A Forty third-minute penalty from Dominic Solanke despatched Tottenham by way of to the Europa League semi-finals with a 2-1 mixture win over Eintracht Frankfurt to maintain their season alive and ease the stress on Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs had been again within the last-chance saloon and up in opposition to it at Deutsche Financial institution Park after a 1-1 draw within the first leg final Thursday, however produced one in every of their greatest shows underneath Postecoglou to make sure his tenure goes on.
Solanke’s spot-kick two minutes before half-time settled the tie and was gained after vice-captains Cristian Romero and James Maddison mixed.
It was Solanke’s first objective in 12 matches and regardless that Tottenham missed alternatives after the break, they admirably held on to earn a primary last-four spot on this competitors in 41 years.
Postecoglou had admitted to having “no concept” if he would nonetheless be in a job after this tie on Wednesday, however can now give attention to a two-legged semi-final in Could together with his staff nonetheless on track to win the membership its first trophy in 17 years.
With captain Son Heung-min dominated out, Bayern Munich loanee Tel bought the nod again in Germany and whereas Tottenham had been warned they’d stroll into the lion’s den at Deutsche Financial institution Park, they navigated the opening phases and the hosts misplaced Mario Gotze to damage after 17 minutes.
Hugo Ekitike had prompted Spurs one second of concern by this level just for Micky van de Ven to crucially slide in and yet one more French ahead began to make an affect.
Tel scuffed vast from a Brennan Johnson cutback within the Twentieth-minute earlier than six minutes later he let fly from 25-yards and compelled Kaua Santos right into a flying save.
Guglielmo Vicario had held a easy header from Frankfurt substitute Fares Chaibi moments earlier than, however had largely been untroubled when Tottenham gained a penalty on the finish of the primary half.
Romero performed his half with a superb ball excessive for Maddison, who tried to go over Kaua and bought taken out by the Frankfurt goalkeeper.
As each gamers bought therapy, referee Massa was despatched to the VAR monitor and pointed to the spot a lot to the fury of the surprised residence supporters.
Tel initially had the ball, however gave it to Solanke on the final second and the £65m ahead ended his 12-game drought with a intelligent chipped penalty earlier than the Spurs gamers celebrated in entrance of Frankfurt’s noisy standing part.
Maddison had to get replaced quickly after by Dejan Kulusevski, however Tottenham survived six minutes of stoppage time earlier than they got here underneath siege in the beginning of the second interval.
Substitute Chaibi curled a free-kick vast from 35 yards earlier than an Ekitike shot on the flip was blocked by Lucas Bergvall.
Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller had seen sufficient although and despatched on Can Uzun within the 58th minute earlier than Spurs went shut once more.
Johnson mixed with Kulusevski, who had a shot deflected vast earlier than Romero headed inches vast from Pedro Porro’s ensuing nook.
Tottenham continued to completely mix defence with assault in a approach which had not been seen sufficient this season with a Tel effort curled over adopted by a Rodrigo Bentancur header off beam.
Frankfurt had penalty of appeals waved away quickly after as Romero bought the ball throughout a coming along with Ekitike earlier than Vicario was referred to as into motion.
Rasmus Kristensen bought in behind the Spurs defence and picked out Chaibi, however Vicario made an excellent point-blank save and the follow-up cross was headed vast by Kristensen.
Because the seconds ticked away Frankfurt upped the ante and Kristensen despatched one other effort off beam with eight minutes left earlier than Postecoglou launched Kevin Danso because the guests went to 5 on the again.
It was backs-to-the-wall now for Tottenham, however they stood agency to outlive six minutes of stoppage time and delight their 2,800 travelling followers with massive full-time celebrations because the membership secured solely its second European semi-final since they gained the Uefa Cup in 1984.
Source link