Brennan Johnson, Pape Sarr and Dominic Solanke all scored as 10-man Tottenham kicked off their UEFA Europa League campaign with a 3-0 win over Qarabag.

The hosts experienced a series of twists and turns earlier in the evening when a 35-minute delay in kick-off due to major travel disruptions was followed by a straight red card for Radu Dragusin after eight minutes.

That didn’t seem to faze the Lilywhites as they took the lead just four minutes later when Johnson scored his third goal in his last three games after good work from Solanke.

Ange Postecoglou’s men got their second goal just seven minutes into the second half when Sarr volleyed home from a right corner.

However, Qarabag remained a major threat as Juninho hit the post and Toral Bayramov hit the crossbar with a missed penalty.

The Azerbaijan minnows somehow failed to get on the scoresheet and Solanke sealed the points with a simple tap-in 22 minutes from time.

The only downside to a positive evening for Spurs was the withdrawal of captain Son Heung-Min ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game at Manchester United.

It’s fair to say that this was quite an eventful evening, marking Spurs’ return to European football after a year’s absence.

The uncertainty about the kick-off, Dragusin’s mistake and then the impressive performance of the 10-man team made for a rollercoaster ride in which Qarabag also had his moments.

Given the twists and turns, Postecoglou will be glad to have come through a night full of potential banana peels on a positive note.

Tottenham are considered one of the favorites and strongest teams in the competition and many fans see this as a trophy that could end their long losing streak.

Postecoglou has claimed that he always wins silver in his second season. So could this be the year for the Lilywhites as they look to lift a trophy they previously won in 1972 and 1984?

There’s a long way to go and probably less bizarre evenings ahead, but given the circumstances, this was a solid start.

Dominic Solanke (Tottenham). The striker worked tirelessly, held the ball well and contributed a goal and an assist. His start to life at Spurs was hampered by injury, but now he is starting to show his skills in the white jersey.

TOTTENHAM: Vicario 8, Van de Ven 8, Gray 8, Dragusin 3, Davies 7, Bissouma 8, Sarr 8, Bergvall n/a, Johnson 8, Solanke 8*, Son 7. Substitutes: Udogie 8, Kulusevski 7, Bentancur 6, Werner 6, Moore n/a.

QARABAG: Kochalski 7, Huseynov 7, Bayramov 7, Mustafazada 7, Cafarquliyev 6, Silva 7, Zoubir 7, Romao 7, Andrade 7, Benzia 7, Juninho 8. Substitutes: Addai 6, Andrade 6, Jankovic n/a, Huseynov n/ A

08′ – RED CARD FROM TOTTENHAM! Radu Dragusin pulls Juninho to the ground after the striker pinches the ball at the center circle. He made no mistakes, so the referee has no choice but to send him off the field.

12′ – GOAL! – Tottenham 1-0 Qarabag: (Johnson). Johnson coolly and flatly pushes the ball into the far corner after a great foul from Solanke allows him to hit the Welshman in the penalty area.

52′ – GOAL! – Tottenham 2-0 Qarabag: (Sarr). The 10s double their lead. It’s a clever volley from Sarr at the far post after Mateusz Kochalski had fluttered in from a right corner.

58′ – QARABAG PENALTY MISSED! – Bayramov sends Vicario the wrong way but shoots his penalty over the crossbar.

68′ – GOAL! – Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag: (Solanke). It’s a call-out for Solanke after the goalkeeper misses Son’s 25-yard shot.