Tottenham player ratings vs Hoffenheim: Justice for Brandon Austin as Heung-min Son decisive
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Tottenham took a significant step towards the Europa League knockouts with a tense 3-2 win over Hoffenheim, settled by Heung-min Son's double. Ange Postecoglou was missing no fewer than 14 players in Germany but Spurs still had plenty of quality in the XI and James Maddison finished superbly to put them ahead after just three minutes.
![[Heung-min Son celebrates after scoring for Tottenham against Hoffenehim]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/23/19/33/SEI237084310.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
Son's deflected strike made it 2-0 as Spurs threatened to run riot in the first half but they faced intense pressure either side of the interval, with Antonin Stach deservedly pulling a goal back just after the hour. Son fired a trademark finish into the corner to restore Spurs' two-goal lead but David Mokwa headed home late on to set up a nervy finale.
Here's how we rated the Spurs players... Brandon Austin 7. Assured on his European debut, making a smart one-handed save to deny Tom Bischof and maintain Spurs' two-goal lead in the first half. Justice was done when the referee overturned a dreadful penalty call against the goalkeeper.
Pedro Porro 7. Made the opening goal with a superb raking pass for Maddison but could not get back to prevent Hoffenheim's first goal and left isolated against Mokwa for their late consolation. Radu Dragusin 5. Made a crucial block towards the end of the first half but part of a shaky back line, which was lucky to only concede twice.
