Tottenham 3-2 Eintracht Frankfurt: Son scores twice as Spurs hold on to win - BBC Sport
Champions League - Group D
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur3FrankfurtEintracht Frankfurt2

Tottenham 3-2 Eintracht Frankfurt: Son scores twice as Spurs hold on to win

By Emma SandersBBC Sport
Tottenham 3-2 Frankfurt: We now have the group in our hands - Conte

Son Heung-min scored twice as Tottenham beat 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt to move top of Champions League Group D.

Frankfurt took an early lead when Eric Dier lost possession and Daichi Kamada was teed up to score from close range but Harry Kane set up Son for the equaliser six minutes later.

England captain Kane then scored from the penalty spot and Son's thumping volley made it 3-1 before half-time.

Frankfurt's Tuta was shown a second yellow card for bringing Son down early in the second half but Faride Alidou's header made it 3-2 with three minutes remaining to make for a nervous ending for Spurs.

Kane missed a second penalty in stoppage time but Tottenham held on for a deserved win.

Tottenham looked back to their best at times and could have won by a greater margin, but sloppy mistakes kept Frankfurt in the game.

The visitors largely struggled to deal with Spurs' attack but goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was forced to tip over an effort by Jesper Lindstrom and there was some desperate defending as Frankfurt had chances late on.

Antonio Conte's hosts threatened throughout with Son, Ryan Sessegnon, Richarlison and Cristian Romero among those to come close.

It was a frantic finale but victory means Tottenham sit top of the group with two wins from four matches, while Frankfurt drop to the bottom of the table with four points.

Tottenham next host Sporting Lisbon on 26 October.

Spurs' attack in potent mood

Son Heung-min scores for Tottenham
Son Heung-min scored his fifth Champions League brace

Frankfurt dominated early on and pressed and harried Spurs, leading to a mistake from Dier and the opening goal from Kamada, who had already come close when just failing to connect with Lindstrom's curling cross.

But it did not take long for Tottenham to capitalise on the gaping spaces left in behind by Frankfurt.

Kane and Son were on form, linking up fluently and causing havoc as Richarlison worked tirelessly to create space for his team-mates to run into.

The efficiency of Spurs' attacking line-up was too much for Frankfurt and it was only a matter of time before the hosts turned things around.

Kane won and converted a penalty when he was bundled over in the box by Kristijan Jakic less than 10 minutes after he had set up Son for the equaliser.

Son, who came off to a standing ovation, capped off a superb performance with a thumping volley before half-time.

Kane and Son have now linked up 50 times to score for Tottenham in all competitions and Richarlison's addition to the squad has added further attacking threat.

The Brazilian almost set up Sessegnon with a brilliant curling cross early in the second half and was unfortunate not to score when he headed inches wide in the opening period.

Tottenham should have finished with a comfortable victory but the late header from Alidou gave way a wild few minutes as Spurs substitute Bryan Gil missed a diving header, was then fouled in the box to earn a penalty and Kane uncharacteristically fired it over the bar.

The crowd roared with urgency as Tottenham threw bodies in front of the ball to block a late onslaught from the visitors but they hung on to claim victory.

It was a positive night for Tottenham overall as they also welcomed the return of Lucas Moura, who came on as a substitute for his first appearance since August due to injury.

Line-ups

Tottenham

Formation 3-4-3

  • 1Lloris
  • 17Romero
  • 15DierBooked at 12minsSubstituted forD Sánchezat 78'minutes
  • 34Lenglet
  • 12Emerson Royal
  • 30BentancurBooked at 40minsSubstituted forBissoumaat 67'minutes
  • 5HøjbjergSubstituted forGilat 85'minutes
  • 19R SessegnonBooked at 84mins
  • 9RicharlisonSubstituted forSkippat 67'minutes
  • 10Kane
  • 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 86'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Doherty
  • 4Skipp
  • 6D Sánchez
  • 11Gil
  • 14Perisic
  • 20Forster
  • 24Spence
  • 27Lucas Moura
  • 29Sarr
  • 33Davies
  • 38Bissouma
  • 42White

Frankfurt

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1Trapp
  • 35Silva MeloBooked at 59mins
  • 20HasebeBooked at 60minsSubstituted forEbimbeat 69'minutes
  • 2Ndicka
  • 6Jakic
  • 17RodeSubstituted forSmolcicat 69'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 8Sow
  • 25LenzSubstituted forAlidouat 70'minutes
  • 29Lindstrøm
  • 15KamadaSubstituted forGötzeat 78'minutes
  • 9Kolo MuaniSubstituted forBorréat 69'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Smolcic
  • 11Alidou
  • 19Borré
  • 21Alario
  • 22Chandler
  • 26Ebimbe
  • 27Götze
  • 31Grahl
  • 40Ramaj
Referee:
Carlos del Cerro Grande
Attendance:
55,180

Match Stats

Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamFrankfurt
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home11
Away11
Shots on Target
Home8
Away6
Corners
Home5
Away4
Fouls
Home13
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Eintracht Frankfurt 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Eintracht Frankfurt 2.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Faride Alidou (Eintracht Frankfurt) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

  4. Post update

    Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Davinson Sánchez tries a through ball, but Lucas Moura is caught offside.

  5. Post update

    Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot is too high. Harry Kane should be disappointed.

  6. Booking

    Hrvoje Smolcic (Eintracht Frankfurt) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  7. Post update

    Penalty Tottenham Hotspur. Bryan Gil draws a foul in the penalty area.

  8. Post update

    Penalty conceded by Hrvoje Smolcic (Eintracht Frankfurt) after a foul in the penalty area.

  9. Goal!

    Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 3, Eintracht Frankfurt 2. Faride Alidou (Eintracht Frankfurt) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mario Götze with a cross following a corner.

  10. Post update

    Corner, Eintracht Frankfurt. Conceded by Hugo Lloris.

  11. Post update

    Attempt saved. Rafael Borré (Eintracht Frankfurt) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Faride Alidou.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Lucas Moura replaces Son Heung-Min.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Bryan Gil replaces Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur).

  15. Post update

    Rafael Borré (Eintracht Frankfurt) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Booking

    Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur).

  18. Post update

    Éric Ebimbe (Eintracht Frankfurt) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  19. Post update

    Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt).

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