Dominic Solanke Fires Tottenham Into Europa League Semi-Finals With Crucial Penalty Against Frankfurt

Tottenham’s Big European Night: Solanke Steals The Show

Tottenham Hotspur fans finally have a reason to smile—something that’s been in short supply lately. Dominic Solanke turned up in the right place at the right time, winning and scoring a crucial penalty just before half-time to snatch a 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. The north London side clinches a 2-1 victory on aggregate, punching their ticket to a Europa League semi-final for the first time since that unforgettable Champions League run in 2019.

Spurs haven’t exactly been setting the world alight in recent weeks. It’s been a season of injuries, doubters, and the usual whispers about whether manager Ange Postecoglou was the right man for the job. On a tense Thursday night in Germany, though, his team showed the kind of grit Tottenham fans have wanted all year. The narrow scoreline tells only part of the story; Frankfurt threw everything at them, especially after falling behind from that controversial penalty. James Maddison, starting to look more like himself after a rough patch, won the spot kick when he was clattered by Frankfurt keeper Kauã Santos. Solanke kept his nerve, sliding the ball home for his third goal in the competition this season.

The nerves were real in the second half. Frankfurt, backed by a boisterous home crowd, pressed for an equaliser. Spurs’ backline—bolstered by the returning Cristian Romero—had to work for every clearance. A moment of panic saw Fares Chaibi denied from close range by Guglielmo Vicario, while Rasmus Kristensen blasted just wide late on. The final whistle saw relief more than joy, but the job was done.

Postecoglou Answers His Critics—For Now

The spotlight quickly shifted to Ange Postecoglou. He’s been in the firing line, with every dodgy result bringing up questions about his future. Instead, he faced the press with a smile: “Unfortunately, you guys are going to have to put up with me for just a little bit longer.” He pointed to the resilience of his squad, especially as several key players finally return from injury. You could see the difference with Romero’s calm at the back and Bentancur’s energy in midfield. The Aussie coach isn’t pretending all the problems have vanished, though. James Maddison picked up a slight knock during the penalty, adding a bit of worry for their next games. But Postecoglou insists the real Tottenham will show their class once everyone’s fit.

The stats tell you just how big this win is. This was only the third time in 25 games that Frankfurt failed to score at home. And for Tottenham, this was their first away penalty in the Europa League since 2020—a sign of both fortune and growing belief. Solanke, once overshadowed as a Premier League prospect, now has three goals and four assists in this year’s Europa League—better than most English players in the tournament.

Looking ahead, it won’t get easier. Bodø/Glimt stand between Spurs and a shot at long-awaited silverware. It’s been sixteen years since the last trophy, but with guys like Vicario, Romero, and Bentancur finding their stride, there’s a feeling in north London that something good might finally be brewing.

For now, Tottenham fans can savor this rare European milestone and dream again about ending that marathon trophy drought.