Tottenham Hotspur put on a masterclass performance, delivering a commanding 3-0 win against Qarabag in their Europa League opener.
Despite being reduced to 10 men after Radu Dragusin’s early dismissal in the 8th minute, Ange Postecoglou’s side showed remarkable tactical discipline and control.
With goals from Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr, and Dominic Solanke, Spurs brushed aside their Azerbaijani opponents, even with the added worry of Son Heung-min’s injury in the 70th minute.
The North Londoners’ confident start to the tournament signals they are more than ready to contend for silverware this season.
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Tottenham faced an uphill battle just eight minutes into the match when Romanian defender Radu Dragusin was shown a red card for pulling down Qarabag’s Juninho as he raced through on goal.
Playing with 10 men for nearly the entire game could have derailed any team, but Spurs were unfazed.
Ange Postecoglou’s men quickly regrouped, maintaining their composure and tactical shape to keep Qarabag from exploiting their numerical advantage.
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Despite the setback, Tottenham dominated possession, outplaying Qarabag in every department.
With controlled passing and calm defending, they effectively neutralized Qarabag’s attempts to press forward. It’s a testament to Postecoglou’s management that Spurs looked like the superior side, even with fewer players on the field.
The breakthrough came just four minutes after Dragusin’s dismissal. Brennan Johnson, in fine form, took advantage of a defensive blunder by Qarabag to slot home his third goal in three games.
The Welsh forward, who had been facing criticism earlier in the season, has bounced back spectacularly, silencing his doubters in the best possible way.
Johnson’s finish from 10 yards was as composed as you’d expect from a player full of confidence. Qarabag, having conceded possession cheaply, were made to pay for their error as Tottenham seized the early lead, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Tottenham continued to control proceedings, and it was only a matter of time before they extended their lead.
In the 52nd minute, Pape Sarr delivered the second goal with a well-taken volley from close range after Qarabag keeper Mateusz Kochalski failed to deal with a corner.
Sarr’s composure and awareness in the box exemplified Tottenham’s tactical discipline, as they capitalized on Qarabag’s errors time and again.
Though Qarabag was handed a lifeline just four minutes later with a penalty, their chance to claw back into the game evaporated when Toral Bayramov blazed the spot-kick over the bar.
It was the last significant threat from Qarabag as Spurs continued to control the tempo and rhythm of the game.
Dominic Solanke wrapped up the win in the 68th minute, slotting home his second goal since joining Spurs from Bournemouth in the summer transfer window.
Solanke’s strike ensured that Tottenham’s numerical disadvantage never threatened their march to victory.
However, not all was smooth sailing for Tottenham. In the 70th minute, captain Son Heung-min was forced off with what appeared to be a worrying injury.
Son has been the heartbeat of this Tottenham side, and his fitness is crucial for their aspirations in both domestic and European competitions.
The extent of his injury is yet to be confirmed, but any extended absence could significantly impact their season. Spurs fans will be anxiously awaiting updates on their talisman’s condition.
Despite the challenges posed by the early red card and Son’s injury scare, Tottenham’s performance showed why they are serious contenders in this season’s Europa League.
Their tactical discipline, clinical finishing, and ability to adapt to adverse conditions make them one of the teams to watch in the competition.
With sterner tests ahead, including potential matchups against top-tier European teams, Tottenham will need to maintain this level of performance if they are to break their trophy drought, which dates back to 2008.
Manager Ange Postecoglou has a history of success in his second season with clubs, and Spurs fans will be hoping he can replicate that success in North London.
In other Europa League action, Roma was held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao after conceding a late equalizer.
Artem Dovbyk’s header gave Roma the lead in the 32nd minute, but Aitor Paredes’ 85th-minute goal denied them victory. Roma’s struggles continue as they adapt to a new manager following Daniele De Rossi’s sacking just four games into the season.
Meanwhile, José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce began their campaign with a 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
Mourinho, who has won the Europa League twice before with Manchester United and Porto, saw his side take control early through Caglar Soyuncu’s 26th-minute strike.
Christian Burgess’ own goal doubled Fenerbahce’s lead before Ross Sykes pulled one back in stoppage time for Union Saint-Gilloise.
