Spurs slip up at death as Hummels salvages point for Roma

Mats Hummels was on hand to mark his full Roma debut with a goal, as Claudio Ranieri’s side twice came from behind to deny Spurs a UEFA Europa League victory in a 2-2 draw in an end-to-end clash in north London.

The hosts made the best possible start, with Son Heung-min scoring from the penalty spot after VAR had got involved to award a penalty for a foul on Pape Sarr, only for Evan Ndicka to equalise when he flicked home Paulo Dybala’s free-kick.

Stephan El Shaarawy then had a goal ruled out for offside, before Ange Postecoglou’s side retook the lead through Brennan Johnson’s cool finish.

Roma started strongly after the break and had two goals ruled out for offside, while Angelino clattered the bar with a volley, a feat mirrored by Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke at the other end.

The chances looked to have fizzled out, until Hummels popped up in injury time to poke home from Angelino’s cross.

Talking Point – From villain to hero

There are few defenders in European football who are as experienced as 35-year-old Mats Hummels.

The former Borussia Dortmund centre-back was making his first start for Roma, and he did not introduce himself to the fans in a particularly good way, as he gifted Spurs a penalty in the opening few minutes.

From then on, though, he was near faultless, and was in the right place at the right time to stab home the equaliser at the death, atoning for his earlier error.

Player of the Match

Dejan Kulusevski (Spurs). The Swede was at the heart of nearly every Spurs attack, as he caused Roma no end of problems.

His ability to drop into space made him a constant outlet, and he regularly breezed past his man to create an end product, be it a shot or cross.

In the end, Kulusevski failed to get himself on the scoresheet, but he was unlucky not to do so, hitting the post and continuing his fine season.

Player Ratings

SPURS: Forster 7; Porro 7, Dragusin 6, Davies 7, Gray 6; Sarr 7, Bentancur 6, Kulusevski 8; Son 7, Solanke 6, Johnson 7. Subs: Maddison 6, Bissouma 6, Werner n/a, Bergvall n/a

ROMA: Svilar 6; Mancini 6, Hummels 7, Ndicka 7; Celik 6, Paredes 7, Kone 6, Angelino 6; Dybala 8, Dovbyk 7, El Shaarawy 7. Subs: Soule 6, Zalewski 6, Saelemaekers 6

Key Moments

5’ GOAL! Spurs 1-0 Roma (Son Heung-min). VAR intervenes to award a penalty for a foul on Sarr by Hummels. Son steps up to take the resulting spot kick, and he sends the goalkeeper the wrong way!

20’ GOAL! SPURS 1-1 ROMA (Evan Ndicka). Roma are level! They’ve been growing into the game and equalise as Dybala whips a lovely free kick in towards the edge of the six yard box, from where Evan Ndicka flicks over Forster and into the back of the net!

22’ WHAT A LET OFF! Dybala plays a delicious flick around the corner, and it’s met by Stephan El Shaarawy, who volleys into the far corner! However, VAR take a look and he’s narrowly offside.

27’ OFF THE LINE! Oh my word. How did that not go in? Johnson fizzes a ferocious strike towards goal, and it’s kept out on the line by Angelino, who just about gets his body in the way.

28’ STUNNING FORSTER SAVE. The goalkeeper gets down to his left to get a strong palm on Dybala’s low strike. It’s another terrific piece of football by the Roma forward.

33’ GOAL! SPURS 2-1 ROMA (Brennan Johnson). You bet they can! Spurs go back in front as Kulusevski goes round his man and cuts back a delightful pass to the penalty spot. Johnson is arriving on it, and he converts with a first time finish that goes low and in at the near post.

36’ KULUSEVSKI HITS THE POST! Brilliant play for Kulusevski again, as he breaks into the area and fires a low shot past the goalkeeper and into the far post. The rebound falls to Son. He has a practically empty net to convert into, but leans back and clatters over the bar.

60′ OFF THE BAR! That’s another brilliantly constructed Roma attack, with a cross floated to the back post where it’s met by Angelino. His contact isn’t the cleanest, but the ball bounces up and rattles the Spurs bar!

62’ PORRO CLIPS THE WOODWORK. And now it’s Spurs’ turn to hit the bar! Pedro Porro sizes up a long-range free-kick which is wonderfully struck, but does not quite dip quick enough, brushing the bar on its way over

81’ WOODWORK LEFT RATTLING AGAIN! Solanke comes close as he meets a cross at the near post, but sends his towering headers against the woodwork.

90+1’ GOAL! SPURS 2-2 ROMA (Mats Hummels). They’ve done it! Angelino fizzes a brilliant cross right in front of goal, and Hummels is there to stab home at the back post!

Key Stats

Spurs see a run of eight successive home victories in the Europa League, dating back to 2016, come to an endRoma have now gone 14 away games without a win, a run dating back to April