Tottenham Hotspur opened their 2024-25 Europa League campaign with a confident 3-0 victory over Qarabag FK at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night.
Due to severe travel disruption in London, kickoff was delayed for 35 minutes, and just eight minutes into the contest, Spurs were incredibly reduced to 10 men.
Radu Dragusin was the player to receive his marching orders, with the centre-back handed a straight red card for pulling Juninho down after the Qarabag attacker had taken the ball away from Tottenham's number six in a dangerous position.
The home side's response was excellent, though, with Brennan Johnson making the breakthrough in the 12th minute, drilling the ball into the bottom corner after strong work from Dominic Solanke to score for the third game in a row, issuing the perfect response to criticism of his early-season performances.
Despite having a player less, Tottenham dominated the ball in the first half of action, boasting 63% of the possession, but they found the back of the net with their only attempt on target.
Spurs then doubled their advantage in the early stages of the second half, with Pape Sarr scoring at the far post after Qarabag had failed to deal with a corner, before the visitors missed a penalty in the 58th minute through Toral Bayramov, with the 23-year-old's effort landing in the stands.
Tottenham then made it 3-0 in the 68th minute; Son Heung-min's strike from outside the box proved to be too much for Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski to claim, and he palmed it straight into Solanke, who could not miss from close range, with Spurs comfortable winners on the night.
TOTTENHAM VS. QARABAG HIGHLIGHTS
Radu Dragusin red card vs. Qarabag (8th min)
A nightmare start for Radu Drăgușin 😬
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 26, 2024
The Spurs defender is shown a red card inside the opening ten minutes 🟥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Sq475Axs7u
Spurs are reduced to 10 men in just the eighth minute of the European tie.
Dragusin wants too much time on the ball, and he loses it to Juninho, who looks to break clear, and the Spurs defender brings him to the ground, giving the referee no option but to send him off.
Brennan Johnson goal vs. Qarabag (12th min, Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag)
Brennan Johnson's fine form continues 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 26, 2024
Just moments after Radu Drăgușin is sent off, Spurs take the lead!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/T1RNbFX4gy
Tottenham make the breakthrough in the 12th minute of the contest, as Johnson slides one into the bottom corner of the net after smart centre-forward work from Solanke.
Pape Sarr goal vs. Qarabag (53rd min, Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag)
Right place, right time 💪
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 26, 2024
Pape Matar Sarr extends Spurs' lead to 2-0!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/zY62BsH30y
Tottenham double their lead in the early stages of the second period, and it is Sarr with the goal.
Qarabag fail to deal with a corner from the right, and Sarr is on hand at the far post to bundle home, but questions must be asked about the goalkeeper and the defending.
Toral Bayramov penalty miss vs. Tottenham (58th min)
Toral Bayramov won't want to watch this penalty miss back 🫣
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 26, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/CDt5tZFhF1
Qarabag have a golden chance to register from the penalty spot, as Yves Bissouma brings Elvin Cafarquliyev to the ground inside the box, but Bayramov fires into the stands.
Dominic Solanke goal vs. Qarabag (68th min, Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag)
Dominic Solanke has his first European goal 🏹
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 26, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/HX2uADyCqk
Spurs score their third and surely secure all three points in their 2024-25 Europa League opener, with Solanke firing into the back of the net from close range after a shot from Son had been pushed into a dangerous area by the away side's goalkeeper.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DOMINIC SOLANKE
It would be fair to say that Solanke had a slow start to his Tottenham career, but he scored against Brentford in the Premier League last time out and secured his first European goal for the club on Thursday.
The 27-year-old was on hand to score Tottenham's third on the night, while he also showed nice feet to set up the opening goal for Johnson during a strong performance.
Solanke also made two tackles and finished with a pass success rate of 86%, so he can be delighted with his first European outing for Ange Postecoglou's side.
TOTTENHAM VS. QARABAG MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 52%-48% Qarabag
Shots: Tottenham 10-14 Qarabag
Shots on target: Tottenham 5-5 Qarabag
Corners: Tottenham 3-8 Qarabag
Fouls: Tottenham 9-9 Qarabag
BEST STAT
7 - Radu Dragusin is the first player to be sent off on his debut in major European competition for Tottenham, while his seventh minute red card is Spurs' earliest from the start of a major European match. Marching. pic.twitter.com/cyMO1p032q
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Tottenham's attention will now switch back to the Premier League, with the North London outfit set to continue their domestic campaign away to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Qarabag, meanwhile, will be aiming to make it four straight victories in the Azerbaijan Premier League when they resume their domestic campaign against Sabah on Sunday afternoon.
Matt Law
