Vitesse vs Tottenham LIVE: Europa Conference League result, final score and reaction tonight
Maximilian Wittek’s 78th-minute strike was enough to secure the points and leave Spurs in real bother sat in third in Group G
Tottenham’s decision to leave their big guns at home saw them lose 1-0 to Vitesse Arnhem in Group G of Europa Conference League.
The likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Cristiano Romero and Hugo Lloris did not travel to Holland with Sunday’s clash at West Ham in mind and a second string were undone by Maximilian Wittek’s 78th-minute strike.
The side Nuno Espirito Santo picked still had nine international players, but they were never really in the game and Bryan Gil’s shot that hit the crossbar early in the second half was their only moment of note.
Last time Tottenham played in Holland they enjoyed one of the most famous nights in their history as Lucas Moura’s hat-trick against Ajax sent them through to the Champions League final.
This time the Johan Cruijff ArenA was nothing but a stop on the trainline between Amsterdam and Arnhem and that Moura miracle must seem a long time ago as Spurs now compete in the third tier of European football.
Nuno has shown the competition respect so far, but made it clear where his priorities lay, leaving the entire XI that played 90 minutes at Newcastle last weekend at home to train ahead of Sunday’s Premier League visit to the Hammers.
With the return fixture in a fortnight and then a trip to the weakest team in the competition NS Mura to come, the Portuguese decided that leaving his big guns back in London for this game was a risk worth taking.
It was a gamble because this was a big night for Vitesse, who sold out their GelreDome stadium for the first time in seven years.
Before kick-off their partisan fans held up a banner reading “For the city, the colours and our club: This is our night” and, fresh from a derby win over NEC Nijmegen at the weekend, they started with intent.
Nikolai Baden Frederiksen forced Pierluigi Gollini into a save with his feet after being played in in the third minute and then Jacob Rasmussen flashed a header just wide from a corner.
Unsurprisingly given the amount of changes, Spurs were not up to much in an attacking sense in the first half, with teenage striker Dane Scarlett up against it in a lone role in attack.
They immediately showed more after the break and were within inches of taking the lead in the 47th minute.
Giovani Lo Celso showed why he is becoming a key player for Argentina as he went on an enterprising dribble before laying it off for Gil, whose first-time shot rattled the crossbar.
That was as good as it got for Spurs who were pinned further and further back as the second half wore on, with Eli Dasa twice going close with efforts from distance, the second effort bringing a smart stop out of Gollini.
It was no surprise when the goal came 12 minutes from time as Wittek brilliantly volleyed home Dasa’s cross from the edge of the area to send the home crowd wild.
GOAL! West Ham 2 - 0 Genk (Diop, 57’)⚽️
57 mins: That should be that! Genk give away a silly free kick over on the left wing. Cresswell, who’s had a brilliant night for West Ham, curls the set piece into the middle of the box. Issa Diop jumps in front of Onuachu, wins the header and fires the ball onto the underside of the crossbar where it bounces over the line! West Ham double their lead!
West Ham 1 - 0 Genk
54 mins: West Ham deal with Genk’s corner, fly up the pitch and win one of their own.
Cresswell delivers but the substitute Sadick is there to glance the initial cross over to the far side of the box. Dawson collects the ball and cuts it back to Yarmolenko who checks to the left and fires a shot high and wide.
West Ham 1 - 0 Genk
51 mins: Just like the first half Genk have started on the front foot. They’re retaining possession well and pushing into the final third. A wayward cross goes over the head of Onuachu and is recovered by Ito who then wins a corner by knocking the ball into Cresswell.
West Ham 1 - 0 Genk
48 mins: Genk work the ball into a nice over on the right wing with Ito, Preciado and Thorstvedt combining to slip the ball up the pitch. the visitors get men into the box but don’t send in a cross and West Ham’s defenders come across to force them to retreat.
Second half: West Ham 1 - 0 Genk
Kick off: Genk make an enforced change at half-time and bring on Mujaid Sadick to replace Carlos Cuesta in central defence. West Ham restart the game at the London Stadium.
West Ham 1 - 0 Genk
Craig Dawson’s header separates the two teams after the first half. Can West Ham build on that to earn their third win of the campaign?
West Ham 1 - 0 Genk
As it stands West Ham are going to take a sxi point lead at the top of Group H with three games to play. Genk started the first half as the stronger team but West Ham’s control in the middle of the pitch took the initiative away from the Belgian side and allowed the Hammers to work the ball into the wide areas.
West Ham’s biggest problem is not getting men into the box, they’ve put a lot of balls into the area but have no-one in there to get close to them.
Half-time: West Ham 1 - 0 Genk
45+2 mins: It wasn’t the most electrifying first half we’ve seen in the Europa League this season but West Ham kept on probing Genk’s defences and finally found the breakthrough right at the end of the first half.
The next goal could be vital, if the Hammers score again they’ll cruise to victory but if Genk find an equaliser if could turn into a nervous second half for West Ham.
GOAL! West Ham 1 - 0 Genk (Dawson, 45+1’)⚽️
45+1 mins: Killer blow for Genk on the stroke of half-time. Dawson meets a corner ball from Cresswell and loops a header into the far top corner. Great set piece from the Hammers who have the lead!
West Ham 0 - 0 Genk
45 mins: Chance! Yarmolenko passes the ball to Vlasic who sends it out to Cresswell on the left side once again. His ball into the six-yard box is low and pacey but there’s only Bowen up to reach. He stretches but the ball hits Lucumi and Vandevoordt has to dive low to keep out the deflection.
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