Champions League Group D-Day: Spurs through with late winner while Frankfurt also progress
Marseille - Tottenham 1-2
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s last-minute winner secured top spot for Tottenham Hotspur against Olympique de Marseille to ensure their progression from Group D and into the Champions League round of 16.
Arguably the underdogs heading into the fixture, Marseille quickly stepped onto the front foot against a Tottenham Hotspur side clearly under pressure to avoid the embarrassment of an early exit in the tournament.
Former North London rival Alexis Sanchez particularly proved to be a thorn in the side of his old nemesis, testing Hugo Lloris at his near post with an early snapshot.
It wasn’t the last time the Frenchman was tested in the first half, either, with Jordan Veretout’s volley forcing a diving save, before the hosts finally made their deserved breakthrough, courtesy of Chancel Mbemba. The central defender nodded home past Lloris after a pinpoint corner from Veretout just before the break.
Sitting third in Group D at the break, Spurs couldn’t afford a slow start to the second half after a frustrating first period. And, much to their relief, they soon had their equaliser through Clement Lenglet, who nodded into the ground and into the back of the net via Ivan Perisic’s free-kick with 54 minutes gone.
Just 10 minutes later, the visitors would have taken the lead, too, if it wasn’t for the linesman’s flag to cut Harry Kane’s celebrations short after the striker broke in behind Marseille’s backline before slotting into the near post.
With a point taking Spurs into the knockout phase, it was Marseille who were left in dire need of a winning goal in the closing stages.
Instead, it was Spurs who looked like securing all three points, with Hojbjerg smashing an effort against the crossbar inside the area. Although, former Arsenal player Sead Kolasinac will undoubtedly be kicking himself, having spurned a glorious opportunity to nod home a late winner.
With that opportunity wasted, Spurs had the chance to win the group and did just that when Hojbjerg broke in the last minute before smashing in off the post.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ivan Perisic (Tottenham Hotspur)
Sporting - Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2
Eintracht Frankfurt booked their place in the last 16 with a dramatic 2-1 win away at Sporting, dropping the Portuguese outfit into the Europa League in the process after failing to win any of their final four group stage fixtures.
Marcus Edwards tested the water early on with a left-footed volley that forced Kevin Trapp into a save at his near post. Down the other end, Paulinho inadvertently diverted a Frankfurt corner towards his own goal, and had Antonio Adan to thank for sparing his blushes with a superb one-handed stop. Sebastian Coates managed to head away the danger, as Tuta failed to make a decent connection with the loose ball.
Ruben Amorim's side were dealt a huge blow when Nuno Santos fell to the ground and slapped the turf in agony after appearing to roll his ankle. The Sporting boss was visibly frustrated as Santos was taken off on a stretcher and Matheus Reis entered the fray in his place.
However, agony soon turned to ecstasy when Arthur Gomes broke the deadlock with six first-half minutes remaining. Manuel Ugarte’s cross from the right was deflected into the Brazilian’s path, and his shot squirmed through Trapp’s grasp to send the Estadio Jose Alvalade into raptures.
The hosts could not add to their lead though and conceded an equaliser after Coates was penalised for a handball inside the box after challenging Daichi Kamada in the air. The Japan international was coolness personified as he confidently dispatched the resulting penalty and Frankfurt's qualification hopes were alive again.
Oliver Glasner's men had a new lease of life and turned the game as well as Group D on its head thanks to Randal Kolo Muani. The Frenchman blasted Die Adler in front with a stunning angled right-footed volley after being teed up by Ansgar Knauff's audacious pass - a strike that temporarily propelled the Germans into first place in the group.
Glasner's spirited side successfully ran the clock down and secured their place in the knockout stages after winning back-to-back games in UEFA's premier cup competition for the first time since the 1959/60 season.
Meanwhile, it was a desperately disappointing evening for Sporting, who missed out on qualification but will drop into the Europa League in the new year.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt)