UEL: Tottenham Hotspur Cruises Past Qarabag FK 3-0

Qarabag FK Falls to Tottenham's Clinical Performance

The home side suffered a setback in the 7th minute when Radu Dragusin received a straight red card for fouling Juninho...

Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr, and Dominic Solanke scored as Tottenham Hotspur secured a convincing 3-0 win over Qarabag in the Europa League.

 

Tottenham Hotspur began their Europa League campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Qarabag, despite being reduced to 10 men early on. The match kicked off 35 minutes late due to travel disruptions.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a thrilling victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The game was filled with drama, starting with a 35-minute delay due to Qarabag's bus getting stuck in traffic. Things only got worse for Qarabag as Radu Dragusin as the game proceeded.

The home side suffered a setback in the 7th minute when Radu Dragusin received a straight red card for fouling Juninho, who was through on goal. However, Brennan Johnson put Tottenham ahead in the 12th minute, capitalizing on Qarabag's mistake while playing out from the back.

Johnson's goal marked his third in as many games. Dominic Solanke's clever pass set up the 23-year-old, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Pape Sarr doubled Tottenham's lead in the 52nd minute, smashing home a loose ball at the far post.

Qarabag were awarded a penalty three minutes later, but Toral Bayramov's spot-kick hit the crossbar. The Azerbaijan Premier League champions created numerous chances, with Guglielmo Vicario making crucial saves.

Tottenham sealed the win with Dominic Solanke's goal in the 68th minute, tapping in a rebound from Son Heung-Min's shot, who finished confidently after Mateusz Kochalski pushed Son Heung-min's strike into his path.

Manager Ange Postecoglou made six changes from the side that beat Brentford, handing 18-year-olds Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray their second Spurs starts. However, Bergvall's opportunity was cut short due to Dragusin's dismissal.

Postecoglou's side showed resilience and attacking flair, despite being down to 10 men. The win boosts confidence, particularly for summer signing Solanke and Johnson.

However, Tottenham's attacking style often leaves them vulnerable to counter-attacks. Qarabag had several chances, with Juninho's goal ruled out for offside and Vicario denying Cafarquliyev's long-range strike.

The victory comes with concerns, as Son Heung-min hobbling off in the second half may impact Tottenham's upcoming matches against Manchester United and Ferencvaros.

Player Ratings:

Dominic Solanke (9/10): Impressive performance, scoring and assisting 

Pape Matar Sarr (8/10): Strong midfield display, scoring and covering distance 

Brennan Johnson (8/10): Took his chance well, scoring his third goal in three matches 

Match Highlights:

8 minutes: Radu Dragusin sent off

12 minutes: Brennan Johnson scores opening goal

52 minutes: Pape Matar Sarr doubles Tottenham's lead

68 minutes: Dominic Solanke seals win

The victory marks a strong start for Tottenham in the Europa League.