Generally, it is bad football strategy to go down to 10 men within the first 10 minutes of a game. But Ange Postecoglu’s boys are just built different, and ran out 3-0 winners over Qarabağ anyway in their opening UEFA Europa League match.
Any hopes Spurs fans had for a normal, convincing performance were dashed in the 7th minute by Radu Drăgușin, who picked up a well deserved straight red card before either team had time to settle in.
Drăgușin appeared to think he had plenty of space to let a pass from Mickey van de Ven run past him, but much to his surprise, a wild Juninho appeared. With the Qarabağ attacker bearing down on goal, Drăgușin panicked and made a clumsy challenge as the last defender, leaving the referee no choice but to send him off for denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Tottenham played for a few minutes with a makeshift back three, but big Ange eventually opted to substitute Lucas Bergvall for Destiny Udogie in the 12th minute. Mere seconds later, Spurs went ahead.
Some great pressing from Pape Matar Sarr and Dominic Solanke forced a Qarabağ turnover 25 yards from goal. Solanke played Brennan Johnson into the box in the right channel, and Johnson slotted a first-time finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards to give Tottenham an early lead.
Both teams had some half-chances over the next 30 minutes, but Qarabağ missed an enormous one just before halftime. Johnson and Archie Gray failed to track Elvin Jafarquliyev, who got free for a cross down the left flank and squared perfectly for Juninho. The Qarabağ striker missed well wide from 6 yards, on a big chance Opta gave 0.55 xG.
Dejan Kulusevski replaced Johnson at halftime, and quickly made a positive impact with a quality set piece delivery. His 52nd minute corner deflected to the back post — with Ben Davies providing some very useful goalkeeper disruption — and Sarr fired home from close range to put Spurs up 2-0.
Just two minutes later, Yves Bissouma gave away a penalty, kicking Jafarquliyev in the box. But Juninho’s miserable day continued, as he skied his penalty several yards over the crossbar.
That felt like the moment Qarabağ lost their belief that they’d be able to claw back a point, and Spurs were generally the better side from then on, though Guglielmo Vicario did have to make a couple of good saves.
Solanke sealed the result in the 68th minute, tapping in a rebound that was reminiscent of his goal against Brentford on the weekend. Davies started the move with a good long ball behind the defense that Sarr ran onto, before passing to Kulusevski. He found Son, who ripped a shot from the edge of the box that Qarabağ goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski was unable to handle, and Solanke was perfectly positioned to clean up.
Son took a knock on the play, and was immediately substituted for Timo Werner. The sub looked precautionary, but Tottenham will be sweating Son’s status for the Manchester United match this weekend.
In the 85th minute, Mikey Moore got to make his European competition debut, replacing Solanke.
Match reactions
- xG from Opta with the penalty included: Tottenham 1.48 — 2.22 Qarabağ. NEVER IN DOUBT.
- Thoughts are going to be limited here because it’s unfair to judge anyone on a game with a 7th minute red card. Here I am, doing my first recap for the site in 10 years, hoping I’ll get to give detailed observations on a bunch of dudes, and then that happens. Oh well, next time.
- What can you say about Drăgușin at this point, man. The guy keeps screwing up. I’ve lost faith that he’s going to come good eventually. I hope he does, but I have no reason to believe he will.
- Bergvall looked understandably disappointed at getting subbed, and I was too. The main reason I tune into midweek cup games is because I’m terminally Bergvallpilled. I think he’s going to be a big star for us and I want to see more of him.
- Really promising performance from Archie Gray in a tough situation. He had a couple shaky moments, but there was way more good than bad, while playing 80+ minutes down a man. He’s showing an ability to break pressure with his dribbling and play some long passes.
- After some wobbles against Brentford, Vicario was flawless today.
- I’m feeling good heading to Old Trafford! First time that’s happened in maybe my entire life.
