Ange Postecoglou’s reaction speaks volumes as Tottenham recover from red card in style
TOTTENHAM 3-0 QARABAG: Radu Dragusin was sent off for Spurs after just seven minutes, but the Premier League side bounced back in style to secure a comfortable Europa League victory
What fans lost in time – Tottenham undoubtedly made up for in entertainment.
Though this was not Champions League football, it was still box-office entertainment as 10-man Spurs kickstarted their Europa League campaign with an unconventional bang following Radu Dragusin’s seventh-minute red card.
Spirits ahead of Tottenham’s long-awaited return to Europe following a 17-month absence were swiftly dampened by intermittent rain, blustery winds and travel chaos in north London.
Qarabag, who did not arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until 7:50pm, could be slapped with a hefty fine by UEFA after the visitors were caught in traffic – delaying kick-off until 8:35pm.
Spurs appeared determined to make up for lost time but their eagerness to repay the patience of supporters quickly backfired inside the opening exchanges when Dragusin was dismissed by French referee Willy Delajod.
The 22-year-old Romanian failed to control the simplest of passes from centre-back partner Micky van de Ven, enabling hungry frontman Juninho to profit before the Brazilian was brought to ground by the desperate defender.
While Dragusin was consoled by Ange Postecoglou upon leaving the field – the stone-faced Aussie’s body language told its own story. This was a rare chance for Spurs’ £26.7million signing to stake a claim for a starting berth but it’s hard to envisage him banging on Postecoglou’s office door anytime soon.
He evidently has much to learn if he wishes to dethrone indispensable duo Van de Ven and Cristian Romero at the heart of Postecoglou’s backline.
Talented teenage playmaker Lucas Bergvall was withdrawn for Destiny Udogie as Romero was serving a one-match UEFA suspension following a second yellow card against AC Milan in March 2023 and 30 seconds later, Tottenham were ahead.
Dominic Solanke drove at the Qarabag defence before sliding in Brennan Johnson, who provided another ruthless cross-goal finish to make it three goals in as many matches.
A heroic, last-ditch tackle from sub Udogie denied Toral Bayramov a leveller before electric winger Johnson went close to doubling his tally and Tottenham’s advantage when goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski came flying out of his box, however, Johnson was unable to find the target.
Though the miss did not look so bad after Qarabag’s dangerman Juninho, scorer of six goals in Champions League qualifying and 31 in all competitions last season, somehow missed the target altogether following Elvin Jafarguliyev’s inviting ball across the face of goal.
The half-time introduction of Dejan Kulusevski provided a clear injection of quality and on 53 minutes, his corner was eventually turned in at the back post by midfielder Pape Matar Sarr in scrappy style.
Ten-man Tottenham were still not home and hosed though as minutes later, Qarabag were awarded a penalty after Yves Bissouma chopped down Jafarguliyev. Up stepped Bayramov, who blazed the ball over the crossbar with an almighty swing of his left boot.
Leave a Reply