Solanke Sends Spurs to Europa League Semi-Finals in Gritty Frankfurt Win
Tottenham Hotspur are marching on in Europe. A night of high stakes and high tension in Germany ended with Spurs digging deep to secure a vital 1-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, booking their place in the Europa League semi-finals with a 2-1 aggregate win. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t perfect. But it was exactly what Ange Postecoglou’s team needed—a performance of resilience, resolve, and real character.
The decisive moment came just before half-time, when Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos brought down James Maddison in the box. It was a clumsy, needless challenge that left the referee with no option. Up stepped Dominic Solanke, ice-cold, as he rolled his penalty straight down the middle to give Spurs the lead on the night and across the tie.
From there, it became a battle of endurance. The hosts, backed by a raucous crowd at the Deutsche Bank Park, pushed forward with intent, but Tottenham’s defense stood firm. Micky van de Ven’s pace and poise was vital, Rodrigo Bentancur was everywhere in midfield, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario—after recent criticism—pulled off a superb save to deny Fares Chaibi’s close-range header. It was the kind of grown-up, gutsy display Spurs fans have long yearned for in Europe.
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Ange Postecoglou came into this match under a fair bit of pressure. Just days earlier, Spurs had slumped to a 4-2 defeat against Wolves, sparking questions about their momentum and mental toughness. But this result—and more importantly, this performance—offered answers. Loud ones. While the critics may still linger, the Australian manager was clear post-match: “People like to mock and ridicule, but I won’t change. This group hasn’t lost belief, and I’m super proud of them.”
Now, Spurs look ahead to a semi-final clash with Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, who knocked out Lazio on penalties. It’s uncharted territory in recent years, and a huge opportunity for Tottenham to reach their first European final since that painful Champions League defeat to Liverpool in 2019.
While it wasn’t a display packed with attacking flair, it showcased everything the club’s been accused of lacking: discipline, unity, and backbone. Bentancur was arguably man of the match, dictating tempo and throwing himself into every challenge like the tie depended on it—which, frankly, it did.
For a team that’s gone 17 years without a trophy, this result keeps the dream alive. And maybe, just maybe, Postecoglou’s preseason prediction that he “always wins something in his second year” is starting to feel less like a soundbite and more like destiny.
One down, two to go. The road to Bilbao is open—and Spurs are still on it.
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