UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
(Matchday 7)
THURSDAY 23RD JANUARY, 2025
(5.45PM GMT)
TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM 2(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(2)
Hoffenheim scorers:-
Stach, 68
Mokwa, 88
Spurs scorers:-
Maddison, 3
Son, 22, 77
Attendance :- 30,150
Referee:- Morten Krogh DEN
Assistants:- D. Wollenberg Rasmussen & Steffen Bramsen DEN
Fourth official:- Mikkel Redder DEN
VAR:- Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant VAR:- Fedayi San SUI
Teams:-
Hoffenheim (4-4-2):- 1. Baumann (Capt.); 3. Kaderabek, 25. Agpoguma, 34. Nsoki, 19. D. Jurasek; 23. Hlosek (sub 28. Micheler, 81), 16. Stach (sub 52. Mokwa, 79), 20. Becker, 7. Bischof (sub 35. Chaves, 80); 27. Kramaric, 33. Moerstedt
Subs not used:- 37. L. Philipp, 56. T. Philipp (GKs); 2. Hranac, 15. Gendrev, 30. Kalambavi, 40. Behrens, 54. Erlein, 57. Duric
Booked:- Agpoguma (foul on Maddison)
Spurs (4-3-3):- 40. Austin; 23. Pedro Porro, 6. Dragusin, 33. Davies, 14. Gray; 15. Bergvall, 30. Bentancur, 10. Maddison (sub 64. Olusesi, 89); 21. Kulusevski, 9. Richarlison (sub 47. Moore, 56), 7. Son (Capt.) (sub 42. Lankshear, 79)
(Armband to Maddison, then Davies)
Subs not used:- 20. Forster, 41. Whiteman (GKs); 59. Cassanova, 79. Hardy; 63. Ajayi
No bookings
Two-goal Son sees us through
Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture
On the day he made his 436th club appearance to move above Harry Kane into our all-time top ten list, Son Heung-min scored his 171st and 172nd club goals which ultimately saw us back into the top eight of the 36-team Europa League.
In the face of adversity (Ange Postecoglou could only take 13 first team players to Germany), Spurs won in Europe for the first time since October and have secured entry to the knock-out phase. A win at home next week to 20th-placed Elfsborg would ensure a top eight position, which would give us a two-game break and see us through to the last 16 as a top seeded club.
Son is in his tenth year with Spurs, and another club veteran, Ben Davies made his 71st European appearance at centre-back, playing only his second club game since early December. Ben is now second in our European appearance-makers behind Harry Kane (76).
Ange Postecoglou was able to field a decent starting eleven, although some of those must be getting very tired, having had little respite over the last two months. Archie Gray moved to left back, and Richarlison made only his second start of the season. "Richie" made a good impact in what was a bright first half, combining well with Kulusevski in particular.
Gaining a two-goal first half lead, Spurs sat back and paid the price in the second half with the home team twice closing down a two-goal deficit. Of course, we had to twitch through five added minutes with the score at 3-2, but we held onto our precious lead and celebrated the win with the travelling fans with gusto.
Hoffenheim were short of personnel too. They were desperate for a result, as they have six points in the bottom eight and very little chance of progressing to the knock-out phase. Both teams included two goalkeepers as substitutes and had less than the permitted 12 men on the bench.
In Spurs' case they had five teenagers on the bench and a 20-year-old (Dante Cassanova). Three of those came off the bench which gave us a team including no less than five teenagers. 17-year-old Callum Olusesi made his club debut. In this injury blighted season, Olusesi is a veteran of 16 entries as an unused substitute.
Brandon Austin made his European debut for Spurs and gave another good performance, making one save of note in the first half. Radu Dragusin wore a full head plaster to protect the stitches above his right eye, injured last Sunday.
Spurs, wearing their home strip, kicked off and played away from their very vocal fans. Hoffenheim wore their all-blue colours.
Bergvall and Maddison were involved in an early move for Spurs before Richarlison crossed from the left side of the box for Kulusevski. The Hoffenheim defence won their challenge here. However, Spurs soon had the early lead that made us all smile. Pedro Porro lifted an excellent pass over the defence and Maddison timed his run well, beating German international goalkeeper Baumann with a right-footed shot into the roof of the net. It was James Maddison's ninth goal of the season in all competitions. Do it again on Sunday against your old team James!
Spurs dominated the first half, but when called upon the Spurs defence protected Austin well. Dragusin was the first to make an important block, from the dangerous Adam Hlosek.
Kulusevski fed Richarlison with a good ball down the right channel. The Spurs number nine advanced and crossed deep across the area to Son. At the end of the move, Bergvall overhit a pass to the right of the area.
Agpoguma(a Hoffenheim veteran) was shown the only yellow card of the game by Danish referee Morten Krogh when he halted an advance by Son. Another good Kulusevski-Richarlison move led to a shot by "Richie" and a save by Baumann which fortunately ran clear of trouble.
Spurs had a massive chance when Pedro Porro was in space in a central shooting position. Son gave him the ball, but Pedro pulled a left-footed shot wide. Son pushed a right-footed shot wide after racing onto a long ball down the left side.
Refreshingly, Spurs were not loitering in their own half, but that changed after the break. Hoffenheim had a free kick 25 yards out after a Kulusevski foul on Kramaric. There was a VAR review over a potential handball in the box by Rodrigo Bentancur, but that was swiftly dismissed. Bentancur was making a very welcome and effective return after his enforced concussion break.
Spurs had a two-goal lead in the 22nd minute. Maddison latched onto a poor ball out of defence and found Son towards the left of goal in space. I felt that Son should have smashed the ball home, but he was closed down and his deflected shot looped over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Archie Gray was next to make an important block when Kramaric hit a shot on target. After a Hoffenheim corner Moerstedt's shot was half-blocked and Austin picked up the ball. Spurs broke out after another corner with Son feeding Kulusevski, his cross was not quite right for Maddison.
Austin made his best save, diving low to his right to initially parry then hold 19-year-old Tom Bischof's low shot. Bischof is bound for Bayern Munich in the summer. Pedro Porro did well to close down Stach, who received the ball when in space inside the box.
The home side had another two corners and after one, Davies blocked a Hlosek effort. Archie Gray half-blocked another Moerstedt attempt, allowing Austin to hold the ball.
Maddison hit a Spurs free kick from the left and Baumann saved well from Bergvall's header towards his right post. At the other end, Dragusin blocked a shot by Becker.
Hoffenheim had declared their intentions towards the end of the first half and in the second soon put Spurs under some pressure. Pedro Porro blocked another Becker shot. Spurs were seemingly happy to defend and were generally performing the task competently.
However, Kramaric's header landed on top of the goal, and Ben Davies blocked another shot on goal. Richarlison was replaced by Mikey Moore, who played with confidence and plenty of skill down the left wing.
Kramaric was blocked again, this time by Pedro Porro, and Austin held a cross from the left. A low shot by Bischof from the edge of the area passed just outside Austin's right post.
Farce ensued when the referee awarded a penalty and booked Austin for allegedly fouling Hlosek. We knew a VAR review was taking place, but the referee proceeded to the point where the spot-kick was about to be taken before being called to the monitor. Eventually he rescinded the booking because Austin had got the ball and not committed a foul.
Hoffenheim did score though when Jurasek crossed from the left and Stach scored with a glanced shot inside Austin's left post.
Bergvall made a good advance down the line on the left before Pedro Porro crossed deep for Son. Son passed to Kulusevski who dribbled along the bye-line before winning a corner.
Spurs restored their two-goal lead after Bentancur collected a poor ball out and passed to Mikey Moore, who was in a central position. Moore fed Son who was one-on-one on the left and scored with a left-footed shot across the keeper. Son was soon replaced by Will Lankshear, who mysteriously hasn't been used since mid-December.
Our nerves were stretched when substitute Mokwa rose in too much space at the back post to Kramaric's cross to head home. Pedro Porro was the only defender covering two attacking players.
Olusesi came on for his debut as we moved into five minutes of added time which Spurs managed successfully.
Next up are Leicester on Sunday in another game we desperately need to win. At least Kinsky, Spence and Reguilon can be added to our squad for that game and maybe even Cristian Romero?
Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts
Spurs 6 7 4 2 1 14-9 5 14
Hoffenhaim 28 7 1 3 3 7-11 -4 6
Europa League Placings in full
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
