Tottenham 1 Eintracht Frankfurt 1 (Porro 26′ | Ekitike 6′)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM — “I’m resigned to the fact that the football gods have got their eyes elsewhere this year,” complained Ange Postecoglou afterwards.
“They are obviously listening to other clubs and other managers so we will have to do without them.”
If Tottenham do succeed in ending a trophy drought dating back to 2008 in the next few weeks they will certainly have done it the hard way.
Postecoglou saw his side go a goal down early on in this Europa League quarter-final first leg but recovered to level before half an hour was on the clock, thanks to Pedro Porro’s clever flick.
The second half belonged to the hosts but despite fashioning plenty of chances Frankfurt’s stand-in goalkeeper Kaua Santos refused to be beaten again, although twice he required the crossbar to make sure first Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur were kept out.
Oh my word Kauã Santos
The Frankfurt keeper DENIES van de Ven a Spurs winner right at the death!
@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/nqE8ZtqG3o
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 10, 2025
In a season of flaky inconsistency this had been a proper performance, especially in those final 45 minutes. All that was lacking was the goal Postecoglou was convinced his side deserved.
“If we repeat that performance, I definitely think we’d give ourselves a chance,” the Australian said.
“I don’t expect the second game to be too open either. I think it’ll be a cagey affair.
“It’ll come down to moments. I just think if we repeat those moments next week, one of them will drop for us. And we’ll get what we need.”
James Maddison had a moment, in the sixth minute, and one he will try hard to forget. He was far too easily divested of possession by Ellyes Skhiri, who immediately swept the ball out to Hugo Ekitike on the left.
Frankfurt’s top-scorer cut inside to evade Porro and plant a low drive into the far corner before wheeling away to celebrate his 20th goal of the campaign in all competitions.
Maddison and Spurs as a whole refused to wilt and their bright football was rewarded by a 26th-minute equaliser that saw the England discard claim an assist.
Maddison swept past Skhiri before cutting the ball back from the by-line for Porro to send the cheekiest of back-flicks beyond Santos with the inside of his left boot.
The Spaniard celebrated by sticking a thumb in his mouth and the ball up his shirt; Porro had revealed last month partner Maria was expecting a baby boy.
It was startling to see a right-back suddenly pop up as a centre-forward but it was also a massive mood-changer.
“It was something we work on,” Postecoglou explained. “It was an outstanding finish and a well-worked goal. One that we deserved.”
Santos, in for injured first-choice Kevin Trapp, saved his most important intervention for last. Micky van de Ven’s header somehow came off his own boot but it would still have gone in had Santos not reacted so swiftly to paw away.
Frankfurt were clearly happy with the draw and celebrated with some post-match bouncing in front of their noisy fans. Perhaps that might attract the attention of the gods of football after all. Everyone knows they love a bit of hubris – and Big Ange probably deserves a break or two right now.
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