Tottenham secured an important 3-0 win over Elfsborg and won fourth place in her group in the Europa League and guaranteed an automatic berth in the last 16.
What was initially a frustrating evening for Posetecoglou’s site became a joyful occasion when three graduates of the academy – Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore – scored their first goals for the club in an exciting last 20 minutes.
Spurs dominated the possession from the start, but in the first half there was a clear chance of premium.
Heung-Min son, who scored his 50th European appearance for the club, made the brightest moments and set the pape Matar Sarr and Moore for Spurs’ best early efforts.
Despite her control – with 81% property – Tottenham went into goalless, with Elfsborg in return offering little threat.
Postecoglou introduced Dejan Kulusevski at halftime, and his effects were meaningful. The breakthrough arrived in the 70th minute when Kulusevski whipped into an excellent cross for Scarlett, who carried a header home for his first Senior Spurs goal.
Secured our place in the round of 16 🔒 pic.twitter.com/iyx7cpb8wa
– Tottenham Hotspur (@spursofficial) January 30, 2025
Just 14 minutes later, debutant Ajayi doubled the lead and exchanged passes with Scarlett before struck into the corner. The night was covered deeply into the interruption when Moore stole the possession, drove to the goal and reached the net.
And posteclou was full of praise for his young cohort after the game.
He said: “Really delighted. The aim was to win today and to secure our place in the top eight. I thought the boys were good, controlled the game and we were never really threatened. We had to use our time in the time when they were sitting deep, but in the end they gave up to pursue the game and the goals came.
“The victory was achieved in Tottenham this evening. I am very pleased with the boys, and we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that we still had a few teenagers out there. I am sure that these three boys won’t sleep tonight. We needed something tonight and the young boys appeared.
“We have another big week, so that the changes were about to manage the cargo at half time. We still received an injury with Radu (Dragusin), which is not great, but the three boys at halftime are good.
“(In Dragusin’s injury) It is still too early to say what it is, we have to examine Futher. But it was his knee that is not good.
“We have another game on Sunday. The club will work hard behind the scenes to see if we can do something. “
