Match ends, FC Dnipro 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
DnipropetrovskDnipropetrovsk1TottenhamTottenham Hotspur0
Roberto Soldado was guilty of a dreadful miss as Tottenham suffered a narrow defeat by FC Dnipro in the Europa League round of 32 first leg.
The former Valencia striker fired over from four yards out from Paulinho's low cross when the game was goalless.
Yevhen Konoplyanka took advantage of Soldado's miss by scoring from the penalty spot after Jan Vertonghen had fouled Matheus.
It could have been worse for Spurs, Roman Zozulya heading against a post.
It means Spurs have it all to do in the return leg on 27 February after a highly satisfactory night for Dnipro's former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos.
The tie took place against the backdrop of violent unrest in Ukraine's capital Kiev, about 220 miles from the Dnipro Arena in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk.
There was a minute's silence before kick-off as a mark of respect to those who have lost their lives, while there was a sparse crowd inside the 31,000-capacity ground as some home supporters opted to boycott the tie.
A much-changed Spurs side acquitted themselves well on a difficult surface before a combination of poor defending and woeful finishing brought about their first defeat in nine Europa League games this season.
Matheus was a handful throughout, the Brazil-born forward denied by an excellent save by Brad Friedel after the Spurs defence had been carved open in the 25th minute.
Tottenham had scored 23 goals in their previous eight Europa League games, yet they were anything but clinical in Ukraine, Nacer Chadli screwing an easy chance horribly wide in the 28th minute.
Spurs had a penalty appeal turned down when Paulinho went sprawling under a 35th-minute challenge by Ivan Strinic, the referee awarding a free-kick on the edge of the area rather than pointing to the spot.
Then came Soldado's miss in the 56th minute, the ball hitting the Spaniard's shin with the goal at his mercy after Paulinho had got behind the home defence.
Friedel saved well from Giuliano before the late penalty drama.
Vertonghen could have few complaints after placing his arm on Matheus's shoulder before pulling him back.
Konoplyanka, a Liverpool target during the January transfer window, kept his composure to leave Tottenham with serious work to do in the return leg to stay in the competition.
Line-ups
Dnipropetrovsk
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 71Boyko
- 44Fedetskiy
- 17StrinicBooked at 35mins
- 29Rotan
- 3Mazuch
- 14Cheberyachko
- 18ZozulyaBooked at 55mins
- 6Kankava
- 99NascimentoSubstituted forKulakovat 90'minutes
- 8de PaulaSubstituted forPolytiloat 77'minutes
- 10Konoplyanka
Substitutes
- 4Kravchenko
- 7Kulakov
- 9N Kalinic
- 16Lastuvka
- 20Vilela Gama
- 23Silva Bacelar
- 89Polytilo
Tottenham
Formation 4-3-3
- 24Friedel
- 16Naughton
- 3Rose
- 15Capoue
- 20Dawson
- 5VertonghenBooked at 80mins
- 8Paulinho
- 42Bentaleb
- 9SoldadoSubstituted forKaneat 85'minutes
- 17TownsendSubstituted forEriksenat 64'minutes
- 21Chadli
Substitutes
- 23Eriksen
- 35Fryers
- 37Kane
- 47McEvoy
- 51Veljkovic
- 56Archer
- 60Onomah
- Referee:
- Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Match Stats
Home TeamDnipropetrovskAway TeamTottenham
- Possession
- Home35%
- Away65%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, FC Dnipro 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Roman Zozulya (FC Dnipro) header from very close range misses to the right following a corner.
Post update
Roman Zozulya (FC Dnipro) hits the left post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Sergiy Polytilo with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, FC Dnipro. Conceded by Jan Vertonghen.
Post update
Attempt missed. Artem Fedetskiy (FC Dnipro) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, FC Dnipro. Denys Kulakov replaces Matheus.
Post update
Foul by Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Ivan Strinic (FC Dnipro) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Harry Kane following a corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Roman Zozulya.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Ondrej Mazuch.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Kane replaces Roberto Soldado.
Post update
Foul by Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Yevhen Konoplyanka (FC Dnipro) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Yevhen Konoplyanka (FC Dnipro) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ondrej Mazuch following a corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ondrej Mazuch (FC Dnipro) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ruslan Rotan with a cross.
Post update
Corner, FC Dnipro. Conceded by Danny Rose.
Post update
Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
