Tottenham Hotspur earned a crucial 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim in the Europa League, with Son Heung-min’s brace ensuring the points despite a nervy second half. Spurs had started brightly, taking a 2-0 lead with goals from James Maddison and Son, but Hoffenheim’s resilience in the second half made the game far more difficult than it should have been.
The match began with Tottenham quickly asserting their dominance. In the third minute, Pedro Porro delivered a perfect ball over the top for Maddison, who controlled it expertly and calmly finished to open the scoring. Spurs were in full control early on, with Maddison pulling the strings in midfield, and Hoffenheim’s disorganized defense offering little resistance. Richarlison, starting for the first time since October, had already tested the Hoffenheim goalkeeper before the opening goal.
Tottenham doubled their lead in the 22nd minute, when a mix-up in the Hoffenheim defense allowed Son to score after a deflected shot. It was a comfortable cushion, but Spurs’ failure to press home their advantage led to a more nervy second half. The hosts, despite their poor form, managed to threaten Spurs’ goal on a few occasions. A defensive lapse in the 33rd minute allowed Tom Bischof a chance, but Spurs’ goalkeeper Brandon Austin was alert to deny him. Austin also made a crucial save to thwart Max Moerstedt, and Radu Dragusin blocked a shot from Finn Ole Becker.
Spurs’ lack of intensity after going 2-0 up allowed Hoffenheim to grow into the game. Despite their defensive issues, Hoffenheim created chances, and their high defensive line and lack of pressing in midfield gave Spurs ample opportunities to counter-attack. However, they couldn’t capitalize on their dominance, and the game remained open.
In the second half, Hoffenheim came out more aggressive, especially down the right flank. Archie Gray, filling in at left-back due to injuries and squad omissions, had a difficult task keeping the hosts at bay. The pressure mounted on Spurs when Andrej Kramaric’s header hit the bar, and Spurs were fortunate when a penalty decision against Austin was overturned. Hoffenheim’s persistence paid off in the 68th minute when Kramaric set up Anton Stach for a tap-in, bringing the score to 2-1.
Instead of capitulating, Tottenham responded with composure. Dejan Kulusevski dispossessed Stanley Nsoki and sent Son on a run, which ended with a powerful shot across the goalkeeper, restoring Spurs’ two-goal advantage. However, there was still time for Hoffenheim to threaten, and substitute David Mokwa headed in a second goal for the hosts, ensuring a tense finish.
Despite their injury woes and the pressure from Hoffenheim, Tottenham held on for the win. The victory moved them into the top eight of the group and boosted their chances of avoiding a two-legged playoff to reach the Europa League knockout stage. Spurs’ performance was far from perfect, but the resilience shown in the final stages and Son’s decisive contributions were enough to secure the points. With Leicester City visiting on Sunday in the Premier League, Tottenham will need to improve their consistency, but this victory offered a much-needed boost.
