A treble of first goals were scored late on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as academy prospects Dane Scarlett, Oyindamola Ajayi and Mikey Moore secured Spurs’ automatic qualification into the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League.

At times, it was tough going for Ange Postecoglou’s side, with Elfsborg proving to be stubborn visitors in North London. As time was edging away and supporters started to get nervous, the academy graduates came to the rescue late in the day.

As it happened 

The injury list was finally beginning to clear for Spurs’ manager Ange Postecoglou as Micky van de Ven returned to the side after his recurring hamstring problems. They were looking to cement their top eight place, meanwhile Elfsborg had to win to guarantee a spot in the play-offs, or hope for other teams to be beaten. There was plenty to play for.

It was the hosts to start brightly, as wonderkid Moore whipped a cross into the area where Richarlison was lurking, but the shot lacked enough power to trouble Elfsborg shot-stopper Isak Pettersson.

Tottenham looked particularly dangerous out in the wide areas, as Heung-Min Son and Moore caused havoc by beating their full-backs and driving to the byline on multiple occasions.

After 20 minutes, the game was still level after some resolute defending from the Swedish visitors and groans ensued at some sloppy passing. Then, in a flash, Son had beaten two men and drove to the byline before floating the ball to the penalty spot, where Richarlison headed into the hands of Petterson.

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The frustration resumed as Lucas Bergvall’s attempted trivela on a dangerous counter-attack  was easily intercepted by Terry Yegbe.

Two more chances were created by the energetic Son, who teed up Pape Matar Sarr and Moore. Petterson was equal to both as the sides went in at the break level. 

A triple change was in the offing to begin the second half as the returning Van de Ven, Son and Rodrigo Bentancur were swapped out for Radu Drăgușin, Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma. 

The second period started in a similar vein to the first, with Spurs chances being rebuffed from the resilient Gule backline. In an instant, Spurs were nearly behind after Besfort Zeneli’s cross-come-shot was flicked up for Jalal Abdullai, whose acrobatic effort just went over. The Swedish support was ready to erupt in North London. 

As one player came back, another fell foul to the injury curse which has haunted Postecoglou and his side, as substitute Drăgușin had to be withdrawn following an off the ball knee injury. It was starting to feel like one of those nights for The Lilywhites. Scarlett was his replacement, and one which changed everything.

As the clock was approaching the 70th minute, Kulusevski produced a moment of quality. On the right flank, he drifted inside and delivered a stunning inswinging cross for the newly introduced Scarlett, who found himself in between the two Swedish centre backs and headed past a stranded Petterson for his first goal for the club. It was clearly an inspired substitution from the Australian in the Spurs dugout.

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The 20-year-old academy prospect, who was on loan at Championship side Oxford United for the first half of the season, had come to Postecoglou’s rescue at the perfect time.

Eighteen-year-old Ajayi was the final substitution, as he replaced Richarlison. It took only three minutes and 39 seconds for the academy graduate to secure Spurs’ progression to the round of 16 on his debut.

Ajayi came off the right-hand side of the area and played a one-two with fellow goal-scorer Scarlett before powering a left-footed effort into the bottom right corner. 

That was not the end for the academy boys. 

Moore capped off a brilliant night for the Spurs’ academy as he also scored his first goal for the club with a superb solo-effort in the final move of the game. He drove through the middle of the park, shifting onto his right foot and arrowing an effort into the bottom-left corner. 

Spurs finished the league phase in fourth, guaranteeing themselves an automatic place in the round of 16. Meanwhile, Elfsborg dropped outside the play-off places and finished 26th in the league table, as their European journey came to an end at the final hurdle.

The lineups

TOT: Austin; Davies, Van de Ven, Gray, Porro; Bervall, Bentancur, Sarr; Son, Richarlison, Moore

ELF: Petterson; Yegbe, Henriksson, Holmen; Hult, Thomasen, Zeneli, Hedlund, Qasem, Abdullai, Rapp