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Tottenham 3-2 Vitesse: Antonio Conte earns debut win with crazy night in the Europa Conference League

 (Action Images via Reuters)
(Action Images via Reuters)

Tottenham got off to a winning start under Antonio Conte after a breathless 3-2 win over Vitesse Arnhem, featuring five first-half goals and three second-half red cards.

Energy and intensity was evident from the off for Spurs and the 40,000-strong crowd was jumping thanks to three quickfire goals.

Son Heung-min latched onto a goalmouth scramble to make it 1-0 after only 14 minutes, after good work from Lucas Moura and Harry Kane in attack.

The trio all set up in central areas in Conte’s 3-4-3 formation and the Brazilian strolled clear of the visitors’ defence to slot home the second. By the 28th minute, it was three as Ben Davies and Kane forced Jacob Rasmussen into sliding the ball over his own goalline.

And yet, Vitesse were always a threat down the other end and forced Hugo Lloris into a great diving stop when Sondre Tronstad’s drive looked ready to dip under the bar. From the resulting corner, Rasmussen rose highest to head home.

Matus Bero then took advantage of sloppy play from Moura in the Tottenham half, sliding a neat finish into the far corner to make it 3-2 at the break.

On the hour mark, Conte’s night became yet more complex with the dismissal of Cristian Romero, for a second yellow after he was rolled by Lois Openda and dragged the threatening substitute down.

Lloris was called into another superb stop to deny Riechedly Bazoer’s long-range effort but a triple substitute and a handful of well-earned fouls began to settle the hosts down.

Kane got the better of Danilho Doekhi to earn the Vitesse captain his second yellow in five minutes and goalkeeper Markus Schubert followed him for an early shower moments later, for racing off his line and stopping Emerson Royal’s lob with his arm.

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