Match report: Tottenham edge Ferencvaros 2-1 in Europa League clash

On Thursday evening, Tottenham Hotspur were in action for their second game of their Europa League campaign, as they traveled to Hungary to face Ferencvaros.

For this game, Ange Postecoglu opted for a lineup of; Vicario; Porro, Romero, Gray, Davies; Sarr, Bissouma, Bergvall; Moore, Lankshear, and Moore. There was a lot of excitement from within the fanbase at how both of Lankshear and Moore were trusted to start this game.

With Draugsin being suspended, as well as Spence and Reguilon not being registered (Therefore Davies at left-back), Ange went with Gray in the pre-season position he played of centre-back.

Match report: Tottenham edge Ferencvaros 2-1 in Europa League clash

First half

10 minutes into the game, a cross off the left-hand side from Werner found Lankshear but he couldn't connect properly, with the ball hitting his shoulder in a chance he might have done better with.

With 16 minutes on the clock, Ferencvaros had the ball in the back of the net after a back post header found the back of the net, but it was adjudged to be offside.

Just minutes later, Vicario was forced into a world-class save from another back post header but was again offside in any case. Nevertheless, Spurs were being exposed defensively.

Despite a tough opening for Spurs, midway through the first half they found themselves a goal up. Lankshear was challenged in the box, and the ball fell fortuitously to Sarr in the box and the Senegalese midfielder slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.

A few minutes later, a smart layoff from Lankshear found Sarr who hit a strike down the keeper's throat. Some nice centre-forward play from Lankshear.

The rest of the first half petered out a bit, but Ange's side were managing the game much better than they had been in the early stages and were controlling the game well, going into half-time with a one-goal lead.

At the break, Ange made a tweak, with Gray moving to left-back and Davies partnering Romero in the centre of defence.

Second half

Only a couple of minutes into the half, Saldanha found some space on the edge of the box and his curling effort forced a fingertip save from Vicario to prevent the ball going into the bottom corner.

Just before the hour mark, a Porro corner found Lankshear who despite some physical marking. stabbed the ball towards the goal, going inches over the crossbar.

After 63 minutes, with a fantastic through ball from Bissouma, Lankshear was bearing down on goal, but a superb last-man recovery tackle denied the youngster a chance to get his shot off and potentially grab his first Spurs goal.

Two minutes later, Spurs broke from a Ferencavros set piece, Moore crossed the ball for Werner to a one-on-one position, but in trying to round the keeper he took the ball too wide and hit the side netting.

Straight after, Ange made some chances. Maddison replaced Lankshear, and Johnson replaced Werner. Kulusevski moved up front, with Moore now on the left and Johnson on the right.

With around ten minutes to go, Johnson fizzed a shot off the crossbar after Gray had carried the ball across the pitch. The Welshman took the shot on first time, showing just how much confidence he is playing with at the moment.

Only a minute or so after that, Ferencvaros went close, but Cebrial Makreckis decided to shoot despite having a number of options to cross to. During the break in play, Solanke replaced Sarr and Kulusevski went back into midfield.

Very soon after, Kady Borges had an unopposed header inside the box but could only find Vicario's gloves, as Spurs continued to live on the edge.

One minute later, Ferencvaros were once again able to get in behind and had two blocked shots in succession, with Spurs walking on a tightrope.

They were to get away with it though, as Spurs made it 2-0 soon after. The ball fell to Johnson inside the box, before using Kulusevski's overlap as a decoy run to cut inside onto his left foot and place a curling effort in off the post. That goal makes it five goals in his last five games for the 23-year-old.

Seconds before the board went up for stoppage time, Ferencvaros got a goal back, attacking a low cross. Nobody can say that it was not coming.

Despite five minutes of stoppage time, Spurs did generally see the game out somewhat comfortably and not in the reckless way they had been defending for the previous 20-30 minutes. This result made it five wins in a row in all competitions and two wins from two in the Europa League.