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 1-0 Qarabag
45+1 mins: What a challenge! It was almost disaster for Spurs on the stroke of half time. Davies lost the ball to Juninho but Vicario rushed out and made the tackle. That could have been a goal, or another red card, but the Italian’s timing was perfect.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
43 mins: More chances for Qarabag, with Tottenham clinging on until half time now. Van de Ven makes an important header, throwing himself at the ball, as the shot is finally dragged wide and Tottenham can clear.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
40 mins: CHANCE! Qarabag should be level. It comes after their first real period of sustained pressure. Juninho was offside, but held his run and waited as Qarabag recycled it wide. When the low cross came in, he was back onside, but opened his foot to far and guided it past the post. Vicario would have been beaten.
Let off for the 10 men of Tottenham.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
36 mins: Good goalkeeper from Vicario, who dives to cut out the cross towards Juninho. He is one of several Tottenham players making their European debuts tonight.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
32 mins: There’s a lot to like about Johnson’s performance again tonight, despite that miss. He looks full of confidence and has now scored in three games in a row after being criticised following the North London derby. It’s been a great response from the 23-year-old.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
27 mins: CHANCE! Where’s the goalie going?? Gray lifts a ball over the top and Qarabag keeper Kochalski charges off his line, even though he’s miles from the ball. Johnson beats him to it, nicks it past him, but is unable to flick the volley back on target from just outside the box.
He holds his head and knows he could have done better there.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
24 mins: Remember last season when Tottenham were down to nine men against Chelsea but still refused to defend deep? I’m getting a similar feel from Postecoglou’s team tonight. They are still showing plenty of ambition on the ball, despite the red card.
Davies has gone and filled in for Dragusin, with Udogie coming in at left back. Archie Gray has made an impressive start at right back and is still filling into midfield when Tottenham have established possession. It’s 74% possession for Spurs so far.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
20 mins: There’s the danger for Spurs. Qarabag race clear again but Udogie recovers brilliantly to make the challenge on Toral Bayramov in the box. Van de Ven then has to make a very similar recovery run.
Tottenham are still throwing numbers forward, despite the red card, and is leaving gaps for Qarabag to hit.
Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
15 mins: What a start to this game. Tottenham are down to 10, but lead. Still a long way to go, though.
In between Dragusin’s red card and Johnson’s fine finish, Lucas Bergvall was brought off for Udogie. A shame, I think a lot of Spurs fans were hoping to see the 18-year-old in action tonight.
But the change worked for Spurs as Johnson scored moments later.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag (JOHNSON 12’)
BUT THE 10 MEN LEAD! Moments after Postecoglou changed his team, sacrificing Bergvall for Destiny Udogie, Tottenham take the lead!
Spurs press the ball and win it back well, Solanke finds the pass to Johnson, who takes his chance clinically. Great finish.
And what a time too. Just five minutes after the red card!
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