LONDON — Son Heung-Min‘s brace and Harry Kane‘s penalty gave Tottenham Hotspur an important three-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday as Spurs took a large step in direction of qualifying for the knockout phases of the Champions League.
Initially down early in direction of the defending Europa League champions due to a aim from Daichi Kamada, Spurs rallied behind two targets from Son, each scored on both side of Kane’s penalty from the spot.
Frankfurt had been decreased to 10 males on the hour mark when defender Tuta was despatched off for his second reserving in a matter of minutes after twice fouling Son.
Faride Alidou‘s late header pulled one again for the German side off a nook kick, and Kane then missed a penalty in stoppage time, however Spurs held on for the win.
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The win put Antonio Conte’s side prime of Group D on seven factors in an excellent race. Marseille and Sporting CP are tied on six factors, however Frankfurt additionally stay inside the hunt on 4 with two video games left to play.
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quick response
1. Son, Kane, Richarlison shine in win
Son Heung-Min impressed Tottenham to an important three-2 Champions League victory in direction of Eintracht Frankfurt on an night when Antonio Conte’s entrance three proved too sizzling for final season’s Europa League winners to deal with.
Two targets from Son and a Harry Kane penalty — the England captain blew the likelihood to make it 4-2 from the spot when he despatched a second penalty over the crossbar on ninety minutes — secured the win in direction of Frankfurt, who misplaced defender Tuta to a pink card on sixty one minutes.
Frankfurt opened the scoring by way of Daichi Kamada on 14 minutes after which ensured a tense ending to the sport when substitute Faride Alidou headed in to make it three-2 on 87 minutes, however Spurs had already carried out enough to win the sport and transfer prime of Group D due to their in-type entrance three of Son, Kane and Richarlison.
It was Kane who created the opener for Son earlier than placing Spurs forward from the spot. Son’s thirty sixth-minute volley from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg‘s cross put the sport past Frankfurt, however whereas he did not rating or create any of Tottenham’s targets, Richarlison’s contribution was vastly obligatory for Antonio Conte’s workforce. the earlier Everton forward
And the dwelling he opened up allowed Son and Kane to carve out extra possibilities inside the second half, with solely goalkeeper Kevin Trapp denying the dwelling side a extra emphatic worthwhile margin. Kane, Son and Richarlison now have sixteen targets between them this season, and whereas Kane has better than half of them (9), the collective power of Conte’s entrance three was evident in direction of Frankfurt.
2. Conte should be comfortable Spurs did not wobble
soccer is full of cliches, and one in every of many generally aired is the one about Tottenham being a tender contact and a workforce that always crumbles when the stress is on.
The outdated “Spursy” tag has mild these days, however underneath Antonio Conte, it would not apply, and we noticed proof of that in direction of Eintracht Frankfurt. When the Bundesliga side took a 14th-minute lead by way of Kamada, it appeared like unhealthy information for Spurs in direction of a side that had obtained six of its previous seven European away video games. That run included victories at Barcelona and West Ham United on the methodology all by way of which to worthwhile final season’s Europa League.
So Spurs confronted adversity in direction of a workforce accustomed to worthwhile on the highway in Europe, and conceding early additionally put Tottenham’s Group D hopes in jeopardy. however Spurs did not panic. pretty different, they held their nerve and equalised by way of Son inside six minutes of Frankfurt’s opener. From that time on, Spurs had been in administration, they usually produced a mature efficiency to finally overcome a Frankfurt workforce constructed of their very personal picture — three on the again and an excellent deal of tempo in forward positions.
Spurs have had their wobbles this season, collectively with a 2-zero defeat at Sporting on matchday two and the North London derby defeat in direction of Arsenal, however they’re now exhibiting the resilient qualities that Conte calls for from his teams, and that makes Tottenham a risk to the most interesting golf equipment on this season’s Champions League.
three. regardless of win, the group stays up for grabs
Spurs took an obligatory step in direction of qualifying for the knockout phases by beating Frankfurt and ending a 5-recreation winless streak in direction of German opposition inside the Champions League, however Group D may nonetheless discover your self with any of the 4 teams ending prime — or backside.
With every workforce choosing up a minimal of 1 win up to now, it is the tightest of all eight teams this season, and the desk may very effectively be turned on its head as quickly as extra on matchday 5 subsequent week. Spurs face Sporting at dwelling, having misplaced to the Portuguese workforce in Lisbon, whereas Frankfurt will host Marseille needing to repeat their earlier victory in Stade Velodrome to retain any hope of ending inside the most interesting two.
All 4 teams inside the group have showcased their most interesting and worst, so it may be foolish to foretell the methodology all by way of which it would all show. however Spurs have put themselves inside the driving seat, they usually may seal qualification subsequent week in the event that they defeat Sporting in London, leaving the relaxation to battle it out for second spot on matchday six.
the good information is that every 4 sides have one factor to play for, so something can nonetheless happen in Group D.
participant rankings
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris ; Romero 6, Dier 6, Lenglet 7; Emerson 7, Hojbjerg 7, Bentancur 6, Sessegnon 7; Richarlison eight, Kane eight, Son 9.
Subs: Skipp 6, Bissouma 6, Sanchez 6, Lucas Moura 6, Gil 6.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp 7; Tuta 5, Hasebe 7, N’Dicka 6; Jakic 6, Rode 6, Sow 6, Lenz 6; Lindstrom 6, Kamada 7; Kolo Muani 6.
Subs: Ebimbe 6, Smolcic 6, Alidou 7, Gotze 6, Borre 6.
most interesting and worst performers
most interesting: Son Heung-Min, Tottenham Hotspur.
The Tottenham forward was sensational and made his early-season type stoop seem a distant reminiscence. When he is on prime of his recreation, Son may very effectively be unplayable. He scored twice in direction of Frankfurt and will have had a hat trick.
WORST: Tuta, Eintracht Frankfurt.
Trailing three-1 and needing a disciplined efficiency to have any hope of getting again into the sport, Tuta’s sending off for two yellow playing cards on sixty one minutes was a hammer blow for Eintracht. It left his workforce with an inconceivable mountain to climb.
Highlights and notable moments
That great volley from Son was amongst the diversified most interesting targets throughout a memorable matchday in Champions League.
Who ought to win aim of the Week? 🤷♂️#UCLGOTW || @Heineken || #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 12, 2022
Respect, @Eintracht 💙 pic.twitter.com/2y3nuKKj3U
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 12, 2022
Eintracht Frankfurt gamers lay a wreath in honour of Gian Piero Ventrone, Tottenham’s health coach who died final week.
After the match: What the managers, gamers said
Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min to BT Sport, on his great second aim: “When the ball bought here to me, [Hojbjerg] noticed me earlier than crossing. The ball was simply actually clear to me and there was simply one different to take the volley. I hit it actually clear. i used to be very comfortable.”
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, on the win: “every thing is in our palms, we have the likelihood inside the following recreation to bear which may be a large achievement as a outcome of that is our goal for the season, to get to the following stage of Champions League.”
Key stats (supplied by ESPN Stats & knowledge)
– Harry Kane has tied Steven Gerrard (21) for fifth-most targets in Champions League historic previous amongst English males.
– Son Heung-Min has 5 profession multigoal video games in Champions League play, however he has by no means had a hat trick inside the rivals.
Up subsequent
Tottenham Hotspur: Will host Everton
Eintracht Frankfurt: Bayer Leverkusen at dwelling on Saturday in Bundesliga movement earlier than a go to to Stuttgarter Kickers in a German Cup match on Tuesday.
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