Match Report: Tottenham 2-2 Roma in the Europa League
Spurs and AS Roma treated fans to a rollercoaster Europa League night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, sharing the spoils in a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Ange Postecoglou‘s men will feel they should have secured all three points, but defensive lapses and missed opportunities allowed Roma to claw back a point in stoppage time.
The home side dominated large spells of the match, with Heung-Min Son and Brennan Johnson finding the back of the net. However, Roma’s resilience saw Evan Ndicka and Mats Hummels deliver crucial blows to deny Spurs their victory.
Let’s have a look at our Tottenham 2-2 Roma match report.
First Half: Fast start but familiar problems
Spurs came flying out of the blocks, with Pape Matar Sarr’s burst into the box earning the home side a penalty inside five minutes. After a brief VAR review, Heung-Min Son stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The stadium was rocking, and it seemed like Spurs would run riot.
But this is Tottenham, and their Achilles’ heel — set pieces — came back to haunt them. Just 15 minutes later, Paulo Dybala whipped in a sublime free-kick, and Evan Ndicka rose highest to nod Roma level. Spurs fans were left groaning, tired of conceding from dead-ball situations.
Tottenham regained the lead just after the half-hour mark in spectacular fashion. Dejan Kulusevski, the star of the opening half, surged down the left flank before delivering a perfectly weighted cutback for Brennan Johnson. The Welshman made no mistake, firing low into the bottom corner.
Despite dominating possession and registering 13 shots with an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.38, Spurs couldn’t extend their lead. Roma, though second-best, still threatened, with El Shaarawy’s disallowed volley serving as a warning.
Second Half: Wastefulness and a late sucker punch
Tottenham had every chance to kill the game off, creating opportunities at will. Pedro Porro, Dominic Solanke, and Kulusevski all rattled the woodwork, while Roma’s Svilar seemed intent on playing the game of his life in goal. Ange was visibly fuming on the touchline, especially when Porro opted for a safe pass rather than spotting Sarr’s run just before half-time.
Despite the chances, Spurs started to lose their grip. Roma slowly grew into the match, and Tottenham’s passing became increasingly sloppy. The inevitable felt imminent, and after Fraser Forster made a sensational save late on, We only hoped they’d done enough.
But, just a minute later, calamity struck. A poor clearance allowed Angelino to whip a cross to the back post, where Hummels, unmarked and unbothered, smashed it home. The German veteran’s equaliser silenced the crowd and left Postecoglou shaking his head in disbelief.
Tottenham, with an xG of 3.61, only had themselves to blame for failing to kill off the match. Meanwhile, Roma, with three disallowed goals, capitalised on their limited opportunities, finishing with an xG of 2.36.
Takeaways from Tottenham 2-2 Roma
- Wasteful Spurs – Tottenham should have been out of sight by half-time, but poor finishing and a lack of composure in front of goal cost them dearly.
- Set-piece woes continue – Once again, Spurs conceded from a set piece, a recurring problem that must be addressed.
- Forster’s mixed bag – The veteran goalkeeper made some outstanding saves but was powerless to prevent Hummels’ equaliser. However, turns out the 36-year-old isn’t that bad of a second-choice goalkeeper.
- Europa League Woes – Spurs now sit ninth in their group after two disappointing results. With Rangers up next, it’s make-or-break time.
As the players turn their attention to Fulham on Sunday, fans will hope their side can find the clinical edge that deserted them tonight.
A disappointing night, but one that Spurs fans, unfortunately, have grown too familiar with. Is it time for Ange to rethink his strategy, or is this just another bump in the road?
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