Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham: Son’s Heroics Edge Spurs Closer to Europa League Last 16

Tottenham Hotspur secured a crucial 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim on Thursday night, placing them one step closer to automatic qualification for the Europa League last 16. A dominant first-half display and Son Heung-min’s brilliance were key to the win, but Hoffenheim fought hard in an action-packed second half.

A Flying Start for Tottenham

Tottenham started the game in emphatic fashion. Within the first five minutes, Pedro Porro delivered a pinpoint long pass to James Maddison, who controlled it masterfully before calmly finishing to make it 1-0.

The second goal came soon after, and luck was on Spurs’ side. Maddison’s deflected through-ball found Son Heung-min, whose shot also took a deflection to loop over Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, giving Spurs a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime.

Brandon Austin’s excellent save later in the first half kept the scoreline intact, denying Hoffenheim a way back into the game before the break.

Hoffenheim’s Second-Half Comeback Efforts

Hoffenheim came out stronger in the second half. Ex-Leicester City striker Andrej Kramaric rattled the crossbar, and the home side’s pressure nearly paid off when VAR overturned a penalty decision that could have changed the momentum.

Anton Stach eventually pulled one back for Hoffenheim, injecting life into the match. However, Spurs captain Son Heung-min responded with a crucial third goal for Tottenham. After a dazzling stepover, Son fired a low shot across the goalkeeper, effectively sealing the game.

Despite substitute David Mokwa scoring late on to make it 3-2, Spurs held on for a vital victory.

Player Ratings

Hoffenheim Player Ratings (4-4-2)

• Oliver Baumann (Goalkeeper): 6.1/10 – Conceded three goals but made a few decent saves.
• Pavel Kaderabek (Right-Back): 6.3/10 – Worked hard on the flank but struggled defensively.
• Kevin Akpoguma (Centre-Back): 5.2/10 – Failed to deal with Tottenham’s attacking threats.
• Stanley N’Soki (Centre-Back): 6.8/10 – Made a few vital interceptions but couldn’t prevent the goals.
• David Jurasek (Left-Back): 6.5/10 – Energetic but lacked composure in key moments.
• Adam Hlozek (Right-Midfield): 6.3/10 – Tried to create chances but was largely ineffective.
• Anton Stach (Central Midfield): 8.0/10 – Hoffenheim’s best player, scoring a crucial goal.
• Finn Becker (Central Midfield): 7.3/10 – Controlled the midfield and distributed the ball well.
• Tom Bischof (Left-Midfield): 6.9/10 – Worked hard but lacked end product.
• Andrej Kramaric (Striker): 7.3/10 – Dangerous throughout and unlucky not to score.
• Max Moerstedt (Striker): 6.4/10 – Struggled to make an impact against Tottenham’s defense.

Substitutes:

• David Mokwa (78′ for Stach): 7.2/10 – Scored Hoffenheim’s second goal and brought energy.
• Arthur Chaves (80′ for Bischof): 6.5/10 – Provided defensive stability.
• Florian Micheler (81′ for Hlozek): N/A – Came on too late to make an impact.

Tottenham Player Ratings (4-3-3)

• Brandon Austin (Goalkeeper): 7.7/10 – Made a critical first-half save and stayed composed under pressure.
• Pedro Porro (Right-Back): 7.4/10 – Delivered a fantastic assist for the opening goal.
• Radu Dragusin (Centre-Back): 6.8/10 – Solid but had some shaky moments.
• Ben Davies (Centre-Back): 7.4/10 – Reliable performance, making crucial blocks.
• Archie Gray (Left-Back): 6.9/10 – Energetic on the left flank, both defensively and offensively.
• Lucas Bergvall (Midfield): 7.4/10 – Controlled the tempo in midfield.
• Rodrigo Bentancur (Midfield): 8.1/10 – Dominated the midfield and was key in transitions.
• James Maddison (Midfield): 8.7/10 – Scored the opener and assisted Son’s first goal.
• Dejan Kulusevski (Right-Wing): 6.8/10 – Worked hard but lacked the final product.
• Richarlison (Striker): 6.6/10 – Struggled to impose himself before being subbed off.
• Son Heung-min (Left-Wing, Captain): 8.9/10 – Scored twice and led by example with a captain’s performance.

Substitutes:

• Mikey Moore (56′ for Richarlison): 6.7/10 – Showed glimpses of promise.
• Will Lankshear (79′ for Son): 6.2/10 – Worked hard to help see out the win.
• Callum Olusesi (89′ for Maddison): N/A – Came on too late to be rated.

Match Statistics

• Goals: Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham
• Possession: Hoffenheim 48% – 52% Tottenham
• Shots on Target: Hoffenheim 6 – 7 Tottenham
• Total Shots: Hoffenheim 13 – 10 Tottenham
• Corners: Hoffenheim 4 – 5 Tottenham
• Fouls: Hoffenheim 10 – 8 Tottenham

Player of the Match

Son Heung-min – His two goals proved decisive, and his leadership on the pitch was unmatched.

Your Thoughts Matter!
What did you think of Son Heung-min’s performance? Do you think Tottenham can go all the way in the Europa League this season? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion!