Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 5 NS Mura 1

Haran Naresh saw Tottenham Hotspur cruise to victory against NS Mura at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Harry Kane celebrates after scoring one of his three goals (photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur secured their first victory in the Europa Conference League group stage with a thrashing of NS Mura.

Spurs scored twice in the first ten minutes with goals coming from Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso but were pegged back by a stunner from Ziga Kous.

Nuno Espirito Santo brought on Harry Kane and Tottenham’s talisman scored a hat-trick that allowed Spurs to pull away from their stubborn opponents.

Tottenham made a fast start, winning a penalty in the third minute. Giovani Lo Celso passed to Dane Scarlett and an NS Mura defender pushed the ball into the path of Dele Alli. NS Mura goalkeeper Matko Obradovic came out and brought him down.

The referee pointed to the spot. Alli got up and took the penalty himself and drilled the ball into the bottom left corner.

Tottenham were all over the visitors and they doubled their lead in the 8th minute. Oliver Skipp played a ball forward which reached Lo Celso and he drove into the box before firing across the goalkeeper from a narrow angle.

Tottenham were caught out by a ball over the top and Nardin Mulahusejnovic was picked out with a cross and he headed wide.

NS Mura improved following their disastrous start and became more well drilled without the ball.

With 31 minutes on the clock Sergio Reguilon was encouraged to shoot by the crowd and duly obliged but blazed his effort well over.

Some good build-up play from Tottenham ended with Alli shooting from just outside the area and forcing a save from Obradovic.

In the 38th minute Matt Doherty floated a cross to the back post and Alli headed straight at Obradovic.

A minute later, Skipp won the ball back in midfield and drove forward. The NS Mura defence backed off and he released a shot that flew wide.

Scarlett looked to be through on goal after deceiving an NS Mura defender with a dummy but then fell to the ground under a challenge but no foul wasn’t given.

Alli then received a long ball and went to the by-line before cutting back to Scarlett but the NS Mura defence got back to clear.

NS Mura demonstrated some decent build-up play at the start of the second half. The Slovenian side pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute. Tomi Horvat’s corner was headed by Scarlett to Ziga Kous, who hit a sumptuous volley from the edge of the area that flew into the bottom corner.

Tottenham had been made to pay for a poor start to the second half. NS Mura grew in confidence and began to probe in midfield.

In the 57th minute Reguilon attempted another shot from 30 yards and this time his effort was blocked.

Nuno Espirito Santo sensed that his side were struggling and made the bold decision to bring on Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura all at once, with Scarlett, Alli and Gil making way.

They were involved almost straight away, with Son breaking away and finding Kane and the striker attempted to chip Obradovic but he quickly came off his line and collected the ball.

Spurs restored their two goal lead in the 68th minute. Moura collected the ball on the right flank and played a precise ball in behind for Kane to stretch and poke into the net.

With 76 minutes gone Tottenham added their fourth. Lo Celso played Son in behind and he skipped over a defender’s challenge and squared to Kane whose shot went in off Obradovic.

Nuno’s substitutions had worked perfectly as Kane, Son and Moura had helped Spurs run away with the game.

Lo Celso scooped a ball over the top for Reguilon but the defender lost his footing in his attempt to make contact with the ball.

Kane netted his hat-trick in the 86th minute. Lo Celso played a slide rule pass to the striker and he took a touch before slotting into the net.

Tottenham were playing against limited opposition but still badly needed a big win to restore confidence.

Tottenham’s next Europa Conference League game takes place at Vitesse Arnhem on 21st October.

Spurs return to Premier League action when they host Aston Villa this Sunday.

Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo speaking in his post-match press conference: “I think we started the game very well. The energy of the boys was important. We scored, we scored again, we dominated.”

“At the beginning of the second half we lost a little bit of control but the reaction to their goal was good.”

On the triple substitution: “I think the game needed it. They brought the energy that the team needed. It was good for everybody.”