Tottenham vs Eintracht Frankfurt LIVE: Pedro Porro cancels out Hugo Ekitike opener in entertaining Europa League draw
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt: Hosts rue missed chances but showed fight and spirit that has been missing
Tottenham drew 1-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt in an entertaining, chaotic first leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash on Thursday evening.
It was a sloppy start by Spurs as Frankfurt turned the ball over in midfield and star striker Ekitike sprinted away to slot in a beautiful finish by Vicario in just the sixth minute.
But Pedro Porro scored a brilliant equaliser from a James Maddison cutback, flicking in an inventive backheel just before the half-hour mark.
Visiting keeper Kaua Santos was the hero of the night, making multiple saves in the second half, with the Bundesliga side clinging on for a draw despite waves of Spurs pressure late on, while Frankfurt continued to threaten on the break in a frantic, end-to-end encounter.
With pressure mounting on manager Ange Postecoglou and Spurs enduring a difficult season in the Premier League, where they sit 14th with just seven matches left to play, the Europa League represents their last chance of silverware and although they will feel unlucky to be level going into the second leg in Germany next week, they will still feel a semi-final spot is within their grasp.
Follow all the Europa League action with our live blog below:
CHANCE! Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
65 mins: Ekitike produces another moment of magic, holding up the ball as Frankfurt press forward. Brown cuts it back at the byline and it falls to Bahoya but he wastes a chance volleying over the bar.
There was a foul on Son in the build-up so the crowd, and Postecoglou, wouldn’t have been too happy if that had gone in. The Tottenham manager shakes his head as another call for a free-kick goes begging after Johnson goes down.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
62 mins: A frantic passage of play as both sides repeatedly give the ball away and attempt to break, but turn the ball over before they can get away. Porro gets a reprieve for one such loose ball.
Bahoya gets the game’s first yellow as he charges in on Son unnecessarily, with Kristensen already charging away with the ball.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
59 mins: Spurs keep coming! Maddison takes a touch and jinks forward, shooting instead of crossing, with Santos getting his body in the way and saving with his thigh. Seconds later Udogie crosses in again but it’s headed away and the hosts win a corner.
Maddison gestures to the crowd to make even more noise. The atmosphere is electric.
Frankfurt turn over and break, with Kristensen sending in a dangerous low cross, but there’s no-one there to capitalise.
SAVE! Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
56 mins: Incredible save by Santos! Tottenham pile the pressure on, Son takes a powerful strike on the edge of the box but Santos gets a palm to it and tips over the bar.
Spurs take a corner but Bentancur’s leaping header also hits the crossbar and ricochets over!
CHANCE! Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
54 mins: Porro gives the ball away cheaply and Brown takes full advantage, sprinting away, and links up well with Ekitike as the striker darts down the left, but he misses his moment and Spurs flood into the box.
Now a HUGE chance for Spurs as Bergvall gets into space - but clatters it against the crossbar! Santos was beaten and it looked to be curling into the top corner, but drifted up just at the last moment!
CHANCE! Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
51 mins: Chaos in the Spurs box! Lovely intricate play by Frankfurt as they work the ball to Bahoya at the back post but he tries to find a teammate in a crammed box instead of shooting and Spurs eventually clear.
Bit of a scramble there.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
49 mins: Porro curls in a nice delivery from the right but it’s caught by Santos.
Udogie crosses a beauty into the box, nutmegging Kristensen with a lovely move. It’s got Santos beaten as he dives towards it but there’s no-one in a Tottenham shirt there to receive.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
47 mins: Bergvall plays in Johnson as the hosts look to start on the front foot but his sort-of backheel flick lands in the path of a Frankfurt defender.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
45 mins: No changes for either side at half-time. Back underway.
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