Spurs keep their season alive
Eintracht Frankfurt 0 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur (Tottenham Hotspur won 2-1 on aggregate)
Spurs kept their European hopes alive with a narrow win over Eintracht Frankfurt, edging through to the Europa League semi-finals thanks to a first-half penalty from Dominic Solanke.
Stadium - Deutsche Bank Park
After squandering several chances in a frustrating 1-1 draw at home in the first leg, Spurs arrived in Frankfurt knowing they faced a stern test. For much of the match, they were second best in possession and under sustained pressure.
The decisive moment came shortly before half-time, when Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos misjudged a high ball and collided clumsily with James Maddison in the box. Initially, Italian referee Davide Massa waved away the protests, but a VAR review prompted a change of heart. Santos was shown a yellow card, and a penalty was awarded.
Solanke, seemingly chosen by Ange Postecoglou from the touchline, stepped up calmly and dispatched the spot-kick down the centre as Santos dived the wrong way.
Maddison, who had received treatment after the collision, tried to play on but was replaced during first-half stoppage time by Dejan Kulusevski. His absence was felt almost immediately, as Spurs struggled to hold the ball in midfield and found themselves pinned back for much of the second half.
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Frankfurt turned the screw after the interval, dominating possession and launching wave after wave of attack. But Spurs remained a threat on the break and from set-pieces. Cristian Romero headed just wide from a corner, while Rodrigo Bentancur missed the target from a similar opportunity.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario came to Tottenham’s rescue with a brilliant reaction stop to deny Fares Chaibi from point-blank range. Rasmus Kristensen, on loan from Leeds, then squandered a golden chance by firing wide from close range after being picked out by a low cross.
