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
RED CARD! Tottenham 0-0 Qarabag
7 mins: WOW! Tottenham had been warned, and now Dragusin is off! Straight red!
Van de Ven plays a pass back to Dragusin, who is caught taking too long on the ball by the sprinting Juninho.
Suddenly the Qarabag forward is bursting away, until Dragusin drags him down.
It’s a clear foul and leave referee Benoît Millot with no option. He’s off and Tottenham are down to 10!
Tottenham 0-0 Qarabag
5 mins: Tottenham are almost caught out as Qarabag go long and Juninho is faced with a two-on-two. Tottenham are able to slow him down and clear, but that was a warning.
Tottenham 0-0 Qarabag
3 mins: Tottenham will want to make a strong start with a trip to Manchester United to come on Sunday. Bissouma gives the ball away after a miscommunication with Son over a free-kick, but then wins the ball back well. Spurs on the front foot to start.
KICK-OFF! Tottenham 0-0 Qarabag
Let’s see how this changed but very strong Tottenham side gets on against Qarabag, who pushed Bayer Leverkusen very close in the Europa League last-16 last season.
We’re underway at last!
Kick-off to Tottenham vs Qarabag delayed
Warm-ups done, the players are in the tunnel, and we’re almost ready to go at last!
There’s going to be a very slight delay to the delayed kick-off, but it’s coming next.
Kick-off to Tottenham vs Qarabag delayed
Tottenham are out to warm up. It’s still a horrid night in north London but the home fans will be glad kick-off is not too far away now.
Tottenham vs Qarabag kick-off time confirmed
The match will start at 8:35pm, it has been confirmed.
Qarabag have arrived and will be allowed to warm up before we begin.
The visitors had to get off their team bus and walk to the stadium due to the traffic.
Kick-off to Tottenham vs Qarabag delayed
With 15 minutes to the ‘old’ 8pm kick-off, there are barely any Tottenham fans in the stadium. They could be taking shelter inside the ground, of course.
But visitors Qarabag were delayed by the severe travel disruption in London tonight. However, Qarabag have now arrived and we’ll hopefully have an update soon.
Ange Postecoglou hits back at criticism of ‘second season’ success claim
After Ange Postecoglou defended his claim of “always winning things” in a second year at a club, the Tottenham boss may have winced after seeing his team draw Manchester City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The Europa League represents a strong chance for Tottenham to win their first piece of silverware since 2008.
James Maddison hopes Tottenham goal ‘shut up’ his critics
Tottenham playmaker James Maddison hopes his goal against Brentford “shuts up a few people”, but reiterated it is all about the team after Saturday’s 3-1 victory.
Maddison crowned a superb display with a fine chipped effort in the 85th minute to clinch the points after first-half efforts by Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s 22-second opener.
The 27-year-old Maddison started the campaign with back-to-back assists but faced criticism following last weekend’s defeat to Arsenal and responded with his first goal since March.
James Maddison hopes Tottenham goal ‘shut up’ his critics
James Maddison ended a run of 16 matches without a goal in Spurs’ 3-1 win over Brentford
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments