Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham: Kolo Muani secures round of 16 against former club | OneFootball

Randal Kolo Muani’s strike inspired Tottenham to a chaotic 2-0 over his former side Frankfurt to reach the Champions League round of 16.

The Frenchman tapped in Cristian Romero’s header across goal two minutes into the second half, after seeing Xavi Simons’ opener ruled out at the same stage in the first.

Dominic Solanke marked his return from a lengthy absense through injury with the winner, earning his side a fourth-place finish in the league phase while their opponents exit in 33rd.

As it happened

It was almost the dream start for Thomas Frank inside two minutes as Archie Gray slotted Randal Kolo Muani through on the right and Xavi Simons slotted in the parried cross.

However, referee Jesús Manzano had already brought play to a halt, saying that Destiny Udogie prevented right-back Aurèle Amenda from intercepting with a pull from behind.

They would have to wait eight minutes for their next sight of goal, as Romero nodded Simons’ corner back across the box and João Palhinha forced a good save from Kauã Santos.

A goal for Thomas Frank’s men will help settle any nerves, with qualification likely on the forefront of their minds.

Udogie went close after more good work down the left wing, with winger Wilson Odobert picking out the wing-back inside the penalty area, but failed to connect with the header.

After a quick one-two with Simons, Odobert then came even closer to the elusive opener just after half an hour by unleashing a powerful shot onto the inside of the post from 20 yards.

Moments later, Simons almost turned from provider to scorer by leaping onto a poor pass out from goalkeeper Santos, but couldn’t poke the ball home.

Minutes before the break, it was Frankfurt’s turn to hit the woodwork when Swedish midfielder Hugo Larsson beat the offside trap to latch onto a lofted ball from Ellyes Shkiri, but sent his shot over via the crossbar.

Spurs finally made their chances pay two minutes into the second half, as Kolo Muani knocked in his third goal for the club from another header back across by Romero.

It was an inspired cross from the left wing by Simons, who had given Odobert a chance to power in the opener earlier in the game, to pick out the Argentine.

Capitalizing on their dominance in front of goal throughout, Spurs had the top eight firmly in sight when second-half Dominic Solanke doubled the advantage with 13 minutes left.

A rush of blood from Mahmoud Dahoud led him to a weak header back towards his own goal – allowing Solanke to run in behind and slot the ball into the bottom left.

With teams entering and dropping out of the top eight constantly in the closing stages, Spurs would be ever-more grateful their two-goal advantage steered them clear of the dogfight.

The Premier League strugglers once again looked like a different team in Europe, seeing out the final moments safely for a deserved place in the Champions League round of 16.

Analysis: Kolo Muani strike emblematic of Spurs’ season

It seemed as though it simply wasn’t going to be Tottenham’s day. Opener ruled out in the second minute, Joao Palinha’s header denied, Wilson Odobert hitting the post.

But Randal Kolo Muani’s third goal for the club quelled any fears they might’ve had of going a goal down when Hugo Larsson’s strike rattled the bar.

And his scoring record sums up Thomas Frank’s situation at the London club: all three of his goals have come in the Champions League.

Frank has failed to get the better of teams like Burnley, Bournemouth, and rivals West Ham, yet have bettered Borussia Dortmund, and put three past PSG despite a loss to the holders.

Two of those goals came courtesy of Kolo Muani, who in 15 appearances hasn’t found the net once in a Premier League game.

The difference, at least tonight, between Spurs’ experiences in England and Europe is that Premier League teams have made the most of the chances offered to them.

Frankfurt could have been 1-0 up, completely catching the away side’s backline too high and switched off, yet Hugo Larsson could only lash the strike against the bar.

The German side, currently sat eighth in the Bundesliga with one win in 12 in all competitions, did well to unsettle the visitors despite only having three shots on goal, but Spurs’ domestic opposition have been far less forgiving.

Dominic Solanke will be a welcome return, with his goal off the bench putting the game to bed, as Spurs’ attention turns to their visit to Manchester City on Sunday.

Tonight’s game proves that Spurs do have it in them to both dominate and win games of football, but that simply hasn’t manifested in English football this campaign.

Thomas Frank has often rued poor spells during games and having to recover the deficit as time ticks away, a good example being the 2-2 draw to Burnley.

But they started well against Frankfurt, and got even better in the second half.