Ange Postecoglou’s bid to finish Tottenham’s lengthy trophy drought is delicately poised after a 1-1 draw in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt within the Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday. Postecoglou’s troubled aspect trailed to Hugo Ekitike’s early aim in north London, however Pedro Porro hauled them degree earlier than half-time. Tottenham laid seige to the Frankfurt aim within the second half however could not discover a winner after hitting the woodwork twice. The outcome means under-fire Tottenham boss Postecoglou should mastermind a memorable victory within the second leg in Germany on April 17 to maintain alive his hopes of profitable the membership’s first trophy for the reason that 2008 League Cup.
“It was disappointing to concede the way in which we did. The largest blow we had was conceding so early. That sort of performed into their arms,” Postecoglou mentioned.
“But even earlier than that, I assumed we had been nicely accountable for the sport. I assumed it could deliver fruit within the second half and it did in each facet however targets. I am unable to ask any extra of the lads.”
The winner of the tie will face Bodo/Glimt or Lazio within the semi-finals in May, with the Norwegian membership taking a 2-0 lead into the second leg in opposition to the Italians.
“On some other night time we go away with a snug victory. We must go there. If we repeat that efficiency we give ourselves an opportunity,” Postecoglou mentioned.
“I do not anticipate the second sport to be to open, it will be cagey affair and it will come all the way down to moments.”
Postecoglou brashly claimed earlier this season that he at all times wins a trophy in his second marketing campaign, a press release that has made him a hostage to fortune all through Tottenham’s turbulent run.
The Australian has endured such intense criticism recently that he joked on Wednesday that he would nonetheless be “gone” on the finish of the season  even when he did win the Europa League as a result of his approval ranking is so low with Tottenham supporters.
Against a backdrop of fixed fan protests in opposition to chairman Daniel Levy, Tottenham are languishing in 14th place within the Premier League, leaving them in peril of their worst end since 1993-94, once they got here fifteenth.
Frankfurt sit third within the Bundesliga desk and are hoping to return to the Europa League last after profitable the event in 2022.
Postecoglou aid
Befitting their respective league positions, Frankfurt began with extra confidence and objective.
Ekitike had scored 19 targets and offered eight assists in 40 appearances previous to Thursday’s sport, making him Frankfurt’s danger-man and a switch goal for a number of English golf equipment.
But Tottenham did not heed the warning because the 22-year-old struck in gorgeous model after simply six minutes.
James Maddison conceded possession and Frankfurt launched a blistering break that climaxed with Ekitike accelerating previous Porro to twist a effective end into the underside nook from the sting of the world.
Tottenham’s stirring response was a fine addition for Postecoglou as Son Heung-min’s pin-point cross reached Dominic Solanke for a header that was clutched by Frankfurt keeper Kaua Santos.
If Ekitike’s opener was an eye catching second, Porro’s twenty sixth minute leveller was much more creative.
Maddison danced by means of the Frankfurt defence and reduce his go again to Porro, who produced a elegant back-heeled flick that flashed previous Santos from six yards.
Postecoglou had his head in his arms when Tottenham’s younger midfielder Lucas Bergvall lashed a fierce drive in opposition to the crossbar from 25 yards.
That was the beginning of a sustained spell of second-half stress from Tottenham.
Santos made an outstanding save to claw Son’s roller over earlier than Rodrigo Bentancur’s header from the ensuing set-piece cannoned off the bar.
Maddison’s close-range strike compelled Santos to make one other good save earlier than Micky van de Ven’s header was brilliantly palmed over by the Frankfurt keeper as the primary leg ended on a knife edge.
