In a commanding performance, Tottenham secured a 3-0 victory over Qarabag in their opening Europa League fixture, despite playing with ten men for most of the match.
- Radu Dragusin received a red card in the eighth minute, leaving Tottenham a player down early in the game.
- Brennan Johnson opened the scoring for Tottenham shortly after Dragusin’s dismissal.
- Pape Sarr doubled Tottenham’s lead early in the second half.
- Dominic Solanke rounded off the scoreline with Tottenham’s third goal, while Guglielmo Vicario made several crucial saves.
Tottenham Hotspur began their Europa League campaign with a decisive 3-0 win against Qarabag, overcoming the early setback of Radu Dragusin’s eighth-minute red card. Despite being reduced to ten men, Tottenham displayed resilience and strategic prowess throughout the match.
Brennan Johnson quickly responded to the dismissal of Dragusin by scoring the opener in the 12th minute. Johnson’s goal, his third in consecutive matches, set the tone for Tottenham’s dominance. Although he later missed an open goal following a mistake by Qarabag’s goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski, his initial strike was instrumental in establishing momentum for the team.
Tottenham’s second goal came early in the second half when Pape Sarr capitalised on a defensive lapse to double the lead in the 52nd minute. Qarabag, struggling to make their mark despite holding a statistical advantage in expected goals (xG 2.22), squandered multiple opportunities, including a missed penalty by Toral Bayramov, who clipped the crossbar.
Dominic Solanke sealed the victory in the 68th minute, scoring his second goal in two games after Heung-Min Son’s shot was parried. Solanke’s performance, characterised by effective link-up play and goal-scoring prowess, highlighted his importance to the team’s success.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario played a pivotal role in Tottenham’s defence, making five critical saves, including thwarting a long-range effort from Elvin Cafarquliyev destined for the top corner. Vicario’s presence ensured Tottenham maintained their clean sheet despite intense pressure from Qarabag.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou acknowledged the team’s slow start but praised the overall reaction and pressing game, even with a numerical disadvantage. He emphasised the strategic use of players like Dejan Kulusevski to maintain energy levels in the second half.
Qarabag manager Gurban Gurbanov cited travel disruptions and lack of preparation time as factors affecting their performance, noting the adverse impact on their readiness and execution.
Tottenham’s composed performance and strategic resilience secured a commendable 3-0 victory against Qarabag in their Europa League opener.
