.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Sonny Delight: Son double seals Spurs success")
Tottenham Hotspur secured a crucial win in the Europa League with a 3-2 triumph in Germany against Hoffenheim.
Spurs raced into an early lead when James Maddison fired in the opening goal of the evening for the visitors.
Things got even better for the visitors when Maddison played a ball through to Son Heung-Min, who found the net to double Tottenham's lead.
In the second half, the hosts thought that they had a penalty and a route back into the game, but it was overturned by VAR before Anton Stach reduced the deficit to make it 2-1.
Any hopes of a comeback faded as the visitors added a third through Son, before David Mokwa headed in what proved to be a late consolation goal for the hosts.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
Spurs have undoubtedly had a difficult time lately, and their Premier League campaign has certainly suffered as a result of their poor form.
However, in the Europa League, things appear to be going a lot better - with 14 points on the board, they are currently fourth in the standings, and it would take a lot for them not to reach the knockout stages automatically from here.
Their performance in the first half showed how deadly they can be in attack when they perform at their best, and, rather uncharacteristically for Tottenham lately, they defended well when they needed to.
The running joke about Spurs is that they so often help cure the worst of teams from their problems when they play them, but tonight, it was Hoffenheim playing the doctor role in the first half.
The hosts threatened to stage a late comeback by piling on the pressure in the second half, but Tottenham survived and were worthy winners on the night.
Hoffenheim have left themselves in a tricky position in the competition, with the German outfit now needing a win against Anderlecht next time out to have any chance of progressing to the next stage.
HOFFENHEIM VS. TOTTENHAM HIGHLIGHTS
James Maddison goal vs. Hoffenheim (3rd min, Hoffenheim 0-1 Tottenham)
Sublime from Maddison 🤧
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 23, 2025
Long ball from Porro is expertly taken down by Maddison, who then finishes with a bang to put Spurs 1-0 ahead ⚽️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/SfWylKVuXO
What a start for Ange Postecoglou's side!
We are only a few minutes in here, and Spurs have the lead through Maddison, who receives a wonderful pass from Pedro Porro before he brings the ball down and smashes the ball past Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann.
Son Heung-Min goal vs. Hoffenheim (22nd min, Hoffenheim 0-2 Tottenham)
A wicked deflection but Tottenham won't care 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 23, 2025
Maddison sends captain Son clear, and his effort on goal is deflected and loops over Baumann to double Spurs' lead!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/0FfH8Khvhm
Tottenham are getting the job done tonight!
Maddison intercepted a loose ball and then fed it through to Son, who had an element of good fortune in that Maddison's ball deflected through and bounced kindly for him before his shot then took another deflection before beating Baumann to put Spurs in control here in Germany.
Anton Stach goal vs. Tottenham (68th min, Hoffenheim 1-2 Tottenham)
Is there a comeback on the cards for Hoffenheim? 👀
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 23, 2025
Stach gets on the end of a cross from Jurasek to send it beyond Austin to reduce the deficit, with 20 minutes to go!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/RF5zt6dIKM
The second half has been very different here!
Moments after having a penalty overturned by VAR, the hosts have pulled one back through Stach, who pokes in from close range to set up a nervy ending for Spurs here.
Son Heung-Min vs. Hoffenheim (77th min, Hoffenheim 1-3 Tottenham)
Pinpoint from Son 🎯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 23, 2025
A stepover and a lovely left foot strike from Heung-Min Son gives Spurs a 2-goal advantage, a 3-1 lead in Germany.
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/GcBUX9282w
Tottenham's tension did not last long, as Son has surely secured the victory for Postecoglou's side here.
The visitors have barely been able to attack this half, but after Rodrigo Bentancur won possession for Spurs, he found Mikey Moore, who then fed the ball to Son, who blasted the ball past the keeper to make it 3-1.
David Mokwa vs. Tottenham (88th min, Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham)
Late drama! 😮
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 23, 2025
Hoffenheim pull another goal back as Mokwa Ntusu heads home at the back post... 3-2 Spurs!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/TK93ElVUPN
Surely not?
A great cross from Andrej Kramaric is met by the head of Mokwa, who makes it 3-2 now with just minutes to go! Could they?
MAN OF THE MATCH - JAMES MADDISON
© Iconsport
It feels harsh not giving this to Son after his two goals, but Maddison was equally as important for Tottenham tonight, as his goal got them on the path to victory early on.
He also got an assist for Son's first goal of the evening, so Maddison just about edges this one, but it was close between those two.
HOFFENHEIM VS. TOTTENHAM MATCH STATS
Possession: Hoffenheim 56%-44% Tottenham
Shots: Hoffenheim 22-8 Tottenham
Shots on target: Hoffenheim 5-5 Tottenham
Corners: Hoffenheim 6-4 Tottenham
Fouls: Hoffenheim 6-6 Tottenham
BEST STATS
🚨𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 | Tottenham Hotspur's First Half 🆚 Hoffenheim:
— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) January 23, 2025
⚽️ Goals: 2
🔑 Big Chances: 3
🗝️ Total Shots: 7
📌 Touches In Pen Area: 23
💪 Recoveries: 30
🧹 Clearances: 17
🧮 Possession: 50%
❓Thoughts On Spurs Display So Far?#THFC | #COYS | #TSGTOT | #TOTTENHAM | #UEL pic.twitter.com/mU06hEOQl9
Heung-min Son this season:
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 23, 2025
▫️ 10 goals
▫️ 7 assists
🌞 pic.twitter.com/AtgzhoMOda
WHAT NEXT?
Tottenham host Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, hoping to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone in the Premier League, before finishing their Europa League group phase with a match at home to Elfsborg next Thursday.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Sunday and then travel to Belgium to take on Anderlecht in the Europa League on Thursday.
Tom Humphrey
