On a day when Tottenham tried to spend £50million on a French teenager from Bayern Munich their Europa League progress was secured by three goals from a trio of young homegrown forwards.
First Dane Scarlett, who came off the bench and soothed Spurs nerves with the game’s opening goal in the 70th minute, then Damola Ajayi thumped in a glorious second on his debut before Mikey Moore gave the night a flourish with a wonderful solo goal in stoppage time.
For all three of the academy graduates, these goals to sink Elfsborg of Sweden were their first for the club, and their contributions lifted the mood just as the tension threatened to take hold.
‘Made in Tottenham,’ smiled Ange Postecoglou after victory clinched fourth place in the convoluted league phase of the competition, launching his team straight into the last 16 without the need for a playoff.
‘It’s brilliant for the club, and I’m sure there will be academy coaches and players won’t sleep tonight because they’re pretty excited.
‘It’s a proud moment. That’s what academies are for. And our fans can relate to that.
Dane Scarlett scored his first ever goal for Tottenham in Thursday’s 3-0 win over Elfsborg
Damola Ajayi, another academy graduate, also scored his first ever Spurs goal during the game
Mikey Moore, 17, then followed suit by opening his Tottenham goal account in stoppage time
‘We’re still in a tough spot in the league but that will be hugely enjoyable for everyone, and the fact that three Tottenham lads have scored on a European night.’
He had little to say about the pursuit of Mathys Tel amid reports Tottenham had struck an agreement with Bayern for a £50m deal for a 19-year-old forward also wanted by Manchester United and Chelsea.
‘I can’t tell you anything about Tel,’ said Postecoglou. ‘I’ve been focusing on getting the team prepared. Others are working in the background, and I’m allowing them to get on with it.’
The deadline is on Monday but Sunday’s trip to Brentford will be his priority. Form has been so bad in the Premier League with just five points from 11 games, that Postecoglou dared not revel too deeply in the celebrations.
This relieves a little of the pressure, however, by creating some free time for him next month as he nurses more injured players back to fitness.
Micky van de Ven returned and made it through 45 minutes unscathed, after three months of hamstring trouble. Van de Ven came off at half time as planned, replaced by Radu Dragusin, who limped off after twisting his right knee on landing.
Postecoglou admitted it did not look good for Dragusin, but the Spurs boss can be pleased that his bold decision to send on Scarlett to replace the Romanian centre half paid off inside four minutes.
Scarlett, 20, had spent the first half of the season on loan at Oxford United and was recalled when the Championship club made a managerial change and his opportunities dried up.
Former Oxford United loanee Scarlett found the net in the 70th minute with a tidy headed finish
Thursday’s victory saw Tottenham secure a place in the UEFA Europa League’s round of 16
Micky Van de Ven made his first appearance in eight weeks before coming off at half-time
Van de Ven was replaced by Radu Dragusin (left) but the Romanian could not finish the game
Centre back Dragusin hurt his right knee as Tottenham suffered yet another injury blow
The original plan had been to find him another club on loan to continue his development but last night he came to the rescue just as the home crowd were beginning to become frustrated by Elfsborg’s resistance.
Now Scarlett is committed to spending the rest of the season at Tottenham. He cannot appear for three different teams in one season but he did not seem to care about that last night.
He had only been on the pitch for four minutes when he wriggled free in the penalty area and got on the end of a fine inswinging cross from Dejan Kulusevki and powered a header down past goalkeeper Isak Petterson.
Scarlett added an assist for a brilliant second scored by 19-year-old Ajayi, who came on for Richarlison, and scored a goal to remember, picking up the pass on the run across the edge of the penalty and finishing low with his left foot.
Postecoglou threw both arms into the air. Moore, the latest jewel of the Spurs academy, scored in stoppage time, another terrific solo goal, winning the ball in a tackle, carrying it forward and finding the net with what proved to be the last kick of the game.
At 17 years and 172 days, it made him England’s youngest goalscorer in major European competition, breaking a record set by Jimmy Greaves in 1957.
‘The goal will give him confidence,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘Mikey has been good for us in this tournament. He’s 17 and if he keeps developing, he’s got all the attributes to be an outstanding talent. There’s a lot of work to do but he will remember tonight which is great.’
Elfsborg came out of cold storage. The Swedish season ended in November and does not start again until March. They hung in for 70 minutes but were overwhelmed in the end and defeat sent them out of the competition.
For Tottenham, those last 20 minutes brought welcome relief from their midwinter struggles and made it a night to remember.