Angie Postecoglou, who narrowly avoided being sacked, praised Son Heung-min.
Tottenham defeated AZ Alkmaar 3-1 in the second leg of the '2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) Round of 16' held on the 14th at 5 p.m. (Korean time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. Having lost the first leg 0-1, Tottenham advanced to the quarterfinals with an aggregate score of 3-2.
Tottenham's semifinal opponent is Frankfurt. The two teams will face off twice on April 11 and 18 in a bid for the final.
Son Heung-min was involved in all three goals, displaying his world-class ability. In the 26th minute of the first half, Son Heung-min showcased his speed and applied aggressive pressure. The ball that hit Son Heung-min went to Dominic Solanke and was quickly passed to Odobert. Odobert scored the opening goal.
The second goal was set up by Son Heung-min for James Maddison. In the 3rd minute of the second half, while exchanging passes with Maddison inside the box and drawing the defender towards him, Son Heung-min created space for Maddison to shoot. With Maddison's shot, Tottenham took a 2-0 lead and gained the upper hand.
In the 18th minute of the second half, Tottenham conceded a goal and needed another goal to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Son Heung-min responded again. In the 29th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min passed to Jed Spence, who was cutting in from the left. Spence's ground cross was relayed through Solanke to Odobert. Odobert scored a finishing goal, confirming Tottenham's victory.
The football media 'Footmob' gave Son Heung-min a rating of 8. He played the full match and recorded 1 assist, 2 key passes, 5 shots, 86 ball touches, 10 dribbles with 4 successful, 1 corner kick, 2 recoveries, and 6 successful duels.
Ahead of the match, the speculation about Postecoglou's dismissal gained strength. This season, Tottenham was eliminated from both the FA Cup and the League Cup. There were calls for accountability regarding their 13th place in the Premier League standings. If they were to be eliminated from the Europa League as well, Tottenham and Son Heung-min would again face a situation without any titles.
Captain Son Heung-min shone at the most crucial moment. Although he did not score directly, he was involved in all three goals, leading the team. The captain showed his presence when the coach was having the most difficult time.
After the match, Postecoglou said, "In a really tough situation for our club, Sonny and four leaders did well. We have four leaders: Sonny, Vicario, Romero, and Maddison. This year, we are relying on them completely. It was significant that all four were on the pitch. They led the team well, and the rest of the players followed. They sharpened themselves up," he praised.
At least the advancement to the Europa League quarterfinals bought time for the speculation about Postecoglou's dismissal. He noted, "The way we won tonight is important. Even if I try to block out external noise, I don't care. It was a night of great significance for the players and the entire club," while deliberately dismissing the rumors.
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