It may still be a tough job for Tottenham Hotspur to reach the group stage of the Conference League. With a B-team, the team of trainer Nuno Espirito Santos lost on Thursday evening against Paços de Ferreira. The number five of last season in Portugal won 1-0 by a goal in the closing phase of the first half. The return awaits in London next week.
Tottenham took office with a completely new line-up compared to Sunday’s league game against Manchester City (1-0). Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, defender Cristian Romero and attacking midfielder Bryan Gil, all recruited this summer, made their starting debuts. Teens Nile John and Dane Scarlett also had a starting spot; the same was true for Cameron Carter-Vickers and Ryan Sessegnon, who are rarely allowed to start. The bench was made up entirely of young players from the youth academy, leaving Tottenham speechless after Lucas Silva’s 1-0.
The left winger was put in front of Gollini’s goal by a razor-sharp through pass from Nuno Santos, which cut the entire defense open. He made no mistake face to face with the keeper. The goal came in the last minute of the first half and was the result of Harry Winks losing possession. Paços was allowed to counter; the home side’s counterattack had been a source of threat throughout the first half, and Tottenham was actually penalized in the end. The visitors were dangerous in the opening phase, but then made less of an impression in Estádio da Mata Real.
Tottenham started the second half with one change: John, who did not stand out in the first half, was replaced by the more attacking Jack Clarke. But Tottenham didn’t really get a foothold in the second half either. After an hour, Sessegnon shot wide. The Premier League club was also unable to break any pots from standard situations. Paços himself was anything but threatening in the second half, but easily stayed upright in the back. The home side played far back when Tottenham had the ball and the visitors lacked the creativity to find an opening.
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