Tottenham withstood a late barrage from German side Frankfurt to move top of their Champions League group with a 3-2 win in north London, leaving them just one win away from qualification to the knockout stages.
Frankfurt took the lead when a poor error from Eric Dier allowed Daichi Kamada to slot past Hugo Lloris, but were pegged back just minutes later as Harry Kane teed up Heung-Min Son, before Tottenham’s star duo added another each to hand their side a comfortable 3-1`lead heading into the break.
Can you catch that any sweeter?! 💥
Son Heung-min with an absolute THUNDERBOLT! ⚡️#UCL pic.twitter.com/YJbsfrFHrM
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 12, 2022
Things should have got easier on the hour mark too as Tuta was shown a second yellow card for hauling down Son, but Spurs failed to capitalise and a header from Faride Alidou just minutes from time set up a nervy end to the game. Despite Kane missing from the spot, Antonio Conte’s side just about saw it through, and are now just one win away from qualification.
Here’s how 101 rated the two sides.
📰 Table Of Contents
Tottenham Player Ratings
GK: Hugo Lloris (7) – Made a good late save to stop Frankfurt snatching a point and could not do anything about either goal.
RCB: Cristian Romero (7) – Tottenham’s best defender continued to prove it with another strong performance on the right side of defence.
LCB: Clément Lenglet (6) – The only Barcelona player likely to be making the knockout stages, Lenglet is growing into his role at Tottenham and put in another solid display.
RWB: Emerson Royal (4) – Looked well out of his depth and is beginning to look more like last season’s error-prone defender than this season’s improved offering.
CM: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (8) – Grabbed an assist in an all-round top display from the Danish midfielder. Tottenham struggled after he was taken off.
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur (6.5) – Not his best work for Spurs but still remained a credible contributor during phases of play in a midfield partnership that continues to impress.
LWB: Ryan Sessegnon (5.5) – Still flatters to deceive in a Tottenham shirt, and is showing little sign of displacing Perisic for the biggest occasions.
RAM: Richarlison (7) – One of his better performances for Spurs when selected alongside Kane and Son, who he remains inconsistent with as an attacking triumvirate. Should have had an assist if not for Trapp robbing Sessegnon at close range.
LAM: Son Heung-min (8) – Grabbed two goals and rekindled his telepathic relationship with Kane in a strong outing.
CF: Harry Kane (7) – Blazed a penalty over the bar but was otherwise arguably Tottenham’s best player on the night.
Sub: Yves Bissouma (5) – Continues to look out of place in Tottenham’s midfield.
Sub: Oliver Skipp (4.5) – Looked well off the pace, but is slowly making his way back. Valuable minutes though it almost cost Spurs the game.
Sub: Davinson Sánchez (5) – Came on for Dier, who was on a yellow card. Looked solid enough and withstood late pressure.
Sub: Bryan Gil (6) –Made things happen, but contributed to the chaos towards the end. Unclear if he is a Conte-style player yet.
Sub: Lucas Moura (N/A) – A welcome return for the Brazilian as he played the final five minutes.
Eintracht Frankfurt Player Ratings
GK: Kevin Trapp (7)- Made some big saves to keep his side in the game. Could do nothing about the goals.
RCB: Tuta (5) – A frustrating night for the Brazilian who saw two yellows in quick succession before being sent off in the second half on the back of a difficult night in defence
CB: Makoto Hasebe (5.5) – Struggled along with the rest of his defence, and picked up a booking for his troubles. Hooked after 70 minutes.
LCB: Evan N’Dicka (5) – Struggled to deal with the Tottenham frontline and will certainly have better outings.
RWB: Kristijan Jakić (5) – Chopped down Harry Kane to hand Spurs a penalty in the first half, and had difficulties throughout.
CM: Sebastian Rode (6)- Showed great composure to lay the ball on a plate for Kamada to open the scoring. Kept things tight in midfield.
CM: Djibril Sow (6) – Helped Rode keep things tight for the most part in midfield, and was industrious without being game-changing.
LWB: Christopher Lenz (5) – Had difficulties defensively against Richarlison but looked something of a threat in attack.
RAM: Jesper Lindstrøm (7) – Looked lively and was full of running.
LAM: Daichi Kamada (7) – Continues to haunt north London sides, but faded as the game went on and had to be replaced.
CF: Kolo Muani (6) – The youngster looked bright and led the line well for the visitors.
Sub: Rafael Borré (5) – Offered fresh legs but little more as his side were chasing the game
Sub: Eric-junior Dina Ebimbe (6) – Was not as tidy in possession or as potent going forwards as Rode, who he replaced, but nonetheless did a decent job in midfield.
Sub: Hrvoje Smolčić (4.5) – Gave away a penalty and looked a little at sea against the Tottenham attack.
Sub: Faride Alidou (7) – Got the goal that sparked panic at both ends, and will feel as though he did his job well when coming on.
Sub: Mario Götze (6) – Grabbed an assist as he helped get his side back into the game, but did little else of note.
Expert Takes
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 12, 2022
Tonight, we will pay tribute to John Duncan and Gian Piero Ventrone.
Both sides will wear black armbands, with a minute’s silence to be held ahead of kick-off 💙 pic.twitter.com/6g8LKSY8bx
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 12, 2022
Tottenham go back to the 3-4-3 for the Eintracht Frankfurt game tonight. Kane/Son/Richarlison the front three. Emerson and Lenglet also back into the team.
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) October 12, 2022
Three changes from Conte, can that front three of Richarlison, Son and Kane convincingly click? It hasn’t really all that often so far. pic.twitter.com/6zCyd3Yhvd
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) October 12, 2022
Heung-Min Son’s first half by numbers vs. Eintracht Frankfurt:
86% pass accuracy
4 shots on target
2 ground duels won
2 dribbles completed
2 goalsA couple of beautiful finishes. ✨ pic.twitter.com/2mpcGgTf69
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 12, 2022
13 games
9 goals
2 assistsHarry Kane is delivering for @SpursOfficial again this season 👏 #UCL pic.twitter.com/W58mK5OSAi
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 12, 2022
Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have now assisted one another to score 50 times for Tottenham in all competitions. #THFC
[@OptaJoe] pic.twitter.com/sM50PTvfPd
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) October 12, 2022
Half-time. Spurs rampant after a sloppy start. Son looking electrifying again #THFC
— Jonathan Veal (@jonathandveal83) October 12, 2022
HT | Tottenham 3-1 Frankfurt – Frankfurt started brightly and got themselves ahead through Kamada but have been outplayed since then. Poor defending has given Son and Kane far too much time who have punished Frankfurt.
— Get German Football News (@GGFN_) October 12, 2022
Fan Reactions
Højbjerg and Bentancur, the definition of underrated.
Performs at such a high level week in and week out, they deserve more respect pic.twitter.com/tHyHnZuNbN
— 🇸🇪 (@axelthfc) October 12, 2022
50 goal combinations for Spurs. 😍 pic.twitter.com/yHpxDvPAAg
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) October 12, 2022
Nobody: 👇🏾
Manchester United waiting to welcome Liverpool, Tottenham and Barcelona to the Europa League pic.twitter.com/56o9SL9lrL— Kofi Denzel 14🇬🇭🇺🇸 (@StvrDenzel) October 12, 2022
Nobody: 👇🏾
Manchester United waiting to welcome Liverpool, Tottenham and Barcelona to the Europa League pic.twitter.com/56o9SL9lrL— Kofi Denzel 14🇬🇭🇺🇸 (@StvrDenzel) October 12, 2022
World. Class.
If you doubt him, he comes back stronger. Ladies and gentlemen, Son Heung-Min 🔥
— Jason (Hanshin) Lee (@Jasons_JaysHub) October 12, 2022
