TOTTENHAM are the first ever English team to compete in the Europa Conference League but they might not even make it to the group stage.
Nuno’s men are have been beaten in Portugal after Cristian Romero was caught out by a brilliant ball through and Lucas Silva gave the hosts a one-goal lead to take to North London..
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GOODNIGHT
That’s all from us in Portugaln where Tottenham’s first ever foray into the Europa Conference League has ended in defeat.
Spurs will have a chance to put matters right in their return leg with Pacos de Ferreira next Thursday, but first they have to pick themselves up for a Premier League visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Can Nuno’s men get back to winning ways? Will we see the return of Harry Kane? Make sure you join us this weekend for the answers to these questions and more.
NUNO REACTION
A disappointed Nuno Espirito Santo believes tonight’s performance has undone the good work of Sunday, and that it will now require a positive result at former club Wolves this weekend to lift spirits once again.
“It was not a good performance. As a team we were not organised enough, and we didn’t play the ball quickly enough.
“We didn’t underestimate them. The decision was made to use all of the squad this week.
It impacts on us a lot. Nobody likes to lose a game and not play well. The feel-good factor is gone, but that’s football. Now we have to get it back on Sunday.
Nuno Espirito Santo
FAN FRUSTRATION
Questions are being asked after a much-changed Spurs side were beaten in Portugal in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off.
However, while many are looking at the inclusion of so many youngsters as evidence of taking their opponents too lightly, many fans are pointing fingers at those senior players on the fringes of the first team for the manner in which they performed.
LOSING FOCUS
Tottenham have entered the records books this evening, but not for a reason that their fans will enjoy.
SPURS FIRE BLANKS
Eleven changes from Sunday, yes, but Tottenham failed to register a single shot on target.
A poor night for Spurs’ second string.
Statistics courtesy of UEFA.com FT: PACOS 1-0 SPURS
Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira will take a one-goal lead to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next week as the sides battle for a play in the group stage of the inaugural Europa Conference League. Spurs will have to improve greatly on this evening, and are likely to call upon some of the senior players left at home tonight to get the job done – whether that includes Harry Kane remains to be seen. Pacos were well worth their victory, a win sealed by Lucas Silva’s slick finish on the stroke of half-time.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!PACOS 1-0 SPURS
90+3. Almost! Clark plays in Bryan Gil on the overlap, and his cross towards the far post requires some superb defending from Antunes to deny Lo Celso a point blank header.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
90. The board goes up to signal five minutes of stoppage time. You suspect it could be five months and this Spurs side would struggle to break through the Pacos defence.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
89. There aren’t many home fans inside Estadio Capital do Movel, but they’re making plenty of noise as the game heads towards its final minute.
The Pacos players look tired after their 90 minutes on Monday night, and are using the energy from the crowd to see them through.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
87. Off goes Carter-Vickers, and here’s a first appearance for 18-year-old Estonian defender Maksim Paskotsi.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
86. Carter-Vickers has picked up a knock. Whether it was as a result of that sloppy piece of defending, or the reason for it, I’m unsure.
There may only be a few minutes left but he’s not going to be able to see them out.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
84. Spurs survive! Delgado unleashes a thunderbolt that crashes straight into the wall.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
83. Shambolic from Carter-Vickers, who fails to deal with a routine pass forward. He centre-back falls over his own feet, and then denies two Pacos players possession by obstructing the ball.
As a result, the hosts have an in-direct free-kick just outside the penalty area. Spurs do not want to concede a second goal here.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
80. Ryan Sessegnon has been one of Spurs’ brighter spots this evening so naturally it is he who is now being withdrawn.
Nuno did similar with the standout Japhet Tanganga on Sunday although, in fairness, Sessegnon is still coming back from that hamstring problem.
On comes the 19-year-old J’Neil Bennett, a lively performer in midfield.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
78. The home side are sitting deep when out of possession, and the visitors are lacking in ideas to break them down.
Lo Celso attempts to dribble through a crowd on the edge of the box, but is easily blocked off by Fonseca.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
75. It’s the home side controlling the ball all of a sudden. You have to wonder whether Tottenham have settled for this scoreline, believing that they can overcome a one-goal deficit in North London next week.
Either that, or they really hate the Europa Conference League and what out as soon as possible.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
72. A double substitution for the hosts. Pacos add some South American spice to proceedings with Chilean Juan Delgado and Brazilian Ze Uilton as Nuno Santos and Helder Ferreira depart.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
70. Pacos haven’t threatened at all from an attacking perspective in this second half. The problem is neither have Tottenham.
The Portuguese side look comfortable, and fully believe they can see this out for a first leg lead.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
67. Winks steps up a cross, but it’s the latest in a long line of poorly delivered set-pieces this evening.
Actually, it’s not the latest. This one from Lo Celso is the latest.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
66. Lo Celso skips two challenges, but there’s no escaping the third: a wild lunge from Antunes.
The Pacos left-back is rightly booked for that one, and Spurs have a free-kick out wide with Winks standing over the ball.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
64. Sessegnon is looking lively again, roaming inward off the flank. He now needs some of his more senior teammates to follow suit.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
62. A first Pacos change this evening as young midfielder Matchoi Djalo replaces Nuno Santos.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
60. Sessegnon is trying to force his way into the Tottenham first team reckoning, and at the same time, hopefully get his side back in the tie.
He skips inside off the left and goes for goal with an effort that swerves wide.
PACOS 1-0 SPURS
58. Romero’s difficult debut continues after being beaten to a loose ball on the halfway line by Lucas Silva.
In his attempt to recover, the Argentine clatters the Pacos goalscorer on the calf to leave him writhing in agony.
He gets away with just the conceding of a foul here, but almost certainly would be receiving a yellow card if this were the Premier League.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
