Ten-Man Tottenham Triumph 3-0 Against Qarabag

Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their UEFA Europa League campaign with a brilliant 3-0 win over Azerbaijani champs Qarabag FK despite early red card

September 26, 2024
9:52 pm

What a way to start the European season for Ange Postecoglou’s lads, who are really finding their groove after a bit of a mixed bag domestically.

The match got off to a rocky start for Spurs when Romanian defender Radu Drăgușin was sent off just seven minutes in for dragging down Qarabag’s Juninho after a defensive slip-up. But instead of sulking, the Spurs quickly regrouped and took charge of the game. Just five minutes later, Brennan Johnson slotted in the opener after Dominic Solanke’s high press intercepted Qarabag’s build-up, showing that Tottenham was all about pushing forward, even with just 10 players!

In the second half, Spurs doubled their lead in the 52nd minute when Pape Matar Sarr capitalized on a botched clearance by Qarabag’s keeper, Mateusz Kochalski. The young midfielder volleyed in from close range, making things a bit cozier for Tottenham. Qarabag had a chance to get back in it when Yves Bissouma brought down Yassine Benzia in the box, earning a penalty. But Toral Bayramov’s shaky spot-kick sailed over the bar, missing a golden opportunity to shift the momentum.

Tottenham weren’t completely at ease, as their defense wobbled at times, letting Qarabag create a few chances. Bayramov and Juninho both missed their shots, and the Azerbaijani side paid the price for their missed opportunities. In the 68th minute, Son Heung-min’s curling effort was parried right into the path of Dominic Solanke, who made no mistake from close range to net Tottenham’s third goal.

Even though Qarabag had a late Juninho header ruled out for offside, Tottenham cruised through the rest of the game, wrapping up a 3-0 win that puts them in a strong spot in their Europa League group. Postecoglou’s attacking style is definitely keeping the Spurs fans entertained, but those moments of vulnerability, especially when down to 10 men, might raise a few eyebrows as the season rolls on. Still, with three wins in a row across all competitions, Tottenham have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic as they chase silverware this season!