Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, FK Qarabag 1.
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 FK Qarabag
- From the section Football
Tottenham began their Europa League campaign with victory over Qarabag as Son Heung-min shone on his home debut.
Spurs debutant Kieran Trippier conceded an early penalty, converted by Richard Almeida, before Son prodded in the first of his two goals.
The South Korean swept home minutes later after lovely footwork from the impressive Dele Alli.
Erik Lamela, unlucky to strike the post after an Alli through ball, added a third with a chipped finish.
Is Son the man to score Spurs' goals?
Tottenham have scored only four goals in their first five matches of the Premier League season and Harry Kane, who is yet to find the net at club level this season, was on the bench.
Son started up front as the lone striker and any doubts over whether he could handle the role were addressed with gusto in the space of two first-half minutes.
The 23-year-old - signed for £22m from Bayer Leverkusen in August - was sharp to stab home amid static defending before finishing with confidence to put Spurs ahead.
However, that goal was all about Alli. Signed from MK Dons in January for an initial £5m fee, the 19-year-old showed brilliant footwork to turn in the box and create space for the pass - the high point of an excellent all-round performance.
Alli could have had a hat-trick of assists had Lamela's finishing been better, and he delighted the home fans with his trickery, determination and invention.
Son display delights Pochettino
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino praised Son's performance and highlighted his value to the team.
"He scored twice and played one hour," said the Argentine.
"You can see I am very pleased with him, very happy. His adaptation to the club has been good from the beginning.
"I explained before the Sunderland game that Son can play like a striker. He can also play wider. He has the quality to play in different positions on the pitch."
But what about the defence?
It was not all brilliant from the home side. Had Qarabag been as clinical in attack as Spurs were sloppy at the back, the Azerbaijani champions might well have been celebrating themselves.
Danny Rose twice gave the ball away in dangerous positions but was spared first by Afran Ismayilov's wasteful finish before Toby Alderweireld cut out a dangerous ball across goal.
Trippier, making his Spurs debut, was at fault for the penalty, conceded by body-checking Ansi Agolli, and there was a familiar nervousness in the closing stages.
But Lamela's late finish effectively ended the contest before Alli saw a stabbed effort creep wide.
Tottenham's other Group J opponents, Anderlecht and Monaco, drew 1-1 in Belgium, with striker Lacina Traore equalising for the away side in the 85th minute.
Man of the match - Dele Alli (Tottenham)
Player reaction
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, speaking to BT Sport: "It was a solid performance from us. We were unfortunate to give away the first goal but it was a good overall display.
"They made us work for the win - they're not a bad side. They did well. I'm happy for Son that he got two goals and that I played a part. It's always good to help the team."
Line-ups
Tottenham
- 1Lloris
- 16Trippier
- 4Alderweireld
- 27Wimmer
- 3Rose
- 28Carroll
- 15DierSubstituted forWinksat 76'minutes
- 17TownsendSubstituted forN'Jieat 68'minutes
- 20AlliBooked at 87mins
- 11Lamela
- 7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forKaneat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Kane
- 13Vorm
- 14N'Jie
- 21Fazio
- 25Onomah
- 29Winks
- 33Davies
FK Qarabag
- 13SehicBooked at 85mins
- 5MedvedevBooked at 83mins
- 55Huseynov
- 14SadiqovBooked at 87mins
- 25Agolli
- 22IsmayilovSubstituted forEl Jadeyaouiat 79'minutes
- 10Quintana SosaSubstituted forMarcos Maderaat 79'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 2Qarayev
- 20Almeida de Oliveira
- 77TagiyevSubstituted forArmenterosat 67'minutes
- 9dos Santos Silva
Substitutes
- 1Valiyev
- 8Marcos Madera
- 18Qurbanov
- 32Yunuszada
- 67El Jadeyaoui
- 90Armenteros
- 91Diniyev
- Referee:
- Adrien Jaccottet
- Attendance:
- 26,463
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamFK Qarabag
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, FK Qarabag 1.
Attempt missed. Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Míchel (FK Qarabag).
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Qara Qarayev (FK Qarabag).
Booking
Míchel (FK Qarabag) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Míchel (FK Qarabag).
Corner, FK Qarabag. Conceded by Toby Alderweireld.
Corner, FK Qarabag. Conceded by Toby Alderweireld.
Attempt blocked. Reynaldo Silva (FK Qarabag) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Richard Almeida.
Booking
Rasad F. Sadiqov (FK Qarabag) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 3, FK Qarabag 1. Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Harry Kane.
Booking
Ibrahim Sehic (FK Qarabag) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Maksim Medvedev (FK Qarabag) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Clinton N'Jie (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Maksim Medvedev (FK Qarabag).
Attempt missed. Samuel Armenteros (FK Qarabag) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alharbi El Jadeyaoui with a through ball.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Tom Carroll tries a through ball, but Erik Lamela is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Harry Winks.
Substitution
Substitution, FK Qarabag. Alharbi El Jadeyaoui replaces Afran Ismayilov.
Substitution
Substitution, FK Qarabag. Míchel replaces Dani Quintana.
Attempt missed. Ansi Agolli (FK Qarabag) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
Attempt saved. Ansi Agolli (FK Qarabag) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Richard Almeida.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Tom Carroll tries a through ball, but Harry Kane is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Winks replaces Eric Dier because of an injury.
Foul by Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur).
Rasad F. Sadiqov (FK Qarabag) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Tom Carroll (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dele Alli.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) because of an injury.
Attempt saved. Dani Quintana (FK Qarabag) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ansi Agolli with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Clinton N'Jie replaces Andros Townsend.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Kane replaces Son Heung-Min.
Substitution
Substitution, FK Qarabag. Samuel Armenteros replaces Cavid Tagiyev.