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September 28, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Qarabag: Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke shine as 10-man Spurs cruise past wasteful Qarabag

It was an unusual evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the match kicking off 35 minutes late due to Qarabag’s team bus being delayed in traffic. Despite Tottenham going down to 10 men early after Radu Dragusin’s red card in the 8th minute, Qarabag squandered multiple opportunities, including a missed penalty, and ultimately found themselves on the losing end of a 3-0 scoreline. Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Sarr, and Dominic Solanke all found the net to secure a comfortable victory for Spurs in their UEFA Europa League opener.

Despite the chaotic start and numerical disadvantage, Spurs quickly took control of the match. Johnson opened the scoring just four minutes after the red card, netting his third goal in three games following a sharp assist from Solanke. Their composed and clinical finishing, combined with Qarabag’s inefficiency in front of goal, ensured Tottenham emerged with a strong result despite the early setback.

Ange Postecoglou’s side doubled their lead just seven minutes into the second half when Pape Matar Sarr volleyed home from a right-wing corner. Despite being two goals down, Qarabag remained a threat, with Juninho hitting the post and Toral Bayramov missing a penalty that struck the crossbar. However, the Azerbaijani side failed to capitalize on their chances, and Dominic Solanke secured the win for Spurs with a simple tap-in 22 minutes from time.

The only downside to an otherwise positive night for Tottenham was the early withdrawal of captain Son Heung-Min, which could potentially impact their upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United.

Talking Point: Tottenham managed to navigate an eventful and challenging evening, marked by a delayed kickoff and an early red card for Radu Dragusin, to begin their Europa League campaign positively. Postecoglou will be pleased that his team showed resilience and composure despite the setbacks. With Spurs being considered one of the tournament favorites, this result strengthens their hopes of ending their trophy drought. Postecoglou, known for winning silverware in his second season, may be eyeing this as the year for Tottenham to claim their first European trophy since their UEFA Cup triumphs in 1972 and 1984.

There’s a long road ahead and likely fewer unusual challenges to face, but considering the circumstances, this was a solid and encouraging start for Tottenham.

Dominic Solanke (Tottenham): The striker delivered an outstanding performance, working tirelessly to hold up play and contributing with both a goal and an assist. After overcoming early injuries, Solanke is beginning to show his full potential in a Spurs shirt.

Player Ratings

Tottenham:

Vicario 8, Van de Ven 8, Gray 8, Dragusin 3, Davies 7, Bissouma 8, Sarr 8, Johnson 8, Solanke 8*, Son 7.

Substitutes: Udogie 8, Kulusevski 7, Bentancur 6, Werner 6, Moore n/a.

Qarabag:

Kochalski 7, Huseynov 7, Bayramov 7, Mustafazada 7, Cafarquliyev 6, Silva 7, Zoubir 7, Romao 7, Andrade 7, Benzia 7, Juninho 8.

Substitutes: Addai 6, Andrade 6, Jankovic n/a, Huseynov n/a.

Match Highlights

08′ – Tottenham Red Card: Radu Dragusin is sent off for pulling down Juninho, who was clean through on goal after stealing possession in the center circle.

12′ – Goal! Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag: Johnson calmly slots a low shot into the far corner after a great challenge by Solanke set him up inside the box.

52′ – Goal! Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag: Sarr doubles Spurs’ lead with a sharp volley at the far post following a poorly handled right-wing corner by Kochalski.

58′ – Qarabag Penalty Miss: Bayramov sends Vicario the wrong way but blasts his spot-kick over the crossbar, missing a key opportunity.

68′ – Goal! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag: Solanke taps in the third goal after the Qarabag goalkeeper spilled a powerful long-range shot from Son.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Tottenham maintained control and comfortably secured a 3-0 victory, with Solanke playing a crucial role.