Son brace sends Spurs past Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim’s hopes of progressing to the next stage of the Europa League were dealt a blow as Christian Ilzer’s side lost to Tottenham.

After ending a nine-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over Holstein Kiel at the weekend, TSG Hoffenheim were looking for another positive result when they welcomed Tottenham to the PreZero Arena in the Europa League on Thursday night. However, Christian Ilzer’s side were beaten 3-2 by the London side. 

Tottenham took an early lead three minutes into the game when James Maddison fired past Oliver Baumann after controlling Pedro Porro’s lofted ball. 

And Maddison was involved again on 22 minutes, this time setting up Son Heung-min to make it 2-0. 

While Hoffenheim were on the back foot in the first half, they created some good chances themselves, but failed to take advantage of them, with Max Moerstedt and Tom Bischof both going close.

Anton Stach threw Hoffenheim a lifeline when he pulled one back in the 68th minute, but Tottenham hit back when Son scored his second of the night in the 77th minute to make it 3-1.

Youngster David Mokwa Ntusu made it 2-3 late on, but it wasn’t enough for the Bundesliga outfit.

The defeat leaves Hoffenheim outside the play-off spots, and their chances of going through to the knockout stages now look slim, with only a game against Anderlecht remaining in the league phase for Christian Ilzer’s side.