Evening Standard
·29. November 2024
Evening Standard
·29. November 2024
Italian side strike late to halt Spurs in their tracks
Tottenham's inconsistent form continued after Mats Hummels' stoppage-time goal ensured they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Claudio Ranieri's Roma in the Europa League.
Spurs had looked on course to back up Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City with a hard-fought victory after captain Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson struck in the first half to cancel out Evan N'Dicka's goal.
Ange Postecoglou watched his team squander a number of chances to set up a nervy finale and not long after Fraser Forster, who deputised for the first time since Guglielmo Vicario's ankle surgery, had produced a superb save to deny Gianluca Mancini, the visitors levelled.
Postecoglou had made half a dozen changes in each of Spurs' previous four Europa League matches, but went stronger with only four from the win at Man City.
All eyes were on Forster and yet the immediate action occurred in Roma's penalty area as Pape Sarr won a spot-kick in the third minute after being caught by Hummels.
Referee Glenn Nyberg eventually pointed to the spot after assistance from VAR and Son made no mistake for only his fourth goal of the season.
It failed to act as a catalyst for the hosts, however, as Roma responded strongly with Paulo Dybala being denied by Forster.
Tottenham's sloppiness in possession continued and they were punished in the 20th minute when Dybala produced a fine ball into the area for N'Dicka to flick home via the crossbar.
Ranieri celebrated again two minutes later, but Stephan El Shaarawy's volley into the bottom corner was ruled out for offside by VAR.
It remained end-to-end as Postecoglou's side finally woke up with Roma left-back Angelino forced make a superb block on the line from Johnson before Dominic Solanke's follow-up was saved by Mile Svilar.
Back down the other end and Forster got down well to thwart Dybala's latest effort before Spurs did make their next opportunity count.
Sarr was involved again as he sent Dejan Kulusevski away down the left and the in-form attacker patiently waited to cut back for Johnson, who steered into the bottom corner after 33 minutes.
Tottenham nearly grabbed another two minutes later when Kulusevski bundled into the area and hit the post before Son blazed over the rebound.
Son had another shot tipped wide by Svilar before half-time and after Johnson fired over at the start of the second period, Roma regained the ascendancy.
Manu Kone and Artem Dovbyk both had efforts ruled out for offside in quick succession before Angelino's superb volley from Zeki Celik's cross deflected off Pedro Porro and onto the crossbar.
It was another let-off for Spurs, who did react with a marauding Ben Davies run able to win a free-kick, which Porro clipped onto the crossbar.
Postecoglou turned to his bench with 21 minutes left as Yves Bissouma and James Maddison entered the fray.
Maddison almost immediately helped put the game to bed when he sent Solanke away, but his powerful strike was pushed over by Svilar.
An even better chance was created for Solanke with 10 minutes left, but he headed against the crossbar after a fine Archie Gray centre.
It looked like Tottenham had survived when Forster made a superb save to deny Mancini's volley at the start of five minutes of stoppage-time, but Hummels fired home from Angelino's cross not long after to ensure the points were shared.
Live updates
23 minutes ago
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35 minutes ago
Ange Postecoglou says he has no plans to change his Tottenham’s side gung-ho approach after the 2-2 draw with Roma in the Europa League.
Mats Hummels scored a 90th-minute equaliser to leave Postecoglou’s side on 10 points from their first five games and ninth in the Europa League table — just outside the automatic qualification places.
Asked if his side would be less entertaining and more businesslike in their remaining three games to ensure they avoid the play-offs, Postecoglou said: “No.
“Why can’t it just be entertaining? Isn’t it why we all come? Would you really prefer us to sketch out a couple of 0-0 draws and a 1-0 win and we get through. I don’t know.”
Action Images via Reuters
1 hour ago
Mats Hummels’ scored a 90th-minute equaliser on his first European appearance since the Champions League Final, as Roma rescued a late 2-2 draw with Tottenham in north London.
Hummels had a nightmare start when he caught Pape Matar Sarr after just two minutes, with Heung-min Son converting the penalty to put Spurs in front.
Roma levelled through Evan N’Dicka’s header from Paulo Dybala’s free-kick, and scored the first of three disallowed goals for offside through Stephan El Shaarawy moments later.
Brennan Johnson restored Spurs’ lead before the interval and both sides had a host of chances in the second half before Hummels struck.
John Walton/PA Wire
1 hour ago
Mats Hummels scored a 90th-minute equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw for Roma against Tottenham in an enormously entertaining Europa League tie in north London.
Moments after Fraser Forster’s outstanding save to deny Gianluca Mancini, the 35-year-old centre-half met Angelino’s cross at the far post for Roma’s second leveller of the night.
Heung-min Son fired Spurs ahead from the penalty spot after Pape Sarr was caught by Hummels inside three minutes.
Roma levelled through Evan N’Dicka’s header and scored the first of three disallowed goals when Stephan El Shaarawy volleyed home from Paulo Dybala’s cute pass.
Brennan Johnson’s smart finish restored Spurs lead before the interval, and Roma twice had efforts disallowed for Artem Dovbyk offsides in the second half.
Spurs twice struck the woodwork through Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke, while Angelino’s effort was deflected onto the bar at the other end.
Action Images via Reuters
1 hour ago
Tottenham were denied at the death as a stoppage-time equaliser by Mats Hummels earned Roma a 2-2 draw in an eventful Europa League encounter.
Son Heung-min scored from the penalty spot inside the first five minutes, before Evan N’Dicka headed Claudio Ranieri’s Roma back level midway through the first half.
2 hours ago
Disappointment for Tottenham at full-time, with Roma scoring in stoppage time to make it 2-2 and take a draw back to Italy with them. In the end, it’s what they deserved from a highly open and entertaining game.
2 hours ago
90+1 min: Forster looks to have earned Spurs victory with a stunning save, but then Hummels scores a last-gasp equaliser from Angelino’s cross. Disastrous for Spurs.
2 hours ago
90 min: Porro cheers to the home crowd as he blocks a cross behind for a corner. There will be a minimum of five minutes added on. Nervy moments...
2 hours ago
84 min: Soule’s corner is headed half-clear by Bergvall of all players. Hummels tries some overhead acrobatics but the shot lands on the roof of the net.
Roma still pushing; Spurs defending resolutely. Looks set to be quite a nervy finish in North London.
2 hours ago
81 min: Solanke does well to fashion a header against the crossbar, stretching his neck muscles. Roma ride their luck.
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