Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their Europa League campaign with a 3-0 win over Qarabag even after going down to 10 men just seven minutes into the game. Following a 35-minute delay due to travel disruptions, the referee sent off Spurs defender Radu Dragusin for a last-man foul on Juninho. However, Brennan Johnson quickly put Tottenham ahead five minutes later, as he capitalized on a mistake by Qarabag while they tried to play out from the back.
In the 52nd minute, Pape Sarr doubled Spurs’ lead, smashing home from close range after a loose ball reached him at the far post. Qarabag had an opportunity to get back into the game soon after when the referee awarded them a penalty but Toral Bayramov struck the crossbar with his spot-kick. Despite creating several chances, Qarabag couldn’t find the back of the net as Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made several crucial saves.
Dominic Solanke wrapped up the win in the 68th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Qarabag’s goalkeeper parried Son Heung-min’s shot. Ange Postecoglou made six changes to his starting lineup and found plenty of positives in the match. He gave valuable minutes to young players like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. Spurs maintained a clean sheet despite losing Dragusin early and seeing Son limp off late in the game.
Confidence-boosting performances from Johnson and Solanke highlighted the match. Qarabag, despite creating numerous chances, failed to convert with a disallowed goal and several close calls adding to their frustration. Tottenham now shifts their focus to their upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United and their next Europa League match against Ferencvaros.
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