Tottenham vs Elfsborg as it happened: Youngsters shine as Spurs avoid Europa League play-off

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Evening Standard

·30. Januar 2025

Tottenham vs Elfsborg as it happened: Youngsters shine as Spurs avoid Europa League play-off

Spurs seal top eight finish

Tottenham Hotspur booked their berth in the Europa League's last 16 with a 3-0 victory over Swedish side Elfsborg on Thursday, with youngsters Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore netting their debut goals for the London club.

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The victory spares Ange Postecoglou's injury-hit team the two-legged knockout round. It was not all good news for the manager as Radu Dragusin had to leave the pitch with an apparent knee injury.

Spurs thoroughly dominated the game, but struggled to break a well-organised defence down, before Scarlett finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when Dejan Kulusevski curled the ball into the middle of the six-yard box and the 20-year-old striker headed it into the bottom corner.

The 19-year-old Ajayi netted in the 84th minute when he played a one-two with Scarlett before slotting it into the corner. Moore, 17, celebrated his first goal in a Spurs shirt seconds before the final whistle, driving forward and then beating his man before lashing a shot into the far corner.

Live updates

10 hours ago

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Thanks for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Tottenham’s win over Elfsborg.

Find our report, ratings, analysis and reaction below!

10 hours ago

Postecoglou beams as Europa League win is 'made in Tottenham'

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says the whole club should be proud after academy graduates Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore all scored in the 3-0 win over IF Elfsborg in the Europa League.

Scarlett, 20, and Ajayi, 19, opened their accounts for the club within moments of their introductions in the second half, while Moore also scored his first Spurs goal with a well-taken third in stoppage-time. A comfortable win ensured Postecoglou's side booked their place in the knockouts with a fourth-place finish in the Europa League table.

Read the full story here!

10 hours ago

Postecoglou explains Van de Ven substitution in Tottenham injury update

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Micky van de Ven’s substitution at half-time against Elfsborg was pre-planned.

The defender made his long-awaited return to the starting lineup as Spurs beat the Swedish side 3-0 on a fantastic night for the club’s youngsters.

Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore all scored their first goals for the club as Postecoglou’s side finished fourth in the Europa League table.

They will now avoid an unwelcome two-legged play-off later this month and are instead granted automatic entry into March’s last-16 round, where Spurs could face either Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or FC Midtjylland.

Read the full story here!

Action Images via Reuters

11 hours ago

Tottenham sent powerful reminder of what the future holds

Tottenham booked their place in the Europa League knockouts with a 3-0 win over Swedish club IF Elfsborg, sealed by goals from academy graduates Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore.

Scarlett and Ajayi both scored within minutes of their introductions in the second half before Moore added a third in stoppage-time.

Here are three Spurs talking points from the match…

11 hours ago

Who can Tottenham face in Europa League last-16 knockout stage?

Tottenham have confirmed their place in the last 16 of this season's Europa League.

In the new league phase format, the top eight teams progress straight through to the last 16 and avoid two extra games in a knockout round play-off tie.

Spurs did most of the hard work heading into their final league-phase match against Elfsborg and finished the job at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night to guarantee a top-eight finish.

In stark contrast to their Premier League form, the north London outfit are enjoying a rather impressive European campaign to date.

Winning their opening three matches against Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar meant they could afford to take two points from a possible nine against Galatasaray, Roma and Rangers to seal a play-off place, at the minimum, after beating Hoffenheim last week.

Read the full details here!

Action Images via Reuters

11 hours ago

Spurs player ratings: Scarlett changes game as Moore and Ajayi dazzle

Academy graduates Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore scored their first goals for the club as Tottenham beat Swedish side IF Elfsborg 3-0 to book their place in the Europa League knockouts.

Scarlett, who was recalled from a loan at Championship club Oxford United earlier in the month, had only been on the field for four minutes when he rose to break the deadlock from Dejan Kulusevski’s cross in the 70th minute.

And Ajayi, 19, had barely had a touch when he drove towards the edge of the box, played a one-two with Scarlett and finished well into the bottom corner.

Moore, 17, who started the came, added a fine third in stoppage-time following a jinking run.

A comfortable victory ensured Spurs finished in the top-eight of the league phase and will go straight into the last-16, avoiding a two-legged play-off next month.

Here’s how we rated the Spurs players…

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12 hours ago

Tottenham seal top eight spot in Europa League as youngsters shine

Tottenham youngsters Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore scored the goals as Spurs beat Elfsborg to finish in the top eight of the Europa League table.

Spurs now progress straight into the last-16 and avoid a two-legged play off.

Read the full story here!