Tottenham 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt: Spurs rue missed chances in Europa League quarter-final first leg | OneFootball

Tottenham have it all to do in next week’s second leg after a frustrating 1-1 draw

Tottenham fought back to earn a draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Spurs fell behind in the sixth minute when Hugo Ekitike proved why he is being linked with so many Premier League clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.

After James Maddison had lost possession in the middle of the park, the ball was immediately switched to Ekitike on the left and he cut inside to hammer home a curling effort into the far, bottom corner.

That was the young Frenchman’s fourth goal of the Europa League campaign, and first scored away from home.

The hosts responded well to going a goal behind and were well worth their equaliser just before the half hour mark when Maddison picked out Pedro Porro in the six-yard box and the right-back improvised with a clever flicked finish to beat Kaua Santos.

On the stroke of half-time Ekitike perhaps should have restored Frankfurt’s lead but his effort from close range lacked power. Then shortly after the restart Jean-Mattéo Bahoya made the wrong decision to pass instead of shooting when in a great position.

Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur were both denied by the woodwork in the space of two minutes and sandwiched between that Heung-min Son was denied a trademark goal by a stunning finger-tip save from Santos.

Postecoglou’s decision to withdraw his captain and Maddison with 10 minutes to go certainly raised a few eyebrows, though it was almost vindicated immediately when substitute Djed Spence got in down the left, cut the ball back for Brennan Johnson who blasted an effort high and wide.

With virtually the last kick of the game, Micky van de Ven was denied by yet another save from Santos as Spurs were made to rue a series of missed chances which means they have it all to do in Germany next week in the second leg.