Tottenham Hotspur vs Qarabag match report: Son Heung-Min offers promise for the future with double to lift sluggish Spurs

There was a long spell in the first half when Tottenham players and fans could have been forgiven if this was really the best way of spending their Thursday evening. Spurs were 1-0 down to Qarabag – the champions of Azerbaijan, it must be said – and facing the prospect of another five group games in the competition that has spoiled their last few seasons. Crystal Palace come here on Sunday lunchtime and Spurs will have to be at their physical peak to live with them.

But football is a fickle business and when Son Heung-Min scored his second Spurs goal, two minutes after his first, the whole exercise felt worthwhile. Spurs spent £22m on Son because they need him to be a viable option, either alongside Kane or instead of him. Briefly forget the three points and the race to win Group J. If these two goals catalyse Son’s form they will be worth their weight in Premier League points.

The first goal came after Spurs’ miserable 20 minutes at 1-0 down, when Spurs fans might reasonably have wondered if this competition was worth the fuss. Spurs were working hard, and looking for a way through but Qarabag were kind enough to present a very clear one to them. Andros Townsend curled in a corner kick from the right, Son was unmarked and he tucked the ball away from five yards out.

The second goal, though, was beautifully constructed. Son, dropping back into his preferred space on the edge of the box, turned and threaded a forward pass to Dele Alli, on the 19-year-old’s second Spurs start. Alli, big build but quick feet, skipped away from a sliding defender in the box, weighed up his options and passed the ball back to Son, who finished into the bottom corner.

Son and Alli were the two stars of the evening and, given that each of them had made their first Tottenham debuts four days before at Sunderland, this was certainly good news.

“He scored twice and played one hour,” Pochettino said of Son afterwards. “I am very pleased with him, very happy. His adaptation to the club has been good from the beginning.” The next question is whether he plays with Kane against Crystal Palace, either from the wing or up in a 4-4-2, but Pochettino praised the fact he has the “versatility to play in different positions”.

Pochettino was almost as pleased with Alli, who imposed himself on midfield with presence and purpose. “In pre-season started to show for an 18 year old that he can play like an experienced player,” Pochettino said. “He showed personality, character and quality.”

Alli continued to drive Spurs forward in the second half, starting a wonderful move just after half-time which ended with Erik Lamela hitting the inside of the post. Lamela had a difficult start to the game but he improved as it went on and ended it with four minutes remaining, running onto Harry Kane’s through ball and chipping the Qarabag goalkeeper.

That goal, along with Son’s, and debuts for Kevin Wimmer, Kieran Tripper and Clinton Njie made it a very worthwhile night in the end for Spurs, who are still trying to get their squad in position to start moving up the table.

“I am happy because the team showed character and in different periods we played well,” Pochettino said. “We had a lot of players playing for the first time – and it is different to training - and for that the victory is very good for us. It was not an easy game.”

That was not just a platitude, as Qarabag took the lead after just seven minutes. Richard Almedia burst past Eric Dier in midfield, Kieran Tripper fouled Ansi Agolli in the box and Almeida put the penalty into the bottom corner. This was not what everyone had come to White Hart Lane for, although they all went home happy in the end.

Man of the match Son.

Match rating 6/10.

Referee A Jaccottet (Switzerland)

Attendance 26,463.