LONDON: Tottenham scored twice in the final 10 minutes to avoid a humiliating Europa League exit to Lokomotiv Plovdiv as Jose Mourinho’s men came from behind to beat the nine-man Bulgarians 2-1 on Thursday, while AC Milan and Rangers also advanced.

Harry Kane’s penalty and Tanguy Ndombele’s winner five minutes from time ensured Spurs, the 2019 Champions League finalists, did not fall at the first hurdle of their Europa League campaign to a side that have never progressed beyond the qualifying stages of European competition.

“I think it was a helluva experience for the players. Sometimes in football miracles happen and when you play a knockout, one-leg it is the perfect scenario for a miracle to happen,” said Mourinho.

“Everyone on their side had the moment where they dream and we had the moment where we believed a nightmare could arrive.”

All qualifying games in UEFA’s club competitions are being played without fans in the stadiums because of the pandemic.

Milan beat Shamrock Rovers 2-0 in Dublin with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring the opener in the first half before Hakan Calhanoglu completed the victory in the second.

Steven Gerrard’s Rangers enjoyed a more comfortable progression into round three of qualifying as they thrashed Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps 5-0 with Alfredo Morelos scoring twice.

Dennis Man converted the decisive penalty in a shootout after scoring a hat trick to to help Romania’s Steaua Bucharest beat nine-man Backa Topola in Serbia in a game that finished 4-4 after 90 minutes and 6-6 following extra time.

FCSB had only 14 players available due to coronavirus infections and most of their coaching staff quarantined.

Norway’s Rosenborg advanced with a 5-1 victory at Latvia’s Ventspils and Spanish side Granada won 4-0 at Albania’s Teuta.

FC Copenhagen beat Swedish club IFK Gothenburg 2-1, while VfL Wolfsburg cruised past Albania’s Kukes 4-0 in Tirana.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2020