A bit more time enjoying Hoffenheim’s hospitality and all of Tottenham’s problems probably would have faded away. After all Christian Ilzer’s clumsy side certainly seemed intent on doing everything in their power to ease Spurs back to good health here, defending so meekly that it would be wise not to conclude that Ange Postecoglou is out of the woods yet.
What to make of a topsy-turvy 3-2 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, cruising into a 2-0 lead with goals from the outstanding duo of James Maddison and Son Heung-min. They also saw off a fightback from Hoffenheim after half-time, Son securing the points, and were resilient enough to boost their chances of avoiding the hassle of a two-legged playoff for a place in the Europa League knockouts by surviving a nervy finale with five teenagers on at the end.
Hoffenheim v Tottenham Hotspur: Europa League – live
Equally, typical failings flared at times, not least when Spurs lost momentum during the second half. Postecoglou would have faced more searching questions had Hoffenehim equalised.
Instead the manager could talk up Son, praising the captain for standing up to be counted after being barracked by supporters after the defeat at Everton. As ever Spurs were raw. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, both 18, excelled from the start and were joined by more academy products when Will Lankshear, Mikey Moore and Callum Olusesi came on in the second half.
“It should not be dismissed that I had five teenagers on,” Postecoglou said. “It is pretty much unheard of in an important game. I could not speak highly enough of the players carrying us through. They will get some help hopefully soon with players coming back. We are in a good position in Europe. Get to the knockout rounds, get our players back and we will back ourselves against anyone.”
It was easy to assume that Postecoglou would find respite against opponents who, to quote their forward Andrej Kramaric, are enduring “one big shit season”. Not so fast, though. Hoffenheim might be terrible but Spurs’ injury problems are absurd. Postecoglou had 13 first-team players available and was perhaps emphasising the need for signings by leaving four seats spare on his bench.
Still, there was enough quality in Spurs’ starting XI. So it proved when Pedro Porro clipped a lovely ball over the top in the third minute, sending Maddison through to clip a shot over Oliver Baumann.
James Maddison celebrates scoring Tottenham’s first goal in the third minute. Photograph: PA Wire/PA
Spurs had already threatened through Richarlison, starting for the first time in the competition since October, and the goal filled them with confidence. Maddison was strutting around midfield, confounding Hoffenheim. Their defensive line was high, disorganised and vulnerable because of a lack of pressing in midfield. Spurs could have been 3-0 inside 15 minutes.
The need for a cushion was summed up when a poor clearance from Ben Davies gave Tom Bischof a chance in the 33rd minute. Brandon Austin, starting with Antonin Kinsky ineligible, did well to save. Austin also denied Max Moerstedt while Radu Dragusin made a vital block on Finn Ole Becker after a mistake by Rodrigo Bentancur.
Spurs eased off after going 2-0 up in the 22nd minute. Perhaps they were lulled into a false sense of security by Hoffenheim’s ineptitude. It was embarrassing when Maddison pounced on a mix-up and released Son, whose shot looped in thanks to a deflection off Pavel Kaderabek. For Hoffenheim, there was relief at Davies and Bergvall not converting chances for 3-0.
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The contest was still alive and Hoffenheim focused more attacks down the right in the second half. Gray, filling in at left-back with Destiny Udogie injured and Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilón unregistered, had his hands full. Kramaric headed against the bar.
Spurs had lost their out-ball when Richarlison went off. They enjoyed a reprieve when Morten Krogh overturned his decision to award a penalty for Austin’s challenge on Moerstedt, but a goal was coming. It was game on when Kramaric combined with David Jurasek and the left-back crossed for Anton Stach to score.
Instead of collapsing, Spurs regained their composure. They were in the clear again when Dejan Kulusevski dispossessed Stanley Nsoki and found Son, who swerved to the left before flashing a fine shot across Baumann.
It proved a vital goal given that there was time for the substitute David Mokwa to head in a second for Hoffenheim. Spurs, who move into the top eight before hosting Elfsborg in their final game of the league phase next week, still complicated matters.
