BUDAPEST - Gareth Bale scored one goal and created another as Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a 4-1 win in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash with Austrian side Wolfsberg on Thursday.
The Welshman, whose starts have mainly been limited to the Europa League since returning to Spurs on loan from Real Madrid in October, set up Son Heung-min for his side's opener.
18 goals and 12 assists. Only Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane have been involved in more goals that Hueng-min Son in Europe. pic.twitter.com/dTmtKqd4cg
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) February 18, 2021
Bale struck a classy second goal in the 28th minute, taking his tally for the season to five, before Lucas Moura made it 3-0 with a solo effort before halftime.
Gareth Bale ️♂️ pic.twitter.com/jsQ4ZOQqNc
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) February 18, 2021
"I can do bad all by myself." — Lucas Moura (probably) pic.twitter.com/Q3wnGJ7RdE
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) February 18, 2021
Wolfsberg, the home side despite having to play in the Puskás Aréna in Budapest because of Austrian COVID-19 travel restrictions, made a match of it after the break with Michael Liendl pulling a goal back from the penalty spot. Chris Wernitznig almost scored again for the hosts when his shot struck the underside of the crossbar and stayed out before Tottenham substitute Carlos Vinícius, who had replaced Son at halftime, touched home his side's fourth late on.
It was Tottenham's first away win in the knockout stages of the Europa League since 2008 and José Mourinho, a winner of the competition with Manchester United, is clearly taking it seriously. Spurs lost four of their last five games in the Premier League and will be hoping the victory kickstarts a revival.
"Winning games breeds confidence and hopefully now this can be the start of a good run," Bale said.
Bale was given a rare start, as was Dele Alli, and both impressed in a dominant first half for Tottenham. Bale's low cross was met with an instinctive stooping header by Son and when he was played in again on the right by Matt Doherty he cleverly back-heeled the ball before spinning and firing a left-foot shot past Alexander Kofler.
Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris made a great save to tip Dario Vizinger's header on to the woodwork before Moura put Spurs in command as he cut in from the left and sliced through Wolfsberg's defense before beating Kofler with a low shot.
Tottenham's intensity dropped after the break and they were punished when Moussa Sissoko clipped Wernitznig in the area in the 55th minute and Liendl slotted home the penalty. Had Wernitznig's effort been a fraction lower it could have got uncomfortable for Tottenham but Vinícius made sure they take a comfortable lead into next week's second leg in north London.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris and Ed Osmond)
