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 3-0 Qarabag
70 mins: A worry for Spurs, though, as Son Heung-min limps off.
He may have been coming off anyway but Spurs will take no chances with the captain with a trip to Manchester United to come on Sunday.
GOAL! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag (SOLANKE 68’)
Another for Solanke and breathing space for Spurs! Son’s shot is parried out poorly by Kochalski and Solanke, the poacher, is on hand to tap in his second in as many games for Spurs. That’s a striker’s goal.
Now, after a chaotic 10 minutes, Spurs can maybe shut this down.
Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag
64 mins: POST! It’s 10pm... but it’s crazy from Tottenham. Now Juninho strikes the post for Qarabag, although Vicario may have had it covered. It’s breathless. Tottenham are just refusing to try and shut the game down.
Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag
58 mins: This is CHAOS! What are Tottenham doing?! Immediately from the restart, Tottenham play it out from the back and give it away, leading to a shot on goal that Vicario saves.
Then suddenly Tottenham are breaking, but Solanke can’t convert!
It’s end to end!
MISSED PENALTY! Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag
WHAT A MISS! Let off for Spurs! Toral Bayramov blasts it over the bar!
PENALTY! Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag
Now then... Qarabag have a penalty, out of nowhere! Bissouma gets caught and brings down Elvin Jafarguliyev in the box - he just kicked him, but Jafarguliyev made the most of the contact. VAR checks but gives it.
GOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag (SARR 52’)
Tottenham double their lead and it’s Pape Matar Sarr with his first of the season! It’s what Tottenham deserve too after a bright start to the second half, and comes from a corner following their sustained pressure.
From the corner, the Qarabag keeper comes flapping. Sarr hangs around at the back post and directs his volley on target. There’s a defender on the line but Sarr finds enough power to force it over.
What a relief for Spurs.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
47 mins: The break looks to have helped Spurs. There is more intent to their play at the start of the second half, with Son almost finding Solanke and then Gray almost threading a cross into the box. But the hosts have come out and taken control, after Qarabag had a good spell before half time.
BACK UNDERWAY! Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
And a change for Spurs at the break! Goalscorer Johnson goes off and is replaced by Dejan Kulusevski.
We’re off.
HALF TIME! Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
And that’s half time! Tottenham lead thanks to Johnson’s first-time strike, which came after Dragusin’s red card. Spurs did pretty well when down to 10 men, but Qarabag came back into it near the end of the half, which comes at a good time for the hosts. They need to regroup during the break.
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