LONDON - Antonio Conte got a crash course in what he can expect as Tottenham Hotspur's new manager after the Italian's first game in charge ended in a 3-2 home victory over Vitesse Arnhem in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
Conte, who replaced Nuno Espírito Santo this week after the Portuguese was sacked 10 Premier League games into his first season, watched his side tear into a 3-0 lead after 28 minutes with Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura on target plus an own goal.
Son Heung-min scores the first goal of the Antonio Conte era! pic.twitter.com/h65XFLCiwf
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2021
Lucas Moura doubles Tottenham’s lead pic.twitter.com/jndOxTFoMq
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2021
He then watched Vitesse score twice in seven minutes before halftime in a frantic tie complete with three red cards and an outbreak of crowd trouble amongst the visiting supporters.
40': Tottenham 3-2 Vitesse pic.twitter.com/HiN5ZTgvda
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2021
Defender Cristian Romero saw red for Tottenham on the hour while visiting defender Danilho Doekhi and goalkeeper Markus Schubert were later sent off for the Dutch side.
Very unserious behavior and Vitesse’s goalkeeper is sent off pic.twitter.com/QvRoB6rlK1
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 4, 2021
In the end Spurs held on for the three points which boosted their hopes of making progress in Europe's third-tier club competition. They are now second in Group G with seven points, three behind leaders Rennes, who beat Slovenian side Mura 1-0.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)