Tottenham came out of the gate like gangbusters against Wolfsberger, scoring three goals in the first 34 minutes to put the match to bed.
It was exactly what the doctor ordered for a side in desperate need of confidence. For the time being, let’s completely ignore Wolfsberger’s clear inferiority and instead focus on how well Spurs acquitted themselves in the face of adversity.
The away side’s — a term used loosely considering the match’s neutral location — front four terrorized an outmatched Wolfsberger rearguard. Three of the four — Lucas Moura, Son Heung-Min and Gareth Bale — all contributed with a goal, while Dele Alli came within a whisker of doing the same.
Thanks to a precise right-footed Bale cross, Son deposited a marvellously placed downward header to score his third in the Europa League, the other two coming in the qualification stage. Bale then scored his own, pulling back deftly onto his left foot before smashing home.
Moura was outstanding at pace and on the dribble, qualities we’ve missed from the Brazilian in recent outings. He slalomed past two helpless defenders before smashing a low fizzing shot past the rather hapless Alexander Kofler, who clearly cheated. It left him flat-footed, without a hope of redemption.
Spurs, other than a nightmare moment from Moussa Sissoko, who needlessly conceded a penalty after an askew touch, were, for the most part, in control. Tottenham endured a skittish patch in the second half, allowing Wolfsberger to gain a slight foothold. The home side thankfully hit the crossbar with just over 20 minutes to spare. Who knows what would have happened had the crossed the line.
Spurs had a number of other missed chances before Carlos Vinicius deposited their fourth, a goal making the return leg all the more comfortable.
The 4-1 will not only put the aggregate tie to bed, allowing Jose to rest some more players for Wednesday’s return leg, but it should also provide a platform for Tottenham to spring from.
The importance of confidence and form at the top level is oftentimes a defining characteristic of success.
The likes of Bale, Moura and Dele should gain invaluable confidence from their proficient, uplifting performances, which hopefully translates to more empowered domestic displays, both individually and as a collective.