Well-known for its resilient attributes and rising prominence in the European competitions, the Azerbaijani side was not only challenged by their formidable opponents during the European League held on Tottenham Hotspur but also a range of different kinds of inconveniences that are beyond football. The match, supposedly an unforgettable and memorable moment for Qarabag, turned out to be a nightmare. Qarabag was supposed to secure at least a point for the Europa League opener, but instead, they have faced a chaotic incident ahead. In this article, Bongdalu will breakdown moments of the match that were filled by a lot of unfortunate events including the delays caused by transportation issues, penalty miss on the match, and even the inability to capitalize on a red card handed to Spurs in the very first minutes of the match.
Preparation Inconvenience Due to Traffic Issues
Qarabag’s problems did not begin on the football field, it was way before that. According to team Manager Gurban Gurbanov, the team did not have enough time to prepare due to logistics issues they faced before the game. In the first whistle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the team could already be seen to be struggling for what seems to be a series of roller coaster rides. Despite staying in Stradford, which is a place just near the stadium and having only a few miles difference, the team encountered a number of road closures which caused them to be stuck in a traffic jam at the most crucial time and day. The team arrived at the stadium on time, 15 minutes before the set kick-off schedule. However, according to them, that time wasn’t enough to prepare for the match.
Qarabag’s long serving manager, Gurban Gurbanov can not stop to express his frustration after seeing the match results. “Imagine being caught in traffic for more than two and a half hours. I cannot just make excuses for this; it shouldn’t have happened, and there were no police to escort us,” Gurbanov explained, sharing the logistical difficulties they have encountered along the way to Tottenham Hotspur stadium. “It had a big impact on our footballers, but it didn’t take away from our opponent. They are a good team, and we don’t turn a blind eye to that,” Gurbanov further stated.
While this situation may be just a minor inconvenience for some, it actually disrupts pre-match routines for the team, including their warm-ups and mental preparation, which is something very important especially if you are playing for the elite level of football. This delayed arrival postponed the football kick off from 20:00 originally, into 20:35. A full 35 minutes was given for the delayed team to prepare. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou also acknowledged how the delay also impacted his own team, stating, “It was just not a great start for us. We were really passive with our passing. Whether it was the delay to the game or whatever, but it’s no excuse.”
The Chaos Starts
Aside from the chaotic start the match had encountered, the game itself also had its equal share of chaos. Qarabag could have been understood for showing sluggishness in the match, due to their circumstances encountered beyond football. However, it was Tottenham who were rocked in the opening exchanges. Eight minutes into the game, Radu Dragusin, the Spurs’ defender, already received a straight red card for a reckless challenge. This leaves the home side with just 10 men up for the remaining time of the match which was about 82 minutes in total.
In a different circumstance, this would have been a perfect moment for Qarabag to seize the initiative. They were playing against a depleted side, especially one of Tottenham’s caliber. It is a very rare opportunity for European competitions. Qarabag would have had the chance to take full advantage over the given situation but instead, the night revolved around how they were not able to capitalize and make the most out of this golden opportunity.
Qarabag tried to take their chances, however they failed to have a good finish of the match. They were able to score 14 shots, this was a big difference compared to Tottenham’s 10, and yet, they have failed to convert any of them. Penalties became a glaring miss for the team, the pressure was at its peak. To wrap the night up, Qarabag seems to be full of “promises”, however, they have failed to execute their words.
The Spurs, who were discouraged with their numerical disadvantage, were able to weather into the storm and grew bigger as the game progressed. They had the ability to really dig deep and find a way even in the toughest circumstances. This is a testament of how their new manager, Postecoglou trained them to be resilient. Goals were coming from Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Sarr, and Dominic Solanke which made the team secure their victory for the London side. Still, it was a far from comfortable night for the premier League.
Qarabag’s Missed Opportunity
This opportunity will definitely put Qarabag down. They were so close into having the Spurs into the ropes for significant stretches. The 14 shots represented numerous chances for the team, however, these were butchered with penalties. THis night will definitely haunt them and will make them ponder what could have been if they made it. It is understandable that Gurbanov will be frustrated however, he has remained logical after the match. “As soon as we arrived, we were told to start in 40 minutes, and we were not as ready or prepared as we should have been. These things shouldn’t happen,” he remarked, reflecting how they were very much disadvantaged during the game.