Evening Standard
·23 January 2025
Evening Standard
·23 January 2025
Spurs closing in on Europa League progress
Tottenham captain Heung-min Son scored in each half to earn his side a 3-2 victory at Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday.
Spurs were quickly into their stride with James Maddison opening the scoring in the third minute with a deft finish from a long pass, and Son doubled the lead after 22 minutes.
Hoffenheim dominated the second half and their efforts paid off in the 68th minute when Anton Stach connected with a cross from a counter-attack and slid the ball home.
Yet the hosts' momentum was halted when Son scored with a low shot from an acute angle inside the box in the 77th minute.
Hoffenheim's David Mokwa headed in a cross from Andrej Kramaric in the 88th minute, but the hosts could not find an equaliser.
It was a crucial win for Spurs in difficult circumstances and three points are surely all that matters given recent form.
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12 hours ago
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Find our report, ratings, analysis and reaction below!
12 hours ago
Ange Postecoglou praised his senior players, including goal-scorers Heung-min Son and James Maddison, as Tottenham took an important step towards the Europa League knockouts with a 3-2 win over Hoffenheim in Germany.
Spurs will finish in the top eight of the league phase if they beat Swedish club IF Elfsborg at home next Thursday after Maddison's goal and a double from Son earned them a hard-fought but nervy win over the Bundesliga strugglers.
Postecoglou was missing no fewer than 14 players on the night, including 10 through injury, and Spurs finished the game with five teenagers on the pitch, including debutant Callum Olusesi.
Getty Images
12 hours ago
Tottenham took a huge step towards the Europa League knockouts with a nervy and entertaining win over Hoffenheim in Germany.
James Maddison opened the scoring inside three minutes, racing onto Pedro Porro's pass to finish superbly, and Heung-min Son made it 2-0 with a deflected strike after good work from the England playmaker.
Getty Images
12 hours ago
Tottenham took a significant step towards the Europa League knockouts with a tense 3-2 win over Hoffenheim, settled by Heung-min Son's double.
Ange Postecoglou was missing no fewer than 14 players in Germany but Spurs still had plenty of quality in the XI and James Maddison finished superbly to put them ahead after just three minutes.
Son's deflected strike made it 2-0 as Spurs threatened to run riot in the first half but they faced intense pressure either side of the interval, with Antonin Stach deservedly pulling a goal back just after the hour.
Son fired a trademark finish into the corner to restore Spurs' two-goal lead but David Mokwa headed home late on to set up a nervy finale.
AP
12 hours ago
A brace from captain Heung-min Son sealed a crucial win for Tottenham away at Hoffenheim in the Europa League.
Getty Images
12 hours ago
FT: Spurs just about hang on! A crucial three points, even in shaky circumstances.
13 hours ago
90 mins: FIVE MINUTES ADDED ON!
13 hours ago
88 mins: GOAL!
David Mokwa nods in at the back post to set-up a nervy finish!
13 hours ago
Spurs really needed that. They have looked shattered in the second half but you can't leave a player of Son's quality with that much space too often. That should be enough for Spurs who are close to taking a giant step towards the knockouts.
13 hours ago
76 mins: GOAL!
And how badly Spurs needed it! Brilliant finish from Son, who shoots across the keeper from a tight angle.
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