On Thursday evening, Tottenham Hotspur secured a crucial 2-1 victory against Ferencvaros in the UEFA Europa League, making it two wins from two in their group stage campaign. The match, held in Hungary, saw manager Ange Postecoglu put faith in a relatively youthful lineup, as Tottenham continued their impressive start to the season.
First Half:
Tottenham’s lineup featured Vicario in goal, with Porro, Romero, Gray, and Davies forming the defensive line. In midfield, Sarr and Bissouma were joined by Bergvall, while up front, Lankshear, Moore, and Werner led the attack. The selection of Lankshear and Moore in the starting XI sparked excitement among Spurs fans, who were keen to see how the young players would perform on the European stage.
The game began with Ferencvaros applying early pressure, as Tottenham’s defense looked somewhat vulnerable. Just 10 minutes into the game, Tottenham came close to breaking the deadlock when a cross from Werner found Lankshear. Unfortunately, the young forward couldn’t make clean contact with the ball, which struck his shoulder rather than his head, resulting in a missed opportunity.
Ferencvaros responded strongly, and just six minutes later, they thought they had taken the lead. A back-post header found the net, but the goal was quickly ruled out for offside. Spurs were again fortunate shortly afterward when Vicario was forced into a spectacular save, denying another back-post header. Although the attempt was once more flagged for offside, it highlighted the defensive frailties Spurs were experiencing.
Despite these shaky moments, Tottenham grew into the game, and their persistence paid off midway through the first half. Lankshear found himself in a tussle inside the penalty area, and the ball broke kindly to Sarr, who calmly slotted it past the goalkeeper to give Spurs a 1-0 lead. It was a significant goal, not just in the context of the game but also for Sarr, who continues to cement his role in the squad.
Spurs nearly doubled their advantage just a few minutes later when a clever layoff from Lankshear set up Sarr for a second chance. However, his shot was fired directly at the goalkeeper, who made a comfortable save.
For the remainder of the first half, Tottenham managed the game better than in the early stages. They controlled possession more effectively, with the midfield duo of Sarr and Bissouma becoming increasingly influential. The team went into halftime with a slender but deserved one-goal lead.
Second Half:
At the break, Postecoglu made a tactical switch, moving Gray to left-back and shifting Davies into a central defensive role alongside Romero. The change seemed to provide more stability at the back, though Ferencvaros continued to pose a threat.
Early in the second half, Ferencvaros nearly equalized when Saldanha unleashed a curling shot from the edge of the box. The effort was destined for the bottom corner, but Vicario was once again on hand to make an acrobatic fingertip save.
Tottenham came close to doubling their lead just before the hour mark. A Porro corner was met by Lankshear, who did well to get his shot away despite close attention from the Ferencvaros defense. Unfortunately for Spurs, the ball sailed just over the crossbar.
In the 63rd minute, a brilliant through ball from Bissouma set Lankshear free on goal. The young forward was bearing down on the Ferencvaros goalkeeper, but a last-ditch recovery tackle from the defender denied him the chance to score his first goal for the club.
Tottenham continued to create chances as they pushed for a second goal. Moore delivered a dangerous cross to Werner, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, in trying to round the keeper, Werner took the ball too wide and could only find the side netting.
As the game entered its final stages, Postecoglu made a series of substitutions, bringing on Maddison for Lankshear and Johnson for Werner. Kulusevski moved into the central forward role, while Moore shifted to the left wing, with Johnson taking up a position on the right.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Johnson almost put the game to bed with a powerful shot that rattled the crossbar. The chance came after a surging run from Gray, who carried the ball from one side of the pitch to the other before setting up Johnson for the strike.
Ferencvaros, however, were not done yet. They went close to equalizing when Makreckis opted to shoot instead of crossing to one of his better-placed teammates. His decision proved costly as his shot was easily saved by Vicario.
In a frantic final 10 minutes, Ferencvaros had several opportunities to draw level. Kady Borges was left unmarked in the box but could only direct his header straight at Vicario, who gratefully gathered the ball. Moments later, Spurs were once again under siege as Ferencvaros saw two goal-bound efforts blocked in quick succession.
Despite the pressure, Spurs held firm, and just when it seemed like the game might slip away from them, they struck again. Johnson, who had been a constant threat since coming on, picked up the ball inside the box. Using Kulusevski’s overlapping run as a decoy, he cut inside onto his left foot and curled a superb shot in off the post to make it 2-0. It was Johnson’s fifth goal in as many games, and the strike effectively sealed the victory for Tottenham.
Ferencvaros did manage to pull a goal back just before stoppage time. A low cross from the right evaded Tottenham’s defense, and the home side finally found the back of the net. It was no more than they deserved for their efforts throughout the game, but it came too late to seriously threaten Spurs’ lead.
In the end, despite five minutes of added time, Tottenham saw out the game with relative comfort. The win extended their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions and gave them maximum points from their first two Europa League games. It was a hard-fought victory, and while Spurs were far from their best at times, they demonstrated the resilience and clinical edge needed to succeed in European competition.
This win leaves Tottenham well-positioned in their Europa League group as they look ahead to the rest of the campaign. For Postecoglu, there will be plenty of positives to take from the match, not least the continued development of young talents like Lankshear and Moore, who both showed glimpses of their potential on the European stage.
The result also highlights the impact of new signings like Johnson, whose form in front of goal has been a key factor in Tottenham’s recent success. As the season progresses, Spurs will hope to build on this momentum and continue their quest for silverware on multiple fronts.
