Tottenham vs Qarabag LIVE: Europa League result and final score as 10-man Spurs win chaotic contest
Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag: Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Saar and Dominic Solanke were on target despite Spurs playing almost the whole match with 10 men
Tottenham Hotspur opened their Europa League campaign with an entertaining 3-0 win over Qarabag despite playing the majority of the match down to 10 men after Radu Dragusin’s early red card. Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Saar and Dominic Solanke were on target as Qarabag missed several chances, as well as a second-half penalty, in a chaotic contest.
Kick-off in north London was delayed by almost 40 minutes with visitors Qarabag arriving late to the ground due to traffic in the capital. Spurs then made a sloppy start, with Dragusin sent off in the seventh minute after hauling down Juninho when he lost control of the ball on the half-way line.
But the response from Ange Postecoglou’s side was impressive. Johnson fired his third goal in as many games five minutes after Dragusin’s red card following Solanke’s pass. Tottenham made it safely to half time despite Qarabag threatening an equaliser, and then doubled their lead after the break when Saar volleyed in from a corner.
Qarabag had a golden opportunity to pull one back from the penalty spot but Toral Bayramov blasted it over the bar and Solanke punished the visitors when he tucked in a rebound soon after for Tottenham’s third. The only concern for Postecoglou was the sight of Son Heung-min limping off ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester United in the Premier League.
Follow live updates from Tottenham vs Qarabag in our live blog below
Tottenham overcome nightmare start to earn impressive Europa League win
Tottenham Hotspur started their Europa League campaign with an impressive 3-0 home win over Qarabag despite playing 83 minutes with 10 men.
After kick-off was delayed due to the late arrival of Qarabag’s team bus, Radu Dragusin’s night lasted only seven minutes when he received a red card.
It failed to significantly knock Ange Postecoglou’s team off their stride though, with Brennan Johnson able to score for a third successive match five minutes later before Pape Sarr doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 52nd minute.
Qarabag did regularly threaten and Tural Bayramov fired a spot-kick over after Sarr’s strike, which all but ended the visitors’ hopes and Dominic Solanke made it back-to-back goals with 22 minutes left to ensure Tottenham earned a third win in a row before Sunday’s trip to Manchester United.
Tottenham overcome nightmare start to earn impressive Europa League win
Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag: Spurs responded well to Radu Dragusin’s early red card but Son Heung-min limped off later on
FULL TIME! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
Ange Postecoglou, speaking to TNT Sports:
“Not an ideal [start]. I thought we started really sloppy, I don’t know if the delay got to us or whatever. Radu paid the price. The reaction was good but I was not happy with the start.
“Brennan was great. Even with 10 men we still pressed, which we wanted to do. He’s got some confidence in him, which is great. He’s done really well the last three games.
“I felt we needed the second, the way the game was going. It was great for Pape, who I thought was really good today. That was his first 90 minutes but it was really strong.
“Dom has been great for us. He had the long drought of two games without a goal but he’s been fantastic for us. Not just the goals but the general link-up play. A strong performance.
“It’s important that we got off to a win tonight, especially being at home you really have to win. Any game away in Europe is a challenge. Good to get the win tonight.
“Big challenge for us going to Old Trafford on Sunday but one we’re looking forward to.”
FULL TIME! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
A very pleasing sight for Spurs fans: Solanke and Johnson now have five goals between them in their last three games.
FULL TIME! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
A 10:30pm finish does not help Tottenham ahead of their trip to face Manchester United on Sunday (4:30pm).
After that, Ange Postecoglou’s side play their second match of the Europa League away to Ferencvaros in Budapest next Thursday, before another trip to Brighton a week on Sunday.
FULL TIME! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
Here’s Dominic Solanke, speaking to TNT Sports:
“Very happy to get the win, the boys fought hard. Going down to 10 men, it could have been a difficult game. It shows the spirit of the boys.
“I’m still to get fitter. I had an injury at the start of the season that knocked my rhythm but hopefully I can growing, keep scoring and helping the team.”
FULL TIME! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
A wild win for Spurs. 3-0 fails to sum it up but Totteham were clinical and Qarabag were not, the visitors surely will come away with regrets after playing against 10 men for almost the entire match and having several chances.
But for Spurs, this was an impressive, battling performance. The only concern really is whether Son has picked up an injury after limping off in the 70th minute. Postecoglou’s side head to Manchester United on Sunday on the back of three straight wins but will be desperate for their captain to be fit.
Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
90+3 mins: Loads of great performers for Spurs tonight but Micky van de Ven has been immense in the heart of a patched up defence; Vicario and Archie Gray too.
Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
90 mins: Tottenham are managing to this see out. It’s going to go down as an impressive win after playing with 10 men since the seventh minute. And after being under pressure, Postecoglou’s side are heading for a third win in a row in all competitions.
Into three minutes added on.
Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
84 mins: Spurs bring on Mikey Moore for some late minutes, replacing Solanke.
A goal and an assist for Solanke tonight. The striker is settling nicely.
NO GOAL! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
77 mins: Surely this time for Qarabag... no! Juninho is half a yard offside when he heads past Vicario.
Just before, the goalkeeper produced a brilliant stop to keep Tottenham’s clear sheet. Cafarguliyev hit that well but Vicario was equal to it.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments