Published: 08:48, September 27, 2024
Europa League: Ten-man Spurs outclass Qarabag, Roma held by Bilbao
By Reuters
Tottenham Hotspur's Italian goalkeeper #01 Guglielmo Vicario dives to make a save during the UEFA Europa League stage football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Qarabag at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on Sept 26, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

LONDON - Ten-man Tottenham Hotspur secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Qarabag on Thursday after the match was delayed by over half an hour due to travel disruptions.

Spurs were reduced to 10 men after eight minutes when Radu Dragusin was shown a red card, but four minutes later Brennan Johnson put the English side ahead with a side-footed finish and Pape Matar Sarr doubled the lead seven minutes after the break.

Dominic Solanke effectively sealed the win in the 68th minute when he tapped home the third after an error by Qarabag keeper Mateusz Kochalski.

Qarabag had chances, Tural Baymarov missing from the penalty spot just before the hour mark and Junior hitting the woodwork, but Spurs stayed in control of the match.

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AS Roma's Bryan Cristante (left) and Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams challenge for the ball during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between AS Roma and Athletic Bilbao at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on Sept 26, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

AS Roma had to settle for a 1-1 home draw with Athletic Bilbao after Aitor Paredes's late equalizer for the Spanish side.

Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk scored with a powerful header in the 32nd minute of the teams' first European meeting, but Paredes levelled with a header five minutes from time.

Rangers took an early lead against Swedish side Malmo through Nedim Bajrami in an early kickoff before Ross McCausland sealed a 2-0 win for the Scottish side.

Ajax's Dutch midfielder #28 Kian Fitz-Jim (left) fights for the ball with Besiktas' Turkish forward #91 Mustafa Erhan Hekimoglu (center) during the UEFA Europa League football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Besiktas at The Johan Cruijff Arena Stadium in Amsterdam on Sept 26, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

Ajax Amsterdam overwhelmed Turkiye's Besiktas 4-0 at home thanks to goals by Kian Fitz-Jim, Kenneth Taylor and a brace from Mika Godts.

Olympique Lyonnais clinched a 2-0 home victory over Conference League champions Olympiacos through quick-fire second-half goals by Rayan Cherki and Said Benrahma.

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Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 3-3 home draw by Viktoria Plzen after the Czech side fought back with two late goals.