Vitesse Arnhem 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Under-strength Spurs lose in Europa Conference League

Vitesse Arnhem 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Under-strength Spurs lose in Europa Conference League
_121173454_alli.jpgEngland midfielder Dele Alli was one of the senior players in the Spurs side

Tottenham paid the price for leaving their star players at home as Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem earned a deserved win in the Europa Conference League.

Vitesse left-sided midfielder Maximilian Wittek crisply converted a volley from the edge of the area, dealing a blow to the visitors' hopes of progressing comfortably from Group G.

With key players including Harry Kane and Son Heung-min rested, Spurs fielded a different starting XI to the one who beat Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday and they lacked rhythm in a poor performance.

The Dutch side, who finished fourth in the Eredivisie last season, created the better opportunities and delighted a sell-out crowd when Wittek finally made their dominance count.

Spurs hit the bar through Bryan Gil moments after half-time but rarely threatened afterwards and finished the match having managed just one shot on target.

The defeat means Nuno Espirito Santo's side are third at the halfway stage of Group G, having drawn with French side Rennes and thrashed Slovenian minnows Mura in their opening two games.

"It was a tough match against a good team," said Spurs boss Nuno. "The Europa Conference League is like this, there are always tough moments.

"We have got two home games left and I truly believe they can help us solve the group."

Only the group winners automatically go through to the last 16 in Europe's third-tier club competition.

The runners-up will face a play-off against a team who finishes third in the Europa League groups, with the victor then progressing to the last 16.

Leaving his star names back in London was not seen as a risk by the Spurs manager, who has to consider the impact of seven matches in 21 days and use his squad accordingly.

The trip to Arnhem was the second game in this busy period and, on the evidence of his team selection, was given a lower priority in an important week.

Spurs go to London rivals West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday and then head to Burnley on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

None of the outfield players who started at Newcastle even made the trip to the Netherlands for Thursday's match.

Opportunities were given to a number of fringe players to impress their manager.

But the move backfired as a team featuring nine internationals - including England pair Dele Alli and Harry Winks - produced a lifeless performance.

Afterwards, Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle questioned the attitude of the fringe players and said they needed to "look at themselves in the mirror".

"They weren't up for the test," the former Spurs and England manager said on BT Sport.

Spurs looked edgy from the start as Vitesse played on the front foot, with a sell-out 24,000 crowd spurring on the home side with noisy and atmospheric support.

The stadium erupted when Vittek thumped in the winner and the joyous celebrations after the final whistle - indicating what a first win over an English team meant to the second-oldest club in the Netherlands - contrasted sharply to Spurs' dejection.

Line-ups

Vitesse

Formation 3-4-3

1Schubert

3Doekhi10Bazoer6Rasmussen

2Dasa21Bero8Tronstad32Wittek

11Baden Frederiksen9Darfalou7Openda

1Schubert3Doekhi10Bazoer6Rasmussen2Dasa21BeroBooked at 12mins8Tronstad32WittekBooked at 81minsSubstituted forHajekat 87'minutes11Baden FrederiksenSubstituted forBuitinkat 85'minutesBooked at 89mins9Darfalou7OpendaSubstituted forOrozat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

16Oroz18Hajek19von Moos20Gboho22Domgjoni24Houwen27Yapi29Buitink36Vroegh39Cornelisse40Huisman48van Haveren

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

22Gollini

25Tanganga6D Sánchez14Rodon33Davies

18Lo Celso8Winks

11Gil20Alli23Bergwijn

44Scarlett

22Gollini25Tanganga6D SánchezBooked at 72mins14Rodon33Davies18Lo Celso8WinksBooked at 80mins11Gil20Alli23BergwijnBooked at 41mins44ScarlettBooked at 74minsSubstituted forMarkandayat 75'minutes

Substitutes

40Austin42White43John46Fagan-Walcott47Clarke50Cesay51Craig52Craig53Lyons-Foster54MarkandayReferee:Harm OsmersAttendance:23,931

Live Text

Match ends, Vitesse 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

Second Half ends, Vitesse 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

Attempt blocked. Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Steven Bergwijn.

Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Oussama Darfalou (Vitesse).

Substitution, Vitesse. Alois Dominik Oroz replaces Loïs Openda.

Thomas Buitink (Vitesse) is shown the yellow card.

Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Thomas Buitink (Vitesse).

Substitution, Vitesse. Tomas Hajek replaces Maximilian Wittek.

Foul by Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur).

Oussama Darfalou (Vitesse) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Vitesse. Thomas Buitink replaces Nikolai Baden Frederiksen.

Foul by Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur).

Matús Bero (Vitesse) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Nikolai Baden Frederiksen (Vitesse) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Loïs Openda following a fast break.

Maximilian Wittek (Vitesse) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Dilan Markanday (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Maximilian Wittek (Vitesse).

Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.

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