Ange’s Tottenham rue missed chances in 1-1 first leg draw

Tottenham Hotspur had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in a lively first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, with Pedro Porro cancelling out the visitors’ early opener by Hugo Ekitike.

Eintracht took a sixth-minute lead through striker Ekitike, who slotted home from outside the box into the bottom right corner, before Porro levelled for Tottenham 20 minutes later, flicking the ball in with a smooth finish from close range.

For Tottenham, who are 14th in the Premier League with seven rounds to go in a largely disappointing domestic season, winning the competition is their only remaining pathway to European action next season.

Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min.Credit: Getty Images

Eintracht, the 2022 winners, are still well-placed to earn Champions League qualification via the Bundesliga standings where they are currently third, two points above fourth-placed Mainz.

The German side, playing in their first European quarter-final since lifting the trophy, took a quick lead after Ellyes Skhiri won a duel with James Maddison and immediately sent the ball out to the left flank.

From there, the well-positioned Ekitike dribbled his way up to the edge of the area before scoring low past Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Tottenham, aiming to reach the last four of a European competition for the first time since their run to the 2019 Champions League final, equalised in the 26th minute through defender Porro.

Dominic Solanke played Maddison into the box from the left and the midfielder set up Porro for a first-time finish.

Ekitike should have restored the lead for the visitors just before the interval when he struck low from the edge of the box but Vicario easily saved his weak shot.

Hugo Ekitike.Credit: Getty Images

Tottenham, who finished fourth in the league phase one point above Eintracht, continued to have more possession after the break and Lucas Bergvall came close to putting Tottenham in front with a stunning shot from a distance.

However, the Swedish midfielder hit the woodwork. Rodrigo Bentancur did the same two minutes later and Eintracht goalkeeper Kaua Santos denied Maddison from close range just before the hour mark.

Brennan Johnson misfired a great chance from near the penalty spot in the dying minutes.

The second leg will be played on April 17 and the winners will face either Lazio or Norway’s Bodo/Glimt for a spot in the final in Bilbao. Bodo won the first leg 2-0 earlier on Thursday.

The first bits of post-match Ange Postecoglou content are filtering through:

I guess a little bit frustrated by the result. I thought the performance in general was really, really good from the boys.

Obviously we conceded early which was disappointing and it was a fair strike from the lad.

We responded well... we hit the crossbar three times and on any other day we’re winning that game.

There’s no reason we can’t go there and play like that in the second leg.

Tottenham Hotspur had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in a lively first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, with Pedro Porro cancelling out the visitors’ early opener by Hugo Ekitike.

Eintracht took a sixth-minute lead through striker Ekitike, who slotted home from outside the box into the bottom right corner, before Porro levelled for Tottenham 20 minutes later, flicking the ball in with a smooth finish from close range.

For Tottenham, who are 14th in the Premier League with seven rounds to go in a largely disappointing domestic season, winning the competition is their only remaining pathway to European action next season.

Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min.Credit: Getty Images

Eintracht, the 2022 winners, are still well-placed to earn Champions League qualification via the Bundesliga standings where they are currently third, two points above fourth-placed Mainz.

The German side, playing in their first European quarter-final since lifting the trophy, took a quick lead after Ellyes Skhiri won a duel with James Maddison and immediately sent the ball out to the left flank.

From there, the well-positioned Ekitike dribbled his way up to the edge of the area before scoring low past Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Tottenham, aiming to reach the last four of a European competition for the first time since their run to the 2019 Champions League final, equalised in the 26th minute through defender Porro.

Dominic Solanke played Maddison into the box from the left and the midfielder set up Porro for a first-time finish.

Ekitike should have restored the lead for the visitors just before the interval when he struck low from the edge of the box but Vicario easily saved his weak shot.

Hugo Ekitike.Credit: Getty Images

Tottenham, who finished fourth in the league phase one point above Eintracht, continued to have more possession after the break and Lucas Bergvall came close to putting Tottenham in front with a stunning shot from a distance.

However, the Swedish midfielder hit the woodwork. Rodrigo Bentancur did the same two minutes later and Eintracht goalkeeper Kaua Santos denied Maddison from close range just before the hour mark.

Brennan Johnson misfired a great chance from near the penalty spot in the dying minutes.

The second leg will be played on April 17 and the winners will face either Lazio or Norway’s Bodo/Glimt for a spot in the final in Bilbao. Bodo won the first leg 2-0 earlier on Thursday.

And that is that. Spurs draw 1-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt at home. It’s all to play for in the second leg in Germany.

Tottenham will feel aggrieved by that. Aggrieved at themselves, sure, for not capitalising on the many, many chances they had in the second half. But aggrieved nonetheless.

Postecoglou’s future at the club may ride on this away leg. If Spurs play as they did in the second half, but convert their opportunities, they have nothing to fear.

Sarr draws a free kick and Elleyes Skhiri cops a yellow card for bringing him down.

So Spurs will have a set piece in a good position, not too far outside the box… Porro delivers… oh my god how did that miss?

Bentancur got the first header across goal, Micky van de Ven then met it with a glancing header just in front, it bounced… and then was tipped over by the goalkeeper. Corner, then!

Unsuccessful.

Luck is just not on their side here, Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt, 90+3 minutes

As Frankfurt ring the changes - all designed to drain the clock, of course - the fourth official signals that there will be just three minutes of added time. Is that enough for Spurs to find the winner they so clearly deserve?

Ange Postecoglou, manager of Tottenham Hotspur.Credit: Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt, 90+1 minutes

Solanke is off. Richarlison, now fit again, is on. Only a couple of minutes left.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt, 89 minutes

They’re not happy, the home side, after another ball that flashed across goal was seemingly prodded out by Arthur Theate. It looked like a corner but wasn’t given– and Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel, the two players on either end of that action, are not happy. The latter goes into the book for dissent.

Frankfurt’s Arthur Theate, centre, clears the ball before Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson, background, can reach it.Credit: AP

How much will Spurs rue all of these nearly moments?

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt, 86 minutes

Deary me … Spence has just pulled a perfect cutback for Brennan Johnson, who was unmarked near the penalty spot … and he’s skied it.

Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Kaua Santos watches a shot from Tottenham’s Pedro Porro hit the bar.Credit: AP

Postecoglou is furious.

Spurs should be at least one, maybe two goals up right now. Or more.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt, 82 minutes

Speaking of changes… here they are.

Djed Spence, Pape Matar Sarr and Mathys Tel are coming on. Destiny Udogie, James Maddison and Son Heung-min are done for the night.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt, 79 minutes