TOTTENHAM 1-1 EINTRACHT FRANKFURT: Pedro Porro’s silky flick was enough to earn a draw for Spurs in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final – but it could have been much more
Ange Postecoglou may be on the ropes but Tottenham are refusing to go down without a fight. Spurs delivered a performance full of determination and grit to give themselves hope they can still get past Eintracht Frankfurt and into the Europa League semi finals.
It was not exactly classic Ange Ball but once again they saved one of their best performances for their European campaign and the home crowd got behind them.
There was a smattering of boos at the final whistle but, for once, more out of frustration at the referees and because the team did not get the win they deserved.
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Tottenham boss Postecoglou finished with his head in his hands as, after twice hitting the woodwork, Micky van de Ven was denied a winner right at the death.
If they do not progress then Tottenham will surely look back upon this game as a missed opportunity because they should be taking a lead back to Germany next week.
That is not really a criticism of Tottenham but more a hard luck story of near misses and also a reflection of how they dug deep for their under-pressure manager.
Big Ange has admitted there is a “general sentiment” that he could lose his job even if Spurs win the trophy and qualify for the Champions League.
And yet Tottenham – so woefully inconsistent in the Premier League – fought back from conceding early on and then dominated the second half. They deserved more.
Pedro Porro’s beautifully executed goal – a wonderful back heel – was the least they deserved but it does mean next week’s second leg will be on a knife-edge.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s players were jumping at the final whistle as they went over to a relieved away end who were clinging on and reduced to playing on the break.
There was so much riding on this for Spurs that the pressure was on to deliver a faultless performance. But Eintracht Frankfurt’s opening goal was an error-strewn mess.
James Maddison gave the ball away cheaply, Ellyes Skhiri then released Hugo Ekitike who was given way too much space by Porro. France starlet Ekitike cut inside before firing a brilliant low shot into the far corner.
Maddison was having a stinker, giving the ball and misplacing passes – and then suddenly produced a moment of magic. Few players are as unpredictable as Maddison.
With a drop of the shoulder, Maddison earned himself a yard on the left edge of the Frankfurt box, his cut back found Porro who produced a sensational piece of skill to back heel the ball into the net. What a goal.
Then Spurs really turned up the volume in the second half as the crowd really got behind the players.
Lucas Bergvall’s stunning 30 yard shot hit the angle of post and crossbar. Son Heung-min forced a fine save from Frankfurt keeper Kaua Santos who also denied Maddison while Rodrigo Bentancur headed against the crossbar.
Tottenham left their closest chance for last as Bentancur headed on and van de Ven’s glancing header was somehow clawed away by Santos. It was just not to be.
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