Tottenham hang on for much-needed away win over Hoffenheim

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Postecoglou: Even my translator is injured

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou jokes that even his translator is injured after he started coughing answering one of the questions during his press conference.

Updated: Jan 23, 2025, 03:48 pm

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-Min scored in each half to earn his side a 3-2 victory at Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday.

The win strengthened Tottenham's chances of finishing in the top eight of the league, as they sit fourth with 14 points ahead of the final round of matches.

Spurs midfielder James Maddison opened the scoring in the third minute with a deft finish from a long pass and Son doubled the lead after 22 minutes.

Hoffenheim gradually worked their way back into the match, with Andrej Kramaric going close when his header struck the top of the crossbar.

The German side were awarded a penalty just after the hour mark when Spurs keeper Brandon Austin received a yellow card for colliding with a Hoffenheim player. The referee checked VAR, however, and rescinded both the card and the penalty.

Tottenham Hotspur's win over Hoffenheim leaves them in a strong position to finish in the automatic qualification places for the Europa League's round of 16.
Uwe Anspach/picture alliance via Getty Images

The hosts' efforts paid off in the 68th minute when Anton Stach connected with a cross from a counter-attack and slid the ball home.

Son restored Spurs' two-goal lead with a low shot from an acute angle in the 77th minute before Hoffenheim's David Mokwa headed in a cross from Kramaric four minutes from time to give his side hope.

Elsewhere, a late goal from Troy Parrott gave AZ Alkmaar an important 1-0 home win over Roma and Olympiacos earned a 1-0 victory at Porto thanks to a late goal from Ayoub El Kaabi.

Fenerbahce and Lyon played out an intense goalless draw in Istanbul, leaving the French side in a strong position before the final round in third place in the group with 14 points.