Match report as Dele Alli, Carlos Vinicius and Gareth Bale goals send Tottenham into last-16 of Europa League
Thursday 25 February 2021 06:00, UK
Dele Alli scored a stunning overhead kick as Tottenham beat Wolfsberger 4-0 to cruise into the Europa League last 16 with an 8-1 aggregate victory.
Alli marked his return to the Spurs starting line-up with a sensational bicycle kick inside 10 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and sealed a man-of-the-match performance with second-half assists for Carlos Vinicius and Gareth Bale.
With Spurs' 4-1 first-leg lead extended to an even more handsome advantage, Jose Mourinho took the opportunity to blood some youngsters, with 16-year-old Dane Scarlett registering his first senior assist for the club as Vinicius doubled his tally late on.
The victory provided Spurs with some much-needed respite from their stuttering domestic campaign and sees them become the first British side to qualify for the last 16 ahead of Friday's draw.
Spurs took just 10 minutes to extend their first-leg lead thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from Alli.
The out-of-favour forward gave his manager a timely reminder of the quality he possesses, bringing Matt Doherty's cross under control before sending a stunning overhead kick into the far corner as raced into a 5-1 aggregate lead.
The gulf in the scoreline did little to dampen the enthusiasm of Wolfsberger, whose captain Michael Liendl was denied an equaliser by Joe Hart on 36 minutes.
Spurs should have doubled their lead on the night a minute before half-time when Vinicius raced through on goal after Erik Lamela has brilliantly won back possession on halfway, but having rounded on-rushing Wolfsberger goalkeeper Manuel Kuttin, the Brazilian's effort was cleared off the line by Gustav Henriksson.
Vinicius finally got his customary Europa League goal five minutes after the restart. Alli was involved again, curling a teasing ball which was begging to be converted, and the Brazilian duly obliged with a header into the corner.
Mourinho took the opportunity to get more minutes under Bale's belt, and the Wales forward needed just four from his introduction to find the target, curling a stunning first-time effort into the top corner after another inch-perfect Alli assist.
With the tie over, and Wolfsberger crestfallen, Mourinho offered a glimpse at what the future might hold at Spurs by introducing 20-year-old Marcel Lavinier, 17-year-old Nile John and Scarlett in the closing stages.
The latter's pressing forced Wolfsberger defender Henriksson into an error on the edge of his box which Vinicius clinically punished, putting the seal on an encouraging Spurs victory with his second of the night.
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho: "Dele played very well in every aspect of the game, he played very well.
"Of course he's not fresh, of course you can feel that his performance like in the first leg from minute 55-60 is going to go down, which is normal due to the circumstances - injured, not training for a long time.
"But in this moment when we are going to play every three days, 10 matches in March, to have Dele back at this level is amazing."
Wolfsberger head coach Ferdinand Feldhofer: "We are at the end of the road; it was a great season in the Europa League and we will never forget this season.
"We have had some great moments that we will never forget and that is something we can build on. It is something we can be proud of as Wolfsberger."
A stunning overhead kick and two assists, Dele Alli gave Jose Mourinho a timely reminder of the talent he possesses with an influential display.
Alli has had a season to forget having been frozen out by the Spurs head coach but enjoyed the best night of his reintegration to the squad following a failed January transfer window exit.
The draw will take place at midday on Friday, February 26 in Nyon's House of European Football at 12pm UK time. You will be able to follow it across Sky Sports' digital platforms.
Europa League 20/21: Key dates
Tottenham host Burnley on Super Sunday at 2pm - live on Sky Sports Premier League. Wolfsberger host Altach in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday at 1.30pm.
