Thank you for joining me. Here is David Hytner’s report.
In the Women’s Champions League …
Solanke: “Very happy to get the win. The boys fought hard; going down to 10 men early on could have made it difficult.
“We grew into the game and got the job done.
“I think I can still get fitter after my injury at the start of the season that knocked my rhythm.”
Full time: Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
A very good night for Spurs in the end. It looked like it could go very wrong when Dragusin was sent off early on but they have come through it thanks to goals from Johnson, Sarr and Solanke. Qarabag looked dangerous but could never find a finish.
90+1 mins: There is almost silence in the ground. I assume the delay has resulted in many leaving early. Not much to report as Qarabag knock it about.
90 mins: Three minutes added.
88 mins: The motions are being gone through.
86 mins: Solanke is the man who is replaced by Moore. This is as close to shutting up shop as Postecoglou gets.
Addai has a chance in the box but he fails to to much contact and Vicario drops on it.
84 mins: Mikey Moore is being prepared by Spurs. Another exciting talent – he old turned 17 last month.
82 mins: Qarabag are having all the ball now, not that Spurs are offering much of a press anymore.
80 mins: So much happening inside the Tottenham box but none of it looks like resulting in a legal goal. The three goal cushion might be helping Spurs relax.
78 mins: NO GOAL! Juninho heads home from close range but he is a solid yard or three offside.
78 mins: Van de Ven is harshly penalised on the right, giving Qarabag a free-kick in a dangerous position. It is a dangerous whipped cross from Benzia and Vicario is forced to palm is wide.
The resulting corner makes it way out to Jafarguliyev on the edge of the box. He pings the shot towards the top corner but Vicario does superbly well to tip over.
76 mins: There is always plenty of promise in the Qarabag play but they just lack the final part.
74 mins: Van de Van comes out of defence to make a challenge in the opposition half. Spurs really do what they like. Postecoglou does things his way.
72 mins: Qarabag have a very attacking XI on the pitch now. Addai is one of those and he finds Zoubir at the back post but he volleys wide.
70 mins: Son takes a seat on the turf and is heading off. A bit of a worry for Postecoglou. Certainly no need to risk keeping him on. Werner and Bentancur coming on – Bissouma also off.
GOAL! Son shoots from the edge of the box, forcing Kochalski down to his left but he palms it straight to Solanke, giving him an easy task.
GOAL! Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag (Solanke 68)
The striker reacts quickest to tap home a rebound.
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68 mins: Qarabag make a few changes to pass the time. Bayramov departs, Addai is on. Leandro Andrade replaces Romao.
67 mins: Spurs are bringing pressure on themselves. I feel at 2-0 up maybe they do not need three attackers on the pitch. Make life easy for yourself, Ange.
65 mins: Juninho makes a smart run in the box and fires a shot to the near post which Vicario tips wide. I have no idea how Qarabag have failed to score.
63 mins: Spurs are causing themselves problems by giving the ball away in midfield. Maybe Spurs could do with an extra central midfielder and have Son and Kulusevski up top.
61 mins: Bayramov jinks and turns on the edge of the box and takes aim. Vicario reads it and tips the powerful shot over.
Vicario comes to catch a cross and runs into Juninho. It is getting a little spicy out there.
59 mins: A let off for Spurs. Now time to hold their nerve. Instead, they give the ball back to Qarabag and Vicario is forced into a decent save.
Spurs go down the other end and Solanke has a chance but sends his shot straight at the goalkeeper.
57 mins: MISSED PENALTY! BAYRAMOV WHACKS IT OVER.
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PENALTY! Qarabag are awarded a spot kick after Bissouma takes down Jafarguliyev inside the box. It is soft but is probably a pen. The midfielder also gets a booking.
Updated
GOAL! The goalkeeper flaps at the cross and Sarr is left in space, he takes aim and, via a deflection, doubles the lead. A big moment in the match.
GOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag (Sarr 53)
Kulusevski whips in a corner that reaches Sarr at the back post from where he volleys home.
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52 mins: Kulusevski has his first chance to threaten on the right. He shows quick feet and sends the ball into the corridor of uncertainty but it is turned behind.
51 mins: Spurs get a corner on the left but it comes to nothing.
Down the other end Jafarguliyev pings in another dangerous, low cross but Vicario takes hold.
49 mins: Possession is not really the problem for Spurs, as they are getting plenty. The issue arrives in the transitions because Qarabag fly on the break and it is hard to stop.
47 mins: Can Spurs survive another half of playing with a very high line? Either way, Postecoglou will not be changing the plan.
Second half
Here we go again!
Johnson off for Spurs, Kulusevski on.
“I can’t believe what I’ve seen tonight,” says Shaun Tooze. “I watched about 90% of the Rangers game in Malmo before this one and Ranger could, or rather should have had 5. This first half here has carried on the same way. How Qarabag haven’t got on the scoresheet here is beyond belief.
“The night of missed golden chances. Absolutely unfathomable.
“Anyway, sorry, just mind blown.”
Some football has already been completed.
Half time: Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag
Spurs are down to 10 men but have the advantage thanks to Johnson. Qarabag have enjoyed the better of the match thanks to Dragusin’s being very silly and getting himself sent off.
46 mins: Davies loses the ball inside his own half, Juninho nicks it away and is through until Vicario wins it back 30 yards from his own goal.
45 mins: One minute added on.
44 mins: More chances for Qarabag. Silva whips in a cross but Van de Ven is there to bloke the header at goal. The follow up shot from Benzia flashes wide.
I suspect we will get Pedro Porro on for Gray at half time.
42 mins: Qarabag can break at speed, that is for sure. This time it need Van de Ven to hold up Benzia, giving away a corner for his troubles. Spurs need to see this through to half time.
40 mins: What a miss! Another attack down the left allows Jafarguliyev to lay the ball on a plate for Juninho to tap home but he messes up the finish, sending a dreadful shot wide.
38 mins: Qarabag seem to think Gray at right-back is a weak point for Spurs are are targeting him thanks to the extra man. A tough day’s work for the teenager who is a midfielder by trade.
36 mins: Qarabag flash the ball across the box and Juninho is ready to pounce but Vicario reads the danger and dives to palm the cross away before the Brazilian can pounce.
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34 mins: Poor Bergvall is being shown on the bench. He has his coat pulled up over his face and looks miserable. We’ve all been there, mate.
32 mins: The 700 Qarabag fans have procured a lot of Azerbaijan flags. They are doing their best to make some noise.
30 mins: Benzia tries to bring down a cross in the box but he has the ball taken off his feet before he can shoot. There is plenty of threat in this Qarabag team.
28 mins: What is the goalkeeper doing? Kochalski legs it outside of the area to get to a long pass over the top but Johnson reaches it first, gets past the goalkeeper and takes aim, only to see his shot limp wide.
26 mins: Spurs are still having most of the ball but without creating a second chance.
24 mins: Gray is limping a little after the foul. I am not sure Postecoglou fancies making a second change at this early stage.
22 mins: Qarabag break five on three but Spurs stick in a last-ditch challenge or two to hold them up and win the ball back. This could be a fun evening.
Gray is cleaned out on the right wing. Advantage is played until Jafarguliyev is booked for the foul.
krishnamoorthy says: “Your mention of Johnson Solanke and Son sounds like a law firm who appears capable of engineering the names in all small letters on their shirts .”
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20 mins: Bayramov is played through on goal and looks set to stick the ball past Vicario but Udogie gets back, getting shoulder to shoulder and puts off the Qarabag man who stumbles in the box.
18 mins: Johnson, Solanke and Son are putting a lot of pressure on the Qarabag defence. No chance for them to rest.
16 mins: Apologies, Udogie has moved to left-back with Davies alongside Van de Ven.
15 mins: Martin Gamage says: “Yup, that really was a brainless piece of defending from Dragusin. That early in the game, if you make a mess of defending it like that, let the forward go and see if the keeper can deal with him. No point spending 80 odd minutes with ten men.”
14 mins: Will still be a long night out for the Spurs players out there as they are a man light. Udogie has settled in at centre-back. Spurs now 4-4-1 with wingers staying high.
GOAL! Spurs win the ball back high up, Solanke slips a pass through to Johnson who finds the bottom corner.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag (Johnson, 12)
Three in three for the winger.
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12 mins: Will Qarabag be more proactive in their attacking play or accept there will be greater space to exploit on the break. They are certainly putting in the hard yards in when it comes to pressing.
Udogie replaces Bergvall. Such a shame for the teenager but needs must. Silly Dragusin.
10 mins: Udogie is already being prepared to come on. Sacrifice Gray?
RED CARD! Dragusin
8 mins: Juninho hunts down Dragusin on the halfway line, nicks the ball away from him and is through on goal until the Romanian pulls him down. What a useless bit of defending and thinking. Postecoglou shakes his head.
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6 mins: Qarabag will very much be playing on the break. Juninho does not look afraid of going up against the Spurs back four when the opportunity arises.
4 mins: Spurs are dominating possession and Qarabag have all 11 men in their own defensive third. This could be a long night of trying to find an opening for Spurs.
2 mins: Spurs have lower case letters for the names on their shirts. I think this should be banned.
Not much has happened in footballing terms.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we (finally) go!
No one needs the Europa League anthem at this point. Just start the match, please.
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The players are finally on the pitch. I am weeping with joy.
The referee has made the Qarabag captain sort his socks out. This is going to delay the kick-off more. Come on now, lads. The players are still in the tunnel.
They’ve turned the lights out at Tottenham. After the delay, I am now concerned they will fuse the lights.
We are getting somewhat closer to kick-off. Has the delay built up the tension? Not really.
Taha Hashim has some actual football to write about.
The teams are out to warm up. How exciting.
“Enjoy the game, Will. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Bahlul Mustafazade gets on up against Dominic Solanke. Elvin Cafarquliyev has also been brilliant every time I’ve seen him. Regards, Mr Peters, Karabakh.”
Christoph emails: “The 2004/05 Bundesliga opener was set to happen with an 8pm kickoff in Bremen. Minutes before the game was supposed to start, an electrical failure nearby caused all the technical stuff in the stadium to be unavailable (though curiously the floodlights still worked). And just when the delayed kickoff was set to happen at 21.16pm, three out of the four iconic floodlight masts went out, causing further delay. The game ultimately started at 21.36pm, and Nelson Valdez’ 83rd minute winner will likely be the latest Bundesliga goal ever scored.
“The Weserstadion has some history with electrical issues, too: I remember attending a Germany v Scotland friendly in 1999 in which the lights went out during the half-time break, delaying the restart considerably. Much to the chagrin of attending fans it got fixed, meaning a lot of people had to sit through even more dreadful football than they already did. And to add insult to injury Scotland won 1-0.
“Enjoying your minute by minutes,
“Christoph”
Content is king.
“Assuming you will be paid for the late kick-off, the game running on much longer than planned?” asks Mr Harris.
I’ve already phoned the union.
Qarabag needed to walk the final stretch to reach the ground too. What a day for their players.
Kick-off confirmed for 8.35pm
We have start time
Hoddle and Crouch are talking about the greatest ever Spurs player. Hoddle backs Jimmy Greaves, adding that Son is in his top six or seven.
Peter Crouch and Glenn Hoddle had to walk the last leg of their journey due to the problems on the surrounding streets.
Updated
Qarabag arrive
QARABAG IN DA HOUSE!
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I was at the Erik ten Hag press conference (more about that on Sunday). Jamie Jackson was there for more immediate reportage.
Might need to drag this out … ermmmmm … what’s your favourite ever postponed kick-off?
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Brennan Johnson: “I am really excited, it is something all the players have been looking forward to.
“It is just about getting in the right position, if I do that I will get the opportunity to score.
“It is a really good opportunity to win a trophy, we have a great squad.”
We will not know the kick-off time until they arrive. Pint?
Qarabag are yet to arrive at the stadium …
Kick-off delayed
BAD NEWS! The kick-off is being delayed due to travel disruption in the vicinity of the stadium.
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Ange Postecoglou: “It is exciting to be back in Europe. Not being in Europe, you miss it. The players are excited and want to create a legacy.
“Whenever you play continental opposition, it is always a different task to normal. It helps the team evolve.
“It is going to be a great experience for the young lads starting to night, I am sure they will learn a great deal.
“Not winning things become a millstone around the neck and to get rid of it, you need to win things.”
Will there be any dark arts in north London tonight?
Pre-match reading.
Starting lineups
Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Davies; Bissouma, Sarr, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Son
Subs: Forster, Austin, Pedro Porro, Udogie, Bentancur, Maddison, Kulusevski, Moore, Werner, Lankshear
Qarabag: Kochalski, Silva, Julio Romeo, Benzia, Zoubir, Muatafazade, Juninho, T. Bayramov, Jafarguliyev, V Huseynov, Andrade
Subs: Mammadzada, Buntic, Jankovic, Addai, Leandro Andrade, Almeida, Kashchuk, Gurbanli, Isaev, A Huseynov, Akhundzade
Preamble
Welcome to the start of a new Spurs European campaign. Where will it lead? Nobody knows. What is evident is the fact it starts tonight against Qarabag! Will Ange Postecoglou rota? Almost certainly. Will Spurs win? Almost certainly.
A much-needed victory over Brentford at the weekend is being billed as the kickstart Spurs’ season needed, so they will want to use tonight as a momentum-builder.
What we want, however, is a bit of a shock and some fun. The Azerbaijanis find themselves in Europe’s second tier after losing to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League playoff 5-0 in aggregate, which indicates their level.
Kick-off: 8pm BST
