Spurs were at the wrong end of a 1-0 reverse in their first match of the newly-minted UEFA Europa Conference League. Nuno Espirito’s side lost to Portuguese outfit Paços de Ferreira, while at the same time, their former boss Jose Mourinho beat Trabzonspor with AS Roma.
Santo suffered his first competitive defeat as the head coach of Tottenham, his side beaten by Portuguese outfit Paços de Ferreira in the newly-formed UEFA Conference League. Spurs, as a result, are 1-0 down to Pacos in the play-off round and must overturn the deficit next week if they hope to qualify for the group stage.
Summer signings Bryan Gil and Pierluigi Gollini were handed their official debuts for the club by Nuno, while Cristian Romero his first start. Ryan Sessegnon and Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to the squad after spending last season out on loan. 17-year-old Dane Scarlett was deployed as the sole striker in the attack.
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The only goal of the game – scored by Lucas Silva – arrived in the 45th minute. Silva beat Spurs’ offside trap to collect a through ball before advancing and beating Gollini at his near post. With the loss, Spurs became the first English team to lose at least one game in the Champions League, the Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, Intertoto Cup, and now the Conference League – all of UEFA’s current and former tournaments.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ former boss Jose Mourinho enjoyed a winning start to his spell as the head coach of AS Roma. The Giallorossi beat Trabzonspor 2-1 away from home and will carry a massive advantage with them to the return leg next week.
Mourinho gave their official debuts to new signings Rui Patricio, Matias Vina, and Eldor Shomurodov. Meanwhile, the Portuguese tactician was boosted by the availability of Nicolo Zaniolo – who returned to the team after enduring an injury hell.
Roma took the lead in the 55th minute when Lorenzo Pellegrini turned in a cross from Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However, the Turkish side were level nine minutes later through Andreas Cornelius, who powered home a cross from the right past Patricio.
Shomurodov scored his first official goal for Roma in the 81st minute – reacting first to the ball after it hit the crossbar – to give his team the lead, and subsequently, the win.
