Europa League Qualifying, 2011: Spurs Crush Hearts, Slovan Upset Roma

It was a one-sided game, and a one-sided result at Tynecastle, with Tottenham in supreme form as they gave Hearts a 5-0 thrashing. There were 5 different goalscorers for Spurs, who finished with Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale, Jake Livermore, Rafael Van der Vaart, and Jermain Defoe all on the scoresheet.

Nonetheless, there was a touch of fortune about the opening goal, with Rafael Van Der Vaart benefiting from an awkward Marius Zaliukas clearance to slot past Marian Kello. Shortly afterwards, Jermain Defoe made it two after good work from Aaron Lennon put him through to score.

Roma may be wondering about the wisdom in bringing in Maarten Steklenburg to replace Doni after his Fernando Muslera-esque error lead to the winning goal, but it was likely that the new keeper just hadn’t had much to do, and was uncertain how to react when faced with, you know, a ball. Whatever happened, Slovan take a surprise win back to Rome, where it’s almost certain they’ll face a stronger side.

Don’t worry, Roma fans. If you’re feeling a bit blue, you can always watch this video of a hedgehog getting a bath:

That’s a classic breakaway goal by Tottenham. Really wonderful stuff. After winning the ball in their own area, Spurs engage in some wonderfully casual play to get the ball out of defence, with Tom Huddlestone eventually surging through the centre, playing a ball out to Jermain Defoe on the left, who centres for Lennon to delicately touch into the near post. It’s a marvellous goal, and worth saying again that Spurs have played remarkably well as a unit considering this is their first proper game this season.

Huddlestone in particular has been superb since coming on, controlling the game and showing tremendous composure on the ball. If Modric is on the way out, Spurs at least have plenty of talent in midfield to compensate.

If this tie wasn’t over before, it certainly is now. Gareth Bale is the scorer, collecting Huddlestone’s perfectly-timed ball over the top and taking the ball past Marian Kello for an easy finish.

Hearts had been vastly improved since the first half, and for the first 15 minutes of the second were the better side, with Andrew Driver often providing the spark, the left-winger cutting in from the right, beating Bale and Assou-Ekotto and putting in a fine ball for Thompson to touch over the bar for Hearts’ best chance of the night so far. Earlier, the Scots also had a series of corners, which Gomes was only just able to deal with.

It’s Hearts 0-3 Tottenham at half-time at Tynecastle, with a rampant spurs having a field day against an insipid Hearts side. The Edinburgh club are yet to turn up, having been impotent and static as Tottenham’s fluid attack have put them in a commanding lead.

Tottenham got into an early lead when Rafael Van Der Vaart was fortunate to find himself through on goal after blocking Marius Zaliukas’ clearance, and the Dutchman passed a serene finish past Marian Kello to make it 1-0. Soon afterwards, Jermaine Defoe made it two, collecting a fine through-ball from Aaron Lennon to put away Tottenham’s second goal of the evening.

Surprisingly enough, the match has been fairly even in the first half - although that might be due to the fact that Roma appear to have started their third string squad. The Italian side have had the majority of the possession, but could do nothing with it in front of the Slovan goal, constantly sending the ball just wide of keeper Matúš Putnocký.

Well, I said this was in danger of becoming a rout, and unfortunately for Hearts, that is quickly becoming the case. Jake Livermore gets in on the act now, playing a one-two with Jermain Defoe and putting away a third for the North London club. A procession for Tottenham, and misery for Hearts.

It’s becoming worse and worse for the Edinburgh side. Their defence has been ponderous and static, their passing has been off and ill-timed, and their pressing and off-the-ball runs have been thoughtless. They simply have not been in this game tonight. Tottenham, conversely, have been remarkably fluid and precise for a team playing their first competetive match of the new season. They look to be gelling into a proper side, and though their opponents have not been of the first-rate, they’ll be a very interesting team to watch in the Premier League on this evidence. Who needs Luka Modric….

Rafael Van der Vaart has put Spurs ahead, and it’s 1-0 to the away side at Tynecastle. The Dutchman galloped towards the Hearts area, which was well-manned in defence, and tried to play in Jermain Defoe, who was quickly dispossessed. But Van Der Vaart continued his run, and after Marius Zaliukas blasted his clearance straight against him, staggered through to slot the ball calmly past Marian Kello. 1-0 to Tottenham.

It’s been a lively start, and it’s important for Hearts that they keep control of the game after conceding an unlucky goal. They’ll need to get their pacy, tricky wing pairing of Andrew Driver and David Templeton into the game if they are to damage Spurs here. Tottenham, on the other hand, will likely go through the middle, with Kranjcar and Van der Vaart a potentially lethal combination. They will also hope Defoe shows some improved form after a dreadful previous season – a goal for him would be music to Harry Rednapp’s ears.

The team news is in from Tynecastle, as Hearts and Spurs face off in a Battle-Of-Britain or other cliche. As a Scot, I should be backing the former, however, I quite like Tottenham, and whilst I’m a fan of Edinburgh, we are in that period known as ‘The Edinburgh Festival’ for the duration of which I loathe the place. So for one night only, all my personal prejudices balance out. This is unbiased coverage. Anyway, the teams:

That’s a strong side named by Harry Redknapp, and a very attacking one too. Whether it’ll prove his determination to actually take the thing seriously, however, is debatable – earlier on, he spoke of reaching the group stages as “a chance to use some of the younger players.” Hmm.