Vitesse vs Tottenham LIVE: Europa Conference League result, final score and reaction tonight
Maximilian Wittek’s 78th-minute strike was enough to secure the points and leave Spurs in real bother sat in third in Group G
Tottenham’s decision to leave their big guns at home saw them lose 1-0 to Vitesse Arnhem in Group G of Europa Conference League.
The likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Cristiano Romero and Hugo Lloris did not travel to Holland with Sunday’s clash at West Ham in mind and a second string were undone by Maximilian Wittek’s 78th-minute strike.
The side Nuno Espirito Santo picked still had nine international players, but they were never really in the game and Bryan Gil’s shot that hit the crossbar early in the second half was their only moment of note.
Last time Tottenham played in Holland they enjoyed one of the most famous nights in their history as Lucas Moura’s hat-trick against Ajax sent them through to the Champions League final.
This time the Johan Cruijff ArenA was nothing but a stop on the trainline between Amsterdam and Arnhem and that Moura miracle must seem a long time ago as Spurs now compete in the third tier of European football.
Nuno has shown the competition respect so far, but made it clear where his priorities lay, leaving the entire XI that played 90 minutes at Newcastle last weekend at home to train ahead of Sunday’s Premier League visit to the Hammers.
With the return fixture in a fortnight and then a trip to the weakest team in the competition NS Mura to come, the Portuguese decided that leaving his big guns back in London for this game was a risk worth taking.
It was a gamble because this was a big night for Vitesse, who sold out their GelreDome stadium for the first time in seven years.
Before kick-off their partisan fans held up a banner reading “For the city, the colours and our club: This is our night” and, fresh from a derby win over NEC Nijmegen at the weekend, they started with intent.
Nikolai Baden Frederiksen forced Pierluigi Gollini into a save with his feet after being played in in the third minute and then Jacob Rasmussen flashed a header just wide from a corner.
Unsurprisingly given the amount of changes, Spurs were not up to much in an attacking sense in the first half, with teenage striker Dane Scarlett up against it in a lone role in attack.
They immediately showed more after the break and were within inches of taking the lead in the 47th minute.
Giovani Lo Celso showed why he is becoming a key player for Argentina as he went on an enterprising dribble before laying it off for Gil, whose first-time shot rattled the crossbar.
That was as good as it got for Spurs who were pinned further and further back as the second half wore on, with Eli Dasa twice going close with efforts from distance, the second effort bringing a smart stop out of Gollini.
It was no surprise when the goal came 12 minutes from time as Wittek brilliantly volleyed home Dasa’s cross from the edge of the area to send the home crowd wild.
West Ham 0 - 0 Genk
13 mins: Cresswell wins a corner for West Ham. The left-back curls the ball into the box himself but Onuachu rises above everyone to head it clear.
West Ham 0 - 0 Genk
10 mins: Genk score! Ito is played in behind down the right. He collects the pass and drives into the right side of the box before squaring it across to Paul Onuachu. He messes up his attempted shot but the ball loops into the air and Theo Bongonda dives at the loose ball to head it into the back of the net.
The Genk players set off in celebration but the offside flag is up and a VAR replay shows Ito was marginally offside in the build-up. The goal gets chalked off.
West Ham 0 - 0 Genk
9 mins: Tomas Soucek sends a diagonal ball out to Ben Johnson who gets forward down the right side. He attempts to volley a short pass into the box for Andriy Yarmolenko but gets it all wrong and kicks the ball straight out of play. Yarmolenko applauds the idea though.
West Ham 0 - 0 Genk
6 mins: A long throw down the right side almost plays Kristian Thorstvedt into the box as he sneaks behind Aaron Cresswell. Issa Diop comes across to win the ball though and punts it out of play. No nonsense defending.
West Ham 0 - 0 Genk
3 mins: Jarrod Bowen carries the ball down the right side for West Ham is is clumsily taken out by Jhon Lucumi. Bowen himself swings the free kick into the area and finds Rice who can’t quite bring it under control and Genk manage to boot the ball clear.
West Ham 0 - 0 Genk
Kick off: Both teams take the knee before Genk kick off the match. They work the ball down the right wing and boot it up to Junya Ito who strays offside as the pass comes over the top.
West Ham vs Genk
Here come the teams. Declan Rice leads out West Ham at the London Stadium. The Hammers are top of Group H after two 2-0 wins over Dinamo Zagreb and Rapid Wien.
If they win tonight they’ll go six points clear at the top.
Moyes on Genk
More from David Moyes who is expecting a difficult game tonight against the Belgian side. He spoke to BT Sport before kick off saying:
It’s a tough game but I’m confident if we do well, we can get a result. We want to continue the momentum with the way we’ve been playing in this competition and also in the Premier League.”
Moyes on West Ham’s Europa campaign
West Ham have won their opening two games of the Europa League this season and are hoping to make it three from three. Manager David Moyes has named a strong side as he aims to reach the knockout stages by qualifying from top of the group. He said:
I’m really enjoying it. We’re a really happy club at the moment. Everyone’s enjoying the league games and Europe and I have to say I’m really enjoying the European experience.
"I want the players to go far in it. It would be great if we could top the group, but trying to make sure that we go through would be the main aim at the moment."
West Ham vs Genk
Reaction from Arnhem to come but the focus moves over to the London Stadium where West Ham prepare to host Genk.
Here’s a reminder of the teams:
West Ham XI: Fabianski, Johnson, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Vlasic, Lanzini, Yarmolenko, Bowen.
Genk XI: Vandevoordt, Preciado, Cuesta, Lucumi, Arteaga, Heynen, Hrosovsky, Bongonda, Ito, Onuachu.
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