Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham: Son Heung-min strikes twice as Spurs cling on to boost Europa League automatic qualifying hopes
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Ange Postecoglou blew out his cheeks as he removed his gloves with a visible air of relief as his depleted team staggered across the victory line. On the pitch, there were players in lilywhite collapsing to the turf and stretching out tired muscles. Utterly exhausted and with nerves shredded. They had finished the game with five teenagers on the pitch and they had lived dangerously against a very ordinary Hoffenheim team.
![[The captain proved clinical to help a depleted Tottenham side boost their qualification hopes]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/19/94449029-14318643-image-a-2_1737660358039.jpg)
And yet they won and that seemed to be all that mattered in the circumstances. It is a win that might prove restorative in the weeks ahead if it buys them time off. If Spurs arrived in terrible form then Hoffenheim’s was no better. The two teams came into the game with the same miserable record of three wins in 15 games. Both are wallowing in 15th in their national leagues.
![[Ange Postecoglou's side staggered over the line but the result could be key for their season]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/19/94449063-14318643-image-a-3_1737660417987.jpg)
“One s*** season” as Hoffenheim’s former striker Andrej Kramaric put it recently. Tottenham might say the same although cup football offers hope and particularly this one with the prize of a Champions League place for the winners. If Spurs are to salvage their season, they really could do with finishing in the top eight and swerving the playoff round during a time when some of their injured players are expected to return.
Son Heung-min scored twice as Tottenham earned a narrow 3-2 victory in the Europa League. The captain proved clinical to help a depleted Tottenham side boost their qualification hopes. Ange Postecoglou's side staggered over the line but the result could be key for their season.
