Tottenham Hotspur secured a narrow 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim on Thursday evening, easing some pressure off manager Ange Postecoglou as they tightened their grip on advancing to the Europa League knockout stages.
Heung-min Son emerged as the star of the match, scoring twice to lead Spurs to only their second win from their last nine matches overall. Son's brace was instrumental, coming after James Maddison had opened the scoring only three minutes in, giving the London club the momentum they desperately needed at the PreZero Arena.
Spurs had their foothold quickly when Maddison raced onto Pedro Porro's well-placed pass, bringing the ball down superbly before finishing emphatically. This set the tone for the match, with Tottenham taking control early on.
Just 22 minutes later, Son doubled Tottenham's lead. After receiving the ball from Maddison, he took aim and struck the ball which took a deflection, wrong-footing Hoffenheim's goalkeeper and finding the back of the net. At this point, Spurs seemed poised for what could have been a comfortable victory.
Despite their lead, Hoffenheim started to find their rhythm as the second half unfolded. They weren’t to be underestimated, and their persistence paid off when Anton Stach found the net himself after connecting with a counter-attack, narrowing the score to 2-1. The goal came as Hoffenheim began to mount considerable pressure, making Spurs’ task look increasingly difficult.
Tottenham needed to respond, and they did. Son, showing why he is the captain, scored his second goal of the evening with just under 15 minutes left on the clock. From an acute angle, he executed his trademark shot, sliding it past the onrushing keeper to restore their two-goal advantage at 3-1.
Yet, the home side did not give up easily. David Mokwa sparked hope late on, scoring Hoffenheim's second goal with just two minutes left to play, heading home from close range. Suddenly, the match took on an electric feel, with the visitors vulnerable to what could have been another late twist.
Even though Spurs had to endure five additional minutes of tension, they managed to hold on, securing all three points needed. This victory puts Tottenham fourth on the standings, ensuring they remain among the top eight teams who would automatically advance to the round of 16.
It was not merely the result but the spirit of the performance, with the team rallying under less-than-ideal circumstances, as Postecoglou fielded just what he could muster out of 14 available players, including five teenagers on the pitch at the end of the match. Remarkably, it was Son’s 436th appearance for the club, moving him up to 10th on the club's all-time appearance list—an added personal milestone to celebrate amid the team’s challenges.
Following the match, Postecoglou praised his squad's resilience and highlighted the performances of his senior players, especially Maddison and Son, stating they delivered when it mattered the most. With the Europa League’s group stage approaching its final stages, Spurs will need to keep this momentum going as they prepare to face Swedish club IF Elfsborg at home next Thursday.
Overall, this win against Hoffenheim has buoyed Spurs and temporarily lifted some of the mounting pressure from Postecoglou, paving the way for possibly more harmonious fixtures as they aim to secure their place among Europe’s elite clubs once again. While some may view this match as mere statistics, for Tottenham supporters, it felt like the turning of the tide.