Monday, February 17, 2025
-4.8 C
Tallinn

Spurs see off Hoffenheim to boost automatic last 16 hopes

Agency Report –

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.

Sourcedpa

Hot this week

Op-Ed: Binance chief’s cheap lies against Ribadu, by Jaafar Jaafar

Tigran Gambaryan (forgive my copy and paste), the head...

WAEC releases 2024 WASSCE private candidates’ results

Agency Report - The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has...

Stoltenberg succeeds Heusgen at MSC

Agency Report - Munich  – Veteran German diplomat Christoph Heusgen received...

Police intervene between opposing protests after Munich car attack

Agency Report - Munich  – Police intervened in a counter-protest...

Latest

Op-Ed: Binance chief’s cheap lies against Ribadu, by Jaafar Jaafar

Tigran Gambaryan (forgive my copy and paste), the head...

WAEC releases 2024 WASSCE private candidates’ results

Agency Report - The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has...

Stoltenberg succeeds Heusgen at MSC

Agency Report - Munich  – Veteran German diplomat Christoph Heusgen received...

Police intervene between opposing protests after Munich car attack

Agency Report - Munich  – Police intervened in a counter-protest...

Bayern hopeful Kimmich will make a decision about his future soon

Agency Report - Leverkusen, Germany  - After clarifying the future of...

Aggregate German savings high, but many have none at all

Agency Report - Frankfurt  – Aggregate German household wealth may have...

Demonstrators mark attack in German city of Hanau five years on

Agency Report - Hanau, Germany  - About 1,000 people demonstrated in...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Section

spot_imgspot_img

MORE FROM CHATNEWSTV

Bayern hopeful Kimmich will make a decision about his future soon

Agency Report - Leverkusen, Germany  - After clarifying the future of midfielder Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich are hopeful that Joshua Kimmich will also make a decision...

St Pauli fans boo club president as song dropped due to Nazi link

Agency Report - Hamburg  - St. Pauli's stadium anthem was dropped for the first time in 20 years before the Bundesliga home game with Freiburg on...

Leipzig held 0-0 in Augsburg in Bundesliga

Agency Report - Berlin  - RB Leipzig were held 0-0 at Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday and risk losing their place in the top four. Substitute...

Fans to watch Enyimba vs Rivers United clash free

Agency Report - The management of Enyimba International FC of Aba, has said the gate would be thrown open to fans in the club’s match...

Bayern ready for trip to Leverkusen

Agency Report - Berlin  - Bayern Munich aim to end a winless run against Bayer Leverkusen when they visit the defending champions on Saturday with a...

Bayern Munich renew Jamal Musiala contract until 2030

Agency Report - Munich  - Bayern Munich have renewed the contract of key attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala by four years until 2030, the Bundesliga leaders said...

Son of Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi picked for German baseball team

Agency Report - Frankfurt  - Jaden Agassi, the son of former tennis greats Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, has been nominated into Germany's national baseball team...

Bayern want to follow up on Celtic win when they visit Leverkusen

Agency Report - Glasgow  - Bayern Munich have one foot in the Champions League last 16 and now hope to make similar progress in the Bundesliga...

‘We are very lucky in Germany’ to have Wirtz, Musiala — Ex-coach Löw

Agency Report - Frankfurt  - Former national team coach Joachim Löw has said that Germany is blessed to have young stars Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala...