Tottenham Hotspur turned to their academy stars to seal a vital victory over Elfsborg and secure a top-eight finish in the Europa League on Thursday night, with Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore all getting on the scoresheet.
The result means Spurs qualify from the league phase in fourth place, after picking up 17 points from eight games, while Elfsborg suffer a heartbreaking elimination, dropping to 26th as a result of the defeat.
Tottenham were expectedly in control of the match from the outset, holding a massive 83% possession in the opening 45 minutes, but a lack of quality meant Spurs failed to create many significant chances, with Moore and Pape Sarr having the biggest opportunities after fine work from Heung-min Son, leaving the hosts still searching for the opener as the half came to a close.
Ange Postecoglou has had to deal with several injuries to key players this term, especially in central defence, and their woes continued in the early stages of the second half as Scarlett had to replace the stricken Radu Dragusin just 21 minutes after the Romanian entered the fray, but the substitution proved to be in Tottenham's favour, as the striker scored the opening goal just four minutes later.
Tottenham's dominance continued and grew as the game neared its end, and their academy stars certainly made the most of their opportunities on the pitch, with Ajayi clinically doubling the lead with just six minutes left, before Moore sealed the win with a wonderful third in stoppage time.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Postecoglou has had to deal with plenty of criticism over the past months, with Tottenham faltering time and time again, but it was certainly a much better performance from his men tonight.
Spurs were totally in control from minute one, failing to find the breakthrough despite their dominance in the first half but eventually breaking the deadlock thanks to Scarlett's first-ever goal for Spurs.
While Postecoglou will undoubtedly be frustrated to have lost yet another player to injury, with Dragusin being forced off just 21 minutes after entering the pitch, he will be delighted with the impact from his academy stars, as Scarlett, Ajayi and Moore all made the difference.
All in all, this is the type of performance that the manager will be expecting every week from his players, and Spurs fans will certainly be hoping the result can act as a catalyst for a positive run in their upcoming games.
TOTTENHAM VS. ELFSBORG HIGHLIGHTS
Dane Scarlett goal vs. Elfsborg (70th min, Tottenham 1-0 Elfsborg)
Dane Scarlett scores for Tottenham four minutes after coming off the bench!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 30, 2025
Instant impact 💥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/kalu9i3kuK
Tottenham have finally found the breakthrough, Scarlett coming from the bench to get the goal!
Spurs have the ball on the right wing and work it to Dejan Kulusevski, who takes two touches to bring the ball onto his left foot and delivers a curling cross towards the back post.
Scarlett makes a clever run across his marker and brilliantly converts into the bottom right corner with a diving header, giving the hosts the lead with his first-ever goal for Spurs.
Damola Ajayi goal vs. Elfsborg (84th min, Tottenham 2-0 Elfsborg)
Damola Ajayi's first-ever Tottenham goal sends them into the last 16!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 30, 2025
That's two Spurs academy graduates on the scoresheet tonight 🌟
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/xoFQ9ZjuVi
Ajayi comes off the bench to double Tottenham's lead!
Spurs once again building from the right-hand side as Ajayi picks up the ball on the touchline, cutting onto his left foot and driving towards the Elfsborg box.
The youngster plays a give-and-go with Scarlett, receiving the ball back just outside the area, taking a touch and smashing into the bottom right corner to make it two for Spurs.
Mikey Moore goal vs. Elfsborg (94th min, Tottenham 3-0 Elfsborg)
A SPECIAL individual goal from Mikey Moore seals the victory for Spurs ✨
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 30, 2025
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Mcf9QEdiYf
Moore makes it three, yet another academy graduate on the scoresheet!
Moore picks the ball up just inside Elfsborg's half, brushing off one defender before turning and driving towards the penalty area.
The winger cuts from left to right, going past two more Elfsborg defenders and finally unleashes his shot, cutting his effort back across goal and into the bottom left corner.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DANE SCARLETT
© Imago
Scarlett has only recently been called back from his loan spell with Championship side Oxford United, where he managed just four goals in 22 appearances, but he certainly made more of an impact for Spurs tonight.
Coming on for the injured Dragusin, Scarlett opened the scoring just four minutes later with his first-ever goal for Tottenham and showcased great hold-up play to combine with fellow academy graduate Ajayi for their second.
Talking of academy graduates, Ajayi and Moore also deserve mentions for their involvements, making the difference for Tottenham at such a crucial point of their season.
TOTTENHAM VS. ELFSBORG MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 81%-19% Elfsborg
Shots: Tottenham 21-4 Elfsborg
Shots on target: Tottenham 11-0 Elfsborg
Corners: Tottenham 10-0 Elfsborg
Fouls: Tottenham 5-11 Elfsborg
BEST STATS
10 - Son Heung-Min completed 10 dribbles in the first half against Elfsborg, the most ever by a player in the first 45 minutes of a UEFA Europa League game. Mazy. pic.twitter.com/aRqefZjRJj
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 30, 2025
66' Subbed on
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 30, 2025
70' Breaks the deadlock
It took four minutes for Dane Scarlett to score his first-ever Spurs goal ✨ pic.twitter.com/RU95kdIftq
Dane Scarlett - 20 years old ⚽
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 30, 2025
Oyindamola Ajayi - 19 years old ⚽
Mikey Moore - 17 years old ⚽
Spurs' youngsters turned up to secure their Europa League automatic qualification ⭐ pic.twitter.com/qAe1ALCNSD
17 - Tottenham's Mikey Moore has become the youngest Englishman to score a major European goal (17 years, 172 days), breaking a record held by Jimmy Greaves since 1957 (17 years, 245 days). Historic. pic.twitter.com/9ZhfA238IQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 30, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Tottenham's attention will now return to the Premier League as they prepare to face Brentford on Sunday, aiming to break their dismal seven-game winless streak in the league.
Meanwhile, Elfsborg are not back in competitive action until February 16 when they face Orgryte IS in the opening round of Group 7 fixtures in the Svenska Cupen.
Ellis Stevens
