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Anyone thinking that Tottenham’s players have thrown in the towel under Ange Postecoglou should take a closer look at James Maddison, who bravely put himself on the line in Frankfurt.
The England international likely braced himself for a significant challenge from goalkeeper Kaua Santos as he jumped to make contact with a long ball just before the end of the first half.
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In the end, Maddison’s audacious effort paid off, as he won a pivotal penalty that Dominic Solanke successfully converted.
Despite experiencing pain that led to his substitution shortly after, Maddison’s brave act set the foundation for a significant victory for Spurs last night (THU), keeping their hopes of progress in the Europa League alive—and possibly securing Postecoglou’s future.
There was a real threat that if Spurs stumbled in Germany, the Aussie coach might face dismissal soon after.
Exiting the Europa League would have marked a bleak conclusion to a season devoid of trophies and a worrying Premier League position, with Spurs languishing at 15th following 17 defeats.
This match was indeed a make-or-break opportunity – and thankfully, Postecoglou’s squad responded with a focused and resilient performance at a crucial juncture.
Leading up to this encounter, besides speculations regarding Postecoglou’s job security, there was concern over how his players would handle the challenging atmosphere at Deutsche Bank Park.
Eintracht’s fervent fans certainly created an electrifying environment throughout the match.
A pre-match banner proclaimed, “the Eagles are on the hunt.”
One of Eintracht’s most menacing players, Arsenal target Hugo Ekitike, was eager to make an impact right from the start.
The in-form forward, who netted a stunning goal in the first leg’s 1-1 draw, sprinted forward to chase an early long ball.
However, Spurs boasted the speediest player ever recorded in the Premier League, Micky van de Ven, who made a remarkable retrieval with a last-ditch tackle, even colliding painfully with his own goalkeeper in the process.
This was a fortunate escape for Postecoglou’s side, further buoyed when World Cup-final hero Mario Gotze was forced to leave the match due to a hamstring issue in the 17th minute.
Despite the relentless noise from the fans amidst the pouring rain in Frankfurt, Spurs expertly navigated through the storm on the pitch.
Breaking from their typical style associated with Postecoglou, they exhibited a composed, mature approach, voluntarily slowing down the game and reducing risks.
Mathys Tel provided the first glimpse of promise for the visitors with an impressive shot aimed at the far corner, which Santos managed to deflect wide.
While the Brazilian’s save was commendable, what followed was indisputably reckless.
Maddison had just connected with a flick on Cristian Romero’s long pass when he was taken out by the towering Santos.
Surprisingly, referee Davide Massa didn’t award a penalty right away, which ignited frustration on the Spurs bench, particularly from substitute Richarlison.
However, the Italian revisited the decision after consulting the pitchside monitor and subsequently penalized Santos.
Although Tel, who had successfully converted a penalty against Southampton earlier this month, initially took the spot-kick, he ultimately passed it to Solanke.
The England forward was under pressure having gone 11 games without scoring, making Spurs fans understandably nervous as he readied for his run-up.
There was no need for concern, as Solanke calmly slotted the shot past Santos, giving Spurs the lead.
Maddison appeared dazed from the collision, holding his hip.
Though he attempted to carry on, he soon succumbed to the pain, exchanging a moment with Postecoglou before making way for Dejan Kulusevski.
Tempers flared both in the stands and on the pitch.
A late challenge from Brennan Johnson on Nathaniel Brown sparked a confrontation, leading Johnson to receive a booking while Jan Fiesser, an assistant to Frankfurt’s coach Dino Toppmoller, was dismissed.
Spurs had passed their first-half examination with great success but were well aware of the daunting tasks awaiting them after the break.
Any mistake could unravel their hard work, and they breathed a sigh of relief when a superb free-kick from Gotze’s substitute, Fares Chaibi, narrowly missed the target.
Cristian Romero then came agonizingly close to securing a vital second goal with a header from a corner delivered by Pedro Porro, which drifted just wide.
Rodrigo Bentancur was also near to finding the net, as another Porro corner raised the stakes significantly.
The match hung in the balance precariously, and Spurs would have been vulnerable if not for a stunning save from Guglielmo Vicario to deny Chaibi, followed by Rasmus Kristensen’s header that inexplicably went wide.
Ex-Leeds player Kristensen could only bury his head in disappointment as he failed to convert from close range.
This was a narrow escape, one that Postecoglou’s players earned through their bodies-on-the-line performance, showcasing their support for their beleaguered manager.
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