheet. The goalkeeper made five key saves, including a spectacular tip over the bar from Bayramov’s long-range effort.
He also saw his right post rattled by a fierce strike from Juninho, showcasing his alertness and agility throughout the match.
When Vicario was finally beaten by Juninho’s header, the offside flag came to Tottenham’s rescue, ensuring they kept their two-goal advantage intact.
Solanke Seals the Victory
Dominic Solanke wrapped up the win for Tottenham with his goal in the 68th minute. The striker tapped in from close range after Heung-Min Son’s shot was parried by the Qarabag goalkeeper.
Solanke’s goal was his second in as many games, highlighting his return to form after a brief drought.
Heung-Min Son, who played a crucial role in the build-up, walked off gingerly after receiving treatment, with manager Ange Postecoglou revealing that his captain was feeling ‘a bit tired’ ahead of their next fixture against Manchester United.
Managerial Reactions
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou expressed mixed feelings after the match. ‘I wasn’t happy as I felt we started really sloppy,’ he told TNT Sports. ‘The delay seemed to affect us, and we were passive in our passing. However, the reaction after the red card was commendable.’
Postecoglou praised Solanke’s contribution, noting that the striker’s link-up play was as valuable as his goals. ‘He has been fantastic for us, not just in scoring but also in his overall play,’ the manager added.
Qarabag’s Struggles Highlighted by Gurbanov
Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov cited their travel issues as a significant factor in their performance. ‘Imagine being caught in traffic for more than two and a half hours,’ he remarked. ‘It had a big impact on our footballers, but we also recognise Tottenham’s quality.’
Gurbanov acknowledged that his team was not fully prepared due to the rushed pre-match preparations and stressed that such logistical issues should not occur at this level of competition.
Tottenham’s victory over Qarabag highlighted their resilience and attacking capability. Despite being a man down early in the match, Spurs managed to control the game and secure three crucial points in their Europa League opener.
With standout performances from Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr, Dominic Solanke, and Guglielmo Vicario, Tottenham have set a positive tone for their European campaign. The team’s ability to adapt to challenging circumstances will be key as they progress in the competition.
