Football-Sportclub: September 2015

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger praises 'hard-working' Mathieu Flamini

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed fighter Mathieu Flamini after the midfielder marked his first appearance of the season with a double strike to help beat Tottenham 2-1 in the Capital One Cup at White Hart Lane.

The 31-year-old, who could have left the club during the summer transfer window, netted a superb second-half volley to secure bragging rights for Gunners fans.

Arsenal had taken a first-half lead when Flamini tucked the ball in from close range following a parry by goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Spurs, though, rallied after the restart and were level on 56 minutes when Callum Chambers deflected a cross from Nacer Chadli past his own goalkeeper David Ospina.

However, it was Arsenal - beaten at Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday - who finished strongly, with Flamini crashing in a fine 25-yard effort on 78 minutes following a ballooned clearance by Spurs defender Federico Fazio to send the travelling support into raptures.

"You do not expect Mathieu Flamini to score two goals but he was certainly frustrated for a long time and he went for it," said Wenger.

"He has worked very hard recently and I saw in training he was very focused, that he had come back to a good level, also I wanted to strengthen our defensive midfield.

"He is a fighter, Mathieu, and a winner as well.

"I told him at the start of the season it might be difficult for him to be a starter, but he decided to stay and he did fight."

Wenger was pleased with the way his team, which included several changes from the starting XI at Stamford Bridge, secured a hard-earned victory.

"Overall we responded well mentally and physically to the challenge we faced tonight, and it was a convincing performance," the Arsenal manager said.

"We were unlucky with the own goal and after found the resources to score a second goal."

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino felt his side had done enough to get a positive result.

"It was a missed opportunity because we dominated the second half and had the better chances," he said.

"In general the performance was very good and I am happy with the effort from my players, but both goals we conceded were a bit lucky maybe. Also we made some mistakes but this is football."

Pochettino defended his decision to select the likes of both Vorm and Fazio, a player who came close to being sold in the summer.

"It is a competition which is a good opportunity for him (Vorm) and we need to show more respect," the Spurs boss said.

"Look at Arsenal - they played Ospina and is the result is on the other side, then it would be the same question for Wenger.

"He deserves to play."

Pochettino continued: "I don't regret (my selections) - you can make mistakes, remember when (Diego) Maradona missed a penalty? These are big players but this can happen, they are not machines.

"We need to take a lot of positive things. Yes, our supporters and us will feel very bad, when you play against your sporting enemy you want to win more, but this is football.

"We need to be happy in the way we played and disappointed with the way we lost the game, but now we need to prepare for the game on Saturday against Manchester City, when we will have one day less to prepare."

Following the final whistle there were some disturbances in the away end, with Arsenal supporters seen pulling down Tottenham signs.

Louis van Gaal battling expectations around Anthony Martial

Louis van Gaal once again tried to play down expectations surrounding Anthony Martial after he scored his fourth goal in as many matches for Manchester United.

United strolled into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup with a routine 3-0 win over Championship side Ipswich on Wednesday.

Wayne Rooney scored his first goal in domestic competition this season and Andreas Pereira converted a stunning free-kick on his full debut, but it was Martial who stole the headlines once more.

Twenty minutes after his introduction from the bench, the 19-year-old Frenchman latched on to Memphis Depay's knock-down and rolled the ball beyond Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski to complete the victory in injury time.

Martial has now scored four goals in just 225 minutes for United, but Van Gaal wants to protect his prize asset and resisted the temptation to lavish praise on the £36million forward after the match.

"That is not so difficult (for him to stay grounded) because he is a player who is very modest and he knows he can score because of his fellow players," the United manager said of the most expensive teenager in history.

"We made it two times very easy (for him) because we won the game and then the gaps are existing and then with his speed and his composure he can score.

"He did it also against Liverpool and now again. We are happy but still we have to keep our feet on the ground."

Until Martial came on to the pitch to great acclaim from the home fans inside Old Trafford, it looked like being Pereira's night.

The Brazilian had impressed greatly on United's pre-season tour but until Wednesday, the talented forward had not got a sniff of first-team action this year.

The 19-year-old reminded Van Gaal of his talents in the best way possible on the hour, dipping a lovely free-kick over the wall into the corner while Bialkowski stood there motionless.

Just as he did with Martial, Van Gaal was wary of lauding the teenager for his efforts and warned him he faces strong competition to earn a regular place in the United team.

"He can play all these positions (across the front)," Van Gaal said.

"And his competitors are (Ashley) Young, (Memphis) Depay, (Juan) Mata, (Ander) Herrera, (Wayne) Rooney, (Marouane) Fellaini and (Jesse) Lingard.

"What is realistic is dependable on the level of the players. I put always the best player in the line-up when he is working for the team."

After exiting the Capital One Cup at the first hurdle last term to MK Dons, Van Gaal was pleased to advance to the fourth round, where United will face Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.

"It is the top club in the Championship," the United manager said of United's next opponents in the competition.

"It shall not be easy. Also this game was not easy. I am happy with the result and the draw because we are playing at home."

Van Gaal's opposite number Mick McCarthy, who made 11 changes for the match, was happy with his players despite the result

"Manchester United deserved to win," the Ipswich manager said.

"But I am delighted with my players.

"I could have put any team out against that team and probably still would have been beaten."

Liverpool scrape past Carlisle on penalties

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' torturous season continued as they scraped through a Capital One Cup tie on penalties against League Two Carlisle.

After Danny Ings' second goal in as many games for the Reds was cancelled out by Derek Asamoah in the first half to see the scores level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match eventually went to spot-kicks where debutant Adam Bogdan was their saviour with three saves.

But the cheer around Anfield as the Hungarian goalkeeper denied Bastien Hery was more relief than anything else.

It was five years and one day after another League Two side Northampton came to Anfield and shocked Roy Hodgson's side on penalties, one of the many results which contributed to the now England manager's sacking less than four months later.

Rodgers escaped that ignominy but with the club earlier in the day having to deny reports they had approached Carlo Ancelotti about taking over at Anfield, the Northern Irishman still remains under pressure.

He is without a victory in 90 minutes in the last six games and although he named a side which contained five of the team which drew against Norwich at the weekend - plus goalscorer that day Ings - they struggled to breach the leakiest defence in League Two, despite attempting an incredible 47 shots in 120 minutes.

Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet at home in the League Cup since January 2005 against Watford and that was to prove costly, as was a record which shows only twice in the last 21 matches have they scored more than once in a game - the last time coming on May 2 against relegated QPR.

Ings, as at the weekend when he came off the bench to score, was a bundle of energy and his terrier-like tenacity and running always looked like creating something.

Having seen Mark Gillespie parry one effort - James Milner heading wide the rebound - and looping a second wide, he got his rewards with a close-range header from a well-timed run to meet Alberto Moreno's cross.

The same combination almost produced a second but the former Burnley striker nodded wide - although not as wide as the gap Liverpool afforded Hery as he skipped unchallenged through central midfield to slide the ball through to Asamoah, who beat Bogdan at his near post.

Forward Roberto Firmino, struggling with a back injury after falling awkwardly, was immediately replaced by Divock Origi and that affected Liverpool's momentum almost as much as the equaliser, as Ings, the firebrand up front, dropped back to a deeper role and lessened his threat.

Anthony Sweeney's second-half challenge on Origi was probably worthy of a penalty, with the Belgium striker and substitute Philippe Coutinho also forcing good saves out of Gillespie and Milner's strike deflecting into the side-netting.

Carlisle somewhat generously waited until the 64th minute before introducing Jabo Ibehre, with 10 goals in 11 games this season, but with Liverpool laying siege to their penalty area they were restricted to just a couple of opportunities.

Ibehre had a half-chance in extra time, Origi and Ings better ones, while Gillespie did well to smother Alberto Moreno's charge in the last five minutes.

Dejan Lovren's departure on a stretcher with his right leg in a splint added to Liverpool's woes as they finished the game with 10 men having used all their substitutes.

Penalties ended the agony - with Milner, Emre Can and Ings all scoring against the two successes from Gary Dicker and Alex McQueen - but victory posed more questions than answers and there is more scrutiny to come for Rodgers.

Ronald Koeman hails Southampton's strikers after crushing win

Ronald Koeman was pleased his Southampton team did not take their foot off the gas against MK Dons.

Jay Rodriguez, Sadio Mane and Shane Long all netted twice as Saints humiliated the Milton Keynes club, inflicting the biggest defeat of their short history.

Rodriguez's goals were his first domestically in almost 18 months, having only recently returned from a lengthy lay-off with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

He netted for the first time since his comeback against Danish outfit Midtjylland in the Europa League last month but his efforts on Wednesday night were his first strikes in English competition since a Premier League double against Newcastle on March 29, 2014.

The 26-year-old's brace, his second from the penalty spot, came either side of Mane's double while Long grabbed his two later in the second half.

Koeman said: "The final result is very pleasing and I think we showed from the first minute to the last second the great spirit in the team.

''We had a good start and two fast goals gave us the confidence and total domination in the game but after half-time the message to the players was to continue what we did in the first half and try to score more goals and keep a clean sheet.

''I am very pleased because usually in this competition the results are close, it is usually 1-0 or 2-1.''

All of Koeman's strikers got their names on the score-sheet but the Dutchman did not want to single out any specific players for praise.

"The whole team worked well - the defenders, the midfielder and the strikers. They all had the right spirit, so it is not fair to pick people out, but goals do strikers good so that is pleasing also."

MK Dons boss Karl Robinson admitted he was in awe of Saints at times.

''That is a team who wants to win the competition, their hunger and desire was phenomenal,'' said Robinson. ''I found myself applauding some of their football at times.

"In my time working at that level at Liverpool and Blackburn that was as cohesive a display as I have ever seen.

"We are a little embarrassed and upset, I admit. But they are a very good side and hopefully me and my players can learn something from this game."

Team-mates praise Lacina Traore after he rescues Europa League draw for Monaco

Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and defender Andrea Raggi hailed the impact of Lacina Traore after he came off the bench to rescue a 1-1 Europa League draw against Anderlecht on Thursday.

Anderlecht took an 11th-minute lead through Guillaume Gillet and looked set to make a winning start to their Group J campaign before Traore silenced the majority assembled at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium with an 85th-minute equaliser.

Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim reacted to being 1-0 down at half-time by introducing the 6ft 8in Traore at the start of the second half and the Ivorian's impact drew praise from his team-mates.

"It was a difficult game because we conceded a goal quickly. On an error like in Valencia (when they lost their Champions League qualifier)," Subasic told his club's website.

"The entries of Lacina and (Stephan) El Shaarawy made us good. It led to us creating more opportunities."

Right-back Raggi joined Subasic in praising Traore and insisted the point earned in Belgium is something to be pleased about.

"This is a good point for us tonight against this very strong team of Anderlecht," the Italian said.

"We must have more and more aggression and fight for every ball.

"If he is 100 per cent physically and mentally, Lacina is a very good player. This year I think he can help us a lot."

Stefano Pioli disappointed after Lazio are stunned by late Dnipro equaliser

Lazio manager Stefano Pioli rued his side's inability to kill off Dnipro as last season's Europa League finalists scored a 94th-minute equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw in their opening Group G encounter in Ukraine.

The Biancocelesti were on the verge of a 1-0 victory after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's first-half goal, but Yevhen Seleznyov headed home a equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game to earn Dnipro a share of the spoils.

Lazio boss Pioli was left to reflect on what would have been an important victory at the Dnipro-Arena and called on his players to learn from their disappointment.

"The test was positive but the result does not satisfy us," he told Lazio Style Channel.

"We were looking to score a second goal with a little insistence on more. There is regret, it is a game we had to win.

"In this we have to learn and grow, if we do not close matches then leave room for these things."

Despite conceding a last-gasp equaliser Pioli took plenty of positives from Lazio's performance.

He added: "(The result is) too bad because the kids were good. I liked the character in the way we played as we wanted... If we're a smart team will learn from this, I hope so."

Mauricio Pochettino hails the impact of double goalscorer Son Heung-min

Mauricio Pochettino hailed the instant impact of Son Heung-min after the summer arrival struck twice to lead Tottenham to Europa League victory over Qarabag.

Mauricio Pochettino hailed the instant impact of Son Heung-min after the summer arrival struck twice to lead Tottenham to Europa League victory over Qarabag.

The Azerbaijan Premier League champions took a surprise lead at White Hart Lane as debutant Kieran Trippier felled Ansi Agolli in the box and Richard Almeida converted the resulting penalty.

But Son then struck twice in three first-half minutes to turn the game around, with Erik Lamela adding another late on to seal a 3-1 victory.

But it was Son who impressed having been selected ahead of goalless Harry Kane to lead the line for Spurs and Pochettino was delighted with the South Korean's impact.

"He scored twice and played one hour," he said.

"His performance you can see I am very pleased with him, very happy. His adaptation to the club has been good from the beginning.

"I think I explained before the Sunderland game that Son can play like a striker. He can also play wider. He has the quality to play in different positions on the pitch.

"I think it wasn't an easy game. We conceded an early goal. But I am happy because the team showed character and in different periods we played well. We had a lot of players playing for the first time – and it is different to training - and for that the victory is very good for us."

Although Son had scored the all-important goals, Dele Alli was arguably the best player on the pitch as the 19-year-old made his European bow.

The former MK Dons midfielder has taken to life in the top-flight with ease and Pochettino believes he is someone who plays well beyond his years.

"I think Alli in pre-season started to show that he can play like an experienced player," he said.

"He showed personality and quality. He is a player who can play in the first team. But you have to be careful with an 18-year-old – it is important to care for him to keep the level for the season."

With Monaco and Anderlecht making up the rest of Group J, Pochettino is already aiming at going further than last season in this competition – when he saw his side beaten at the round-of-32 stage by Fiorentina.

"It is not easy to win the Europa league," he added.

"Whether it is more realistic or not is the big question, like last season. As a big club we have to try to arrive in the final and win the Europa League.

"Qarabag was no surprise. We saw a lot of their games. I am big fan of theirs now – I like their philosophy and the way they play. They are a very good team. They can fight to go to the next round."

Qarabag coach Gurban Gurbanov was unhappy at his side's defending after they left Son unmarked to score the equaliser from five yards out – but he leaves England with the confidence his team can compete.

"We didn't deserve to lose," he said.

"We know that they are a good team, our players made some mistakes but I don't want to speak about the first goal because it was unacceptable but I hope in the next games we can gain the results we are looking for."

Lasse Schone's late goal sees Ajax earn a 2-2 draw against Celtic in Amsterdam

A late goal from substitute Lasse Schone gave Ajax a 2-2 draw against Celtic at the Amsterdam ArenA where Hoops left-back Emilio Izaguirre was sent off.

In an absorbing encounter, right-back Mikael Lustig headed the Parkhead men into an interval lead in the 42nd minute after Danish midfielder Viktor Fischer had cancelled out midfielder Nir Bitton's eighth minute opener.

Celtic looked assured after the break but when Izaguirre was dismissed in the 74th minute by referee Luca Banti for picking up his second yellow of the night with a foul on Anwar El Ghazi, the home side came storming back with Schone scoring a free-kick in the 84th minute and Ronny Deila's side hanging on for a point.

Deila, under pressure after losing the top spot at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership with a defeat at Aberdeen at the weekend, and having exited the Champions League at the play-off stage, suffered a blow with the loss of Charlie Mulgrew to a thigh injury - Stuart Armstrong and Scott Allan were also out injured.

That meant a debut for Croatia Under-21 stopper Jozo Simunovic, signed recently from Dinamo Zagreb.

Izaguirre returned with midfielders James Forrest and Kris Commons coming into the starting line-up.

Ajax, top of the Eredivisie and unbeaten in five league games, had 22-year-old German forward Amin Younes making his first competitive start, joined in attack by captain Davy Klaassen and El Ghazi.

Celtic got off to a confidence-boosting start when Commons set up Bitton who had time and space to drill a right-footed shot from 16 yards low past Jasper Cillessen, giving the Ajax keeper no chance.

The Dutch side tried to quickly get back into the match, somewhat unconvincingly, but in the 25th minute they levelled with a well-worked goal.

The talented Younes went past Lustig with ease before slipping the ball to Klaassen, whose clever flick to Fischer was fired past the diving Hoops keeper Craig Gordon from the edge of the box.

The goal appeared to strip Deila's side of some confidence as Ajax, by contrast, started to move the ball around with more belief.

However, in the 39th minute Celtic could have got themselves back in front from a quick throw-in when Forrest raced along the bye-line before picking out Leigh Griffiths a few yards from goal.

The Hoops striker failed to connect properly with his shot although Cillessen still did well to push the ball past the post for a corner, which came to nothing.

But it was from a corner three minutes later that Lustig rose highest to head in Commons' deep cross, giving the Parkhead side the half-time advantage.

Celtic looked the more likely to get the next goal in the second-half, but the game changed when Izaguirre got his marching orders.

The Honduras international, booked just after the break for a challenge on Kenny Tete, was allowed a couple more fouls before referee Banti deemed his trip on El Ghazi to be one too many, leaving Celtic to replace Forrest with defender Tyler Blackett and fight with 10 men.

Ajax substitute Arkadiusz Milik, on for Younes, hit the post with a header in the 79th minute, after Klaassen had gone close, also with a header.

But Celtic were undone when Schone, on for Fischer in the 75th minute, fired in a free-kick from wide on the left which beat everyone including Gordon and ended up in the net.

Milik headed just over as Ajax threw everything forward looking for the winner but the Hoops held out four minutes off added time although they will look at Izaguirre's dismissal as the cause of a nervy ending.

Celtic manager Deila told BT Sport 2: "It's always tough away in Europe, especially here in Amsterdam.

"We showed very good work and attitude, we were very organised and I think we were unlucky to get the red card.

"Emilio played well to negate the situation. In the first half he didn't do anything wrong but in the second half (El Ghazi) gets more inside and we get into trouble.

"It was tough in the beginning (with 10 men), they got more crosses in, but when we got five behind we were very secure and didn't concede many chances."

Deila was satisfied with a point, though, and added: "I'm very proud, we have had a tough period, we have many games left but this is a good start.

"Confidence will come and we will get better and better."

CELTIC PLAYER RATINGS

Craig Gordon 6

Mikael Lustig 6

Dedryck Boyata 7

Jozo Simunovic 6

Emilio Izaguirre 5

Nir Bitton 7

Scott Brown 7

James Forrest 6

Stefan Johansen 6

Kris Commons 7

Leigh Griffiths 6

Substitutes:

Tyler Blackett: 5

Efe Ambrose: 5

Saidy Janko: 5

STAR PLAYER

Bitton scored a fine opener and showed class and composure on the ball. Rapidly turning into one of Celtic's most important players.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ajax's first equaliser. Amin Younes went past Mikael Lustig with ease before slipping the ball to skipper Davy Klaassen, whose clever flick to Viktor Fischer was fired past the diving Hoops keeper Craig Gordon from the edge of the box.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Parkhead boss Ronny Deila believes Celtic would have won had Emilio Izaguirre not been sent off while Frank de Boer will have been glad with a point after trailing 2-1 in the second half and not really looking like drawing level until the dismissal.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Izaguirre's sending off could easily have been avoided. He was let off with a couple of fouls before the referee could take no more. Should have been more disciplined.

TWEET OF THE MATCH

"#Celtic discipline and defending set pieces cost us the 3 points. I'll take the draw, but could have been sweeter." - Celtic fan and '24: Live Another Day' actor Ross McCall.

https://twitter.com/maccageezer/status/644584846182891520

Son Heung-min shines on White Hart Lane bow as Tottenham beat Qarabag

Son Heung-min scored a quick-fire brace on his home debut as Tottenham came from behind to beat Qarabag in their Europa League opener on Thursday night.

Son Heung-min scored a quick-fire brace on his home debut as Tottenham came from behind to beat Qarabag in their Europa League opener on Thursday night.
The big-money summer signing was deployed as the lone striker with goalless Harry Kane rested for the visit of the Azerbaijan champions - the first time in almost seven months the England international has not started a game for Spurs.
But his replacement on the night showed why he was signed for a fee in excess of £20million as he scored two predatory goals in the space of three minutes to cancel out Richard Almeida's early penalty for the visitors - with Erik Lamela also in the scoresheet in the 3-1 win.
Son almost slipped in Lamela only to see Qarabag goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic come off his line and collect as his side then set about taking the early initiative.
Kieran Trippier, making his Tottenham debut after his summer arrival from relegated Burnley, had started brightly but was caught square by Ansi Agolli and tripped the left-back to concede a penalty that was duly dispatched by Almeida to give Qarabag an unexpected lead.
The visitors were having the better of the opening exchanges as Tottenham could not settle, with Son flashing a shot well wide when given a rare sight of goal.
But the South Korea international levelled the game on 28 minutes as he turned home Andros Townend's low corner unmarked from inside the six-yard box.
His second followed just three minutes later as Dele Alli danced into the box before squaring for the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man to fire past Sehic and turn the match on its head.
Alli should have had his own goal but could not beat Sehic after being played in behind by Townsend, and soon after Toby Alderweireld headed over Trippier's deep cross.
The visitors were still a threat going forward and Danny Rose was lucky to get away with a chested backpass that was intercepted by Afran Ismayilov, who could only shoot wide after latching on to the loose ball.
Reynaldo was next to come close to an equaliser as the striker met Javid Taghiyev's pinpoint cross with a header that flashed over Hugo Lloris' crossbar.
Lamela came close at the start of the second half as he hit the post after running onto Alli's through ball before Son attempted a deft finish when he could have easily completed his hat-trick.
Qarabag had settled for hitting Tottenham on the break and, after Spurs debutant Kevin Wimmer had dallied when attempting a clearance, Dani Quintana flashed a shot just wide.
Son came off to a rousing ovation with just over 20 minutes remaining as Kane replaced him, with Clinton Njie coming on for his Spurs bow in place of Townsend, but it was Quintana who again came close as his header forced Lloris into action.
Lamela then killed the game off , chipping home after Kane had chased back and won the ball back from Rashad Sadygov before feeding the Argentinian forward.
Alli could not top a fine personal display with a goal as he saw a late shot dribble past the post but Spurs saw out stoppage time to open their Group J campaign with all three points.
TWEET OF THE MATCH
"This young Spurs team is full of baby face players. The team sponsor should be Mothercare." - Tottenham fan @Lord_Sugar has a new business idea.
https://twitter.com/Lord_Sugar/status/644604453421776896
PLAYER RATINGS
Tottenham:
Hugo Lloris: 6/10
Kieran Trippier: 6
Kevin Wimmer: 7
Toby Alderweireld: 6
Danny Rose: 5
Eric Dier: 6
Tom Carroll: 6
Dele Alli: 8
Erik Lamela: 6
Andros Townsend: 6
Song Heung-min: 8
Subs:
Harry Kane: 6
Clinton Njie: 5
Harry Winks: 6
STAR PLAYER
Dele Alli: Son may have stolen the show with two goals on his home debut but former MK Dons midfielder Alli ran the show on his first appearance in European football. The 19-year-old provided a superb assist for the second goal and was constantly a thorn in the side of the Qarabag defence. Should have had his own goal when played through in the first-half but other than that he was on top form.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Son Heung-min: The South Korean scored a well-taken second goal just moments after opening his Tottenham account with a tap-in. He finished coolly having been played in by Alli and showed that he has the ability to provide plenty of goals for the White Hart Lane faithful to savour.
VIEW FROM THE BENCH
Pochettino would have been upset with his side's start to the game but, with Kane struggling for goals and rested tonight, the Argentinian would have been delighted that summer recruit Son was able to show his promise. Trippier, Wimmer and Njie all made their competitive debuts and, with Mousa Dembele, Christian Eriksen and Ryan Mason to return from injury, Pochettino has a strong squad to push on for success this season.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
A distinct lack of atmosphere seems to haunt this competition and the draw of playing the champions of Azerbaijan could not attract a bumper crowd at White Hart Lane. The majority of those in attendance were quiet for much of the contest. A long run in the tournament may change that but for now these sorts of evenings are here to stay.
WHO'S UP NEXT
Tottenham v Crystal Palace (Premier League, Sunday September 20).
Midfielder Dele Alli expected a workout against the Azerbaijan champions but was happy with Spurs' overall performance.
"I think it was unfortunate to give away the first goal but overall it was a good performance," he told BT Sport Europe.
"They definitely weren't going to come here and play down. They made us work for the win as we knew they would and they're not a bad side. They came here with a point to prove and I think they did well."
The playmaker also hailed double goalscorer Son after the South Korean changed the course of the game in two first-half minutes.
"It's always good to help the team and I'm obviously happy for Son getting his two goals and it was good to play a part in it and I'm happy with the win," Alli said.
"He's a top player and it's always good to have competition with a few players that can play up front. He put in a good performance and I'm delighted for him getting his two goals."