Tottenham vs Elfsborg as it happened: Youngsters shine as Spurs avoid Europa League play-off

Spurs seal top eight finish
Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP|Jonathan Gorrieat the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
30 January 2025

Tottenham Hotspur booked their berth in the Europa League's last 16 with a 3-0 victory over Swedish side Elfsborg on Thursday, with youngsters Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore netting their debut goals for the London club.

The victory spares Ange Postecoglou's injury-hit team the two-legged knockout round. It was not all good news for the manager as Radu Dragusin had to leave the pitch with an apparent knee injury.

Spurs thoroughly dominated the game, but struggled to break a well-organised defence down, before Scarlett finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when Dejan Kulusevski curled the ball into the middle of the six-yard box and the 20-year-old striker headed it into the bottom corner.

The 19-year-old Ajayi netted in the 84th minute when he played a one-two with Scarlett before slotting it into the corner. Moore, 17, celebrated his first goal in a Spurs shirt seconds before the final whistle, driving forward and then beating his man before lashing a shot into the far corner.

Live updates

Tottenham 1-0 Elfsborg

76 mins: Spurs are unlikely to shut up shop here but their passing has looked a lot crisper since the goal.

GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Elfsborg | Dane Scarlett '70

70 mins: GOAL!

Spurs have their breakthrough! Scarlett glances in a header after a fine ball from Kulusevski.

Tottenham 0-0 Elfsborg

65 mins: Dragusin straight down the tunnel, with Scarlett onto replace him.

Not ideal...

Tottenham 0-0 Elfsborg

64 mins: Dragusin came back on very briefly but has gone down for treatment once again.

Tottenham 0-0 Elfsborg

61 mins: A worry for Spurs as Dragusin goes down needing treatment...

Tottenham 0-0 Elfsborg

57 mins: Good save denies Bergvall’s glancing header after good work from Porro.

Tottenham 0-0 Elfsborg

52 mins: Spurs living dangerously!

Abdulai attempts an overhead kick after Zeneli sees a shot blocked. That would have raised some nerves!

Tottenham 0-0 Elfsborg

Bissouma, Kulusevski and Dragusin on for Van de Ven, Bentancur and Son

Tottenham 0-0 Elfsborg

Back underway!

HT: Tottenham 0-0 Elfsborg

A frustrating first-half for Spurs, albeit it’s currently enough to send them through in the top eight.