It will take more than this to prove that Tottenham Hotspur pose a credible all-round threat when Harry Kane is not firing on all cylinders, but two first-half goals from home debutant Son Heung-min and a late third from Érik Lamela ensured they overcame an enterprising Qarabag side to begin their Europa League campaign with three points. The home team improved after going behind to Richard Almeida’s early penalty without ever exerting firm control on a game that ricocheted from end to end.
Mauricio Pochettino makes little secret of his view that the rigours of the Premier League do not feel conducive to a tilt at this competition and it was no surprise that he made six changes from Sunday’s win at Sunderland. Debuts were given to the Austrian centre-back Kevin Wimmer and the right-back Kieran Trippier, while Tommy Carroll’s start was his first for Tottenham since August 2013, when Dinamo Tbilisi were beaten 3-0.
A more exacting workout was expected from the Azeri champions, who took points off Inter Milan, Saint-Etienne and the runners-up Dnipro in last season’s competition. Pochettino had expressed “surprise” at their quality before the game but in reality opponents are well apprised that Gurban Gurbanov’s team pose a danger above that of the typical minnow.
The point was succinctly made within seven minutes. Reynaldo Silva had already shot at Hugo Lloris when, from a fast break, the left-back Ansi Agolli was clipped inside the area by Trippier. There was little scope for complaint and Trippier’s punishment was confirmed when Richard Almeida’s penalty beat Lloris.
Tottenham’s only encouragement in a tentative opening 20 minutes was a deflected shot by Son, starting in a central attacking position with Kane rested. Qarabag were crisp and alert, Almeida setting a brisk tempo high in midfield, and the Brazilian scuffed another effort towards Lloris after a lengthy spell of possession.
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