Son finds form at Hoffenheim to bring Europa League solace for Tottenham
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A bit more time enjoying Hoffenheim’s hospitality and all of Tottenham’s problems probably would have faded away. After all Christian Ilzer’s struggling side certainly seemed intent on doing everything in their power to ease Spurs back to good health here, displaying such incompetence in defence that it would be not wise to conclude that Ange Postecoglou is out of the woods just yet.
![[James Maddison celebrates scoring during the Europa League match between Hoffenheim and Tottenham]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/792b73fdc6076c765dafbc1fbaed52bac2fcd2b8/0_35_1922_1308/master/1922.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
What to make of a neurotic victory over the team sitting fourth from bottom in the Bundesliga? The positive for an injury-hit Spurs is that they were stylish at first, going up 2-0 with goals from James Maddison and Son Heung-min. They also saw off a fightback from Hoffenheim after half-time, Son sealing the points with a clinical strike, and were resilient enough to boost their chances of avoiding a two-legged playoff to reach the Europa League knockouts by surviving a nervy finale with four teenagers on the pitch at the end.
Equally the standard failings were on show at times, not least when Spurs’ momentum disappeared during the second half. Hoffenheim could have scored more than two and Postecoglou, who needs another win when Leicester visit in the Premier League on Sunday, would have faced more questions about his game management had an equaliser arrived.
There was a temptation to assume that Postecoglou would find some respite against opponents who, to quote their forward Andrej Kramaric, are enduring “one big shit season”. Not so fast, though. Hoffenheim might be in terrible form but Spurs could take nothing for granted given their injury problems. It is an absurd situation and, after travelling with only 13 first-team players, perhaps Postecoglou was making a point about the need for signings by leaving four seats spare on his bench.
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