Ange Postecoglou had talked about how keenly Tottenham felt their absence from European competitors final season – a “actual hole in our calendar,” because the supervisor put it. And so what was a look forward to an extra 35 minutes?
It was an evening of transport chaos round White Hart Lane, overland trains suspended, roads blocked, seeing the kick-off delayed. It set the tone for a wild tie towards Qarabag, Spurs’s Europa League curtain-raiser that includes a crimson card for his or her centre-half, Radu Dragusin, inside seven minutes and numerous shut shaves in entrance of their objective. How did they handle a clear sheet? Guglielmo Vicario was a giant a part of the rationale.
Spurs made their punches rely on the different finish and when Dominic Solanke made it 3-0 within the 68th minute, they might coast to victory. Which isn’t a line that chimed with a lot of what had gone earlier than. Brennan Johnson, although, made it three objectives in three video games with the opener and Pape Sarr bought the second, leaving the membership’s followers to experience a enjoyable event. It is going to be a protracted highway to the ultimate in Bilbao. Spurs are up and operating.
The Qarabag bus had been caught within the grinding site visitors, having wended its method from the crew lodge in Stratford – a mere 12 miles away, hardly the Baku past. The Azerbaijan champions solely arrived contained in the stadium at 7.35pm, removed from supreme for them. Or Spurs.
There have been early errors on either side, big ones, beginning with Dragusin’s sending-off after he inexplicably allowed the ball to run away from him because the final man with Juninho making use of the stress. Dragusin was in hassle when he was robbed by the Qarabag striker, who threatened to run clear on objective. When Dragusin pulled at Juninho’s shorts, the referee, Willy Delajod, knew what he needed to do.
Spurs have been undaunted. Postecoglou bought Future Udogie on at left-back to reform the again 4, albeit one which was by no means going to play as such. It isn’t Postecoglou’s type.
Archie Grey continued to push up from right-back. Udogie did the identical. Ben Davies ran upfield with the ball at his toes from his new place of left centre-half. The entrance three remained excessive. It was unlucky for Lucas Bergvall that he was the midfielder to be withdrawn.
It mentioned loads about Spurs that they’d carried on taking part in with ten males for what appeared like an age after Dragusin’s dismissal and as Udogie warmed up. They didn’t put the ball out. They might even lose it at one stage, taking part in with fireplace. Spurs would do loads of that earlier than the interval, the examples quite a few.
Spurs’s breakthrough got here instantly after the Udogie for Bergvall change and it was a private catastrophe for the Qarabag defensive midfielder, Júlio Romão. Spurs introduced an aggressive press and Ramão changed into Solanke, who superior earlier than taking part in in Johnson on the overlap. The primary-time end was low and true.
Johnson might need scored once more when he bought onto a protracted ball from Grey and evaded the goalkeeper, Mateusz Kochalski, who had made a rash bolt from his line. Johnson rolled huge of the empty web.
However the the rest of the primary half was a narrative of Spurs taking dangers on the again and getting away with them, leaving themselves with males down towards the Qarabag counter, backing themselves to get well.
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Toral Bayramov airkicked below stress from Udogie after surging by means of and no one may perceive how Juninho rolled huge of the far publish from an Elvin Cafarguliyev cross when unmarked in entrance of objective. Patrick Andrade shot wildly when properly positioned and there was additionally the second when Juninho robbed Davies and Spurs wanted Vicario to go away his line and make a saving one-on-one deal with.
Postecoglou launched Dejan Kulusevski for Johnson at half-time and it was the Sweden winger whose inswinging nook set in movement the second objective. Kochalski got here and flapped below minimal stress – he was impeded extra by one in every of his personal gamers – and Sarr common a candy connection on the volley, too candy for Andrade on the road.
Spurs have been in no temper to make issues easy. Was it not an concept for them to defend correctly? Yves Bissouma conceded a penalty with a slipshod problem on Cafarguliyev just for Bayramov to blaze excessive and Qarabag had a fistful of additional possibilities, primarily after forcing turnovers. Their ending was dismal.
Spurs didn’t really feel secure at 2-0 however Solanke, who had been denied by Kochalski on 58 minutes, enabled them to breathe extra simply. Not for the primary time, Kochalski wobbled, patting a Son Heung-min shot straight to Solanke. It was a tap-in for the striker.
Cafarguliyev would see Vicario tip away his prime corner-bound blast and when Juninho lastly had the ball within the web, the offside flag clearly needed to go up. Qarabag may have performed all night time and never scored.
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