Agency Report –
Sinsheim, Germany – Tottenham Hotspur sealed a 3-2 win at Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday, boosting their hopes of automatic qualification for the last 16 and leaving the Germans fretting over elimination.
Son Heung Min’s brace means the inconsistent north London side are up to sixth and look well-placed ahead of a final round of league games next Thursday when they host Sweden’s Elfsborg.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou told TNT Sports: “I thought the senior boys today all really stood up. You need your leaders to stand up and they did.
“I told them to enjoy it. Winning away in Europe, it’s a significant victory for us and gives us a good foothold to get into those top eight spots which will give us a week off.”
Hoffenheim, who won for the first time in seven games in the Bundesliga last weekend, are 28th in the Europa League elimination zone and with little hope left of going through.
The top eight qualify automatically for the last 16 while places nine to 24 play off next month. The bottom 12 will be eliminated.
Tottenham took an early lead in Sinsheim when Pedro Porro’s pass was superbly controlled by James Maddison, who then finished off in style.
Son doubled their lead on 22 minutes when his deflected shot following Maddison’s assist looped in.
Home penalty overturned after VAR check
The hosts had a few chances to get back into the game, with Andrej Kramaric hitting the bar. Hoffenheim also thought they had a penalty midway through the second half when Spurs keeper Brandon Austin was initially penalized by the referee.
But a video assistant review decided there had been no foul. Anton Stach reduced the deficit anyway on 68 minutes from close range, only for Son to make it 3-1 on 77 and David Mokwa to head in Hoffenheim’s second 2 minutes from time.
“It’s an extremely bitter defeat,” Stach told RTL+. “We actually gifted them two goals. But you can’t really blame the team … for the way we played, the way we got stuck in.”
Tottenham have been in a similar results crisis to Hoffenheim of late with injuries not helping the 15-placed Premier League side. But their starting XI on Thursday oozed class, even if their bench had several youth prospects and two keepers.
Despite obvious defensive frailties, they were too strong for the Germans, who are fourth-bottom domestically.
Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer was only appointed two months ago and has been on a roller-coaster ride, which looks set to include an early Europa League exit unless they can win at Anderlecht next Thursday and hope other results go their way.
Postecoglou has also been under pressure, but his vow to win a trophy in his second season means the Europa League will now increasingly become a priority.
