Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou pleased with Dominic Solanke progress after Qarabag win
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Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke celebrates after scoring the team's third goal.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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LONDON – Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said Dominic Solanke is gradually reaching the levels expected of him after the striker scored one and set up another in their 3-0 Europa League victory over Azerbaijan’s Qarabag on Sept 26.
Solanke, signed from Bournemouth in a deal worth up to £65 million (S$111.6 million), has had a slow start to the season due to an ankle injury and has missed two games since making his debut.
The 27-year-old’s 68th-minute strike against Qarabag was his second in as many games following his goal in a league win over Brentford and wrapped up a comfortable victory for 10-man Spurs.
“He’s getting there,” Postecoglou said. “He didn’t do pre-season with us and then he has one game and then he’s out for two weeks, while the other guys were building up their match fitness.
“Great for him to get another goal but his all-round performance was really strong. When you’re down to 10 men, you need your striker to be able to hold up the play and do some hard running.”
Postecoglou also praised 23-year-old attacker Brennan Johnson, who has scored in three straight games since Spurs’ 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.
“Brennan was really important for us, particularly today going down to 10 men pretty early, we’re going to need some attacking outlet,” Postecoglou said. “Brennan’s been good at taking up those positions and him and Dom have a good little sort of relationship there in terms of working off each other and he took his goal well.”
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min was forced off in the 70th minute with an injury.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Spurs were reduced to 10 men after eight minutes when Radu Dragusin was shown a red card, but four minutes later, Johnson put the English side ahead with a side-footed finish and Pape Matar Sarr doubled the lead seven minutes after the break.
Solanke effectively sealed the win in the 68th minute when he tapped home the third after an error by Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski.
Qarabag had chances, Toral Bayramov missing from the penalty spot just before the hour mark and Juninho hitting the woodwork, but Spurs stayed in control of the match.
However, the sight of South Korea forward Son Heung-min being forced off in the 70th minute will be concerning for Postecoglou, who cannot afford to be without his captain for a long period.
With a healthy Son, the Europa League could offer a path to silverware for Postecoglou, who boasts that he always enjoys success in his second season as he seeks to end a Tottenham trophy drought dating back to 2008.
Athletic Bilbao's Aitor Paredes (second from left) scoring the equaliser against AS Roma on Sept 26.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
In other key matches on Sept 26, troubled Roma were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao after conceding a late equaliser at the Olympic Stadium.
Roma fans were furious with the club’s recent decision to sack coach Daniele de Rossi, an iconic figure during his time as a Giallorossi player, just four games into the season.
Given the unenviable task of replacing de Rossi, Ivan Juric inspired a 3-0 win against Udinese on Sept 22, but he was denied a second successive victory.
Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce beat Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 as the Portuguese boss started his bid to win the tournament for the third time.
Olympiakos, Conference League winners in the 2023-24 season, were beaten 2-0 at Lyon, while Eintracht Frankfurt blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Viktoria Plzen. REUTERS, AFP
