Ange Postecoglou’s promise of a second-season trophy remained on course as Tottenham overcame a first-leg deficit to advance to the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Friday (AEDT).
They were joined in the last eight by Premier League rivals Manchester United, who overcame Real Sociedad in a game marked by four penalty awards, one of which was overturned when the United player Patrick Dorgu told the referee he hadn’t been fouled.
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The Red Devils beat 10-man Real Sociedad 4-1 at Old Trafford for a 5-2 aggregate win, with captain Bruno Fernandes converting two penalties and completing a hat-trick.
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United’s quarter-final opponents are Olympique Lyon, whose Georges Mikautadze and Ernest Nuamah got two goals each in a 4-0 demolition of Romania’s FCSB for a 7-1 aggregate success.
Postecoglou’s men defeated Alkmaar 3-1 at London Stadium for a tough 3-2 win in the tie, with two goals from Wilson Odobert and another from James Maddison.
Spurs next face 2022 champions Eintracht Frankfurt, who completed a 6-1 aggregate success over Ajax with a 4-1 home win which included a brace from German 2014 World Cup hero Mario Götze.
With both English clubs languishing closer to the bottom of the table rather than the top in the Premier League, this is the last chance to win a trophy for under pressure managers Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim.
“We’ve progressed which is the main thing, played pretty well as well. I thought we were really in control of the game, we’re our own worst enemy at times. When we were in control, we let them back in the game and it was nervy at end but we thoroughly deserved to win,” said the Aussie manager.
“We scored a great goal from the press and started the second half really well, really should’ve put the tie away in the first 15/20 minutes but super pleased for the boys.”
Maddison said the team looked more like its proper self after being ravaged by injuries for much of the season.
“The next stage is what we set out to do at the start of the two legs. There was a lot of talk after last week’s performance, we were honest with ourselves it wasn’t good enough,” said Maddison.
“I know what we’re capable of here and we got the job done. We haven’t achieved anything yet, we’re in the quarter-final and we kick on and we look forward to it.
“Over the last few months when we’ve spoken about injuries and missing key players, then tonight, we’re stood in the tunnel and you look at the team and it’s a group of men. When you have the spine of players who are experienced and have played at this level for a long time it makes a difference.
“Micky [Van de Ven] and Cuti [Romero], solid at the back and it was a solid performance and we’re deservedly through.
“Wilson Odobert will grab the headlines tonight and rightly so, two goals and he was a threat, and I thought he was absolutely fantastic. I’m going to go give him a big pat on the back.”
They are joined in the quarter-finals by Athletic Bilbao, Lazio and Bodø/Glimt, who progressed earlier on Thursday. Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce beat Rangers 2-0 in Glasgow to level their tie at 3-3, and are still playing extra-time to determine the final quarter-finalist.
Bilbao remained on course towards a Europa League final at their home stadium with a 3-1 victory over 10-man Roma to reach the quarter-finals.
Bilbao overturned a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Rome from Nico Williams’ brace and Yuri Berchiche.
Roma had former Germany defender Mats Hummels sent off in the 11th minute for a last-man foul on Maroan Sannadi, and Leandro Paredes’ stoppage time penalty came too late for them.
Frankfurt followed up on their 2-1 success at Ajax last week with a 4-1 home victory over the Amsterdam side which included a brace from German 2014 World Cup hero Mario Götze, and goals from Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Hugo Ekitike.
Bodø/Glimt reached a European quarter-final for a second time, 4-2 on aggregate over reigning Conference League champions Olympiacos.
Coming off a 3-0 home triumph, the Norwegians could afford a 2-1 defeat from Roman Yaremchuk’s brace in Piraeus where the hosts had goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis sent off and Rodinei failing to convert a penalty.
Lazio won their last 16 tie 3-2 over Viktoria Plzen from a 1-1 home draw.
In the quarter-finals, Bilbao play either Rangers or Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, Frankfurt face Tottenham Hotspur or another Dutch opponent in AZ Alkmaar, while Bodø/Glimt are up against Lazio.
In the Conference League, Chelsea beat Copenhagen 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to progress 3-1 with a goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the 55th minute.
Other notable teams to advance were Fiorentina, who beat 10-man Panathinakos 3-1 (5-4 on aggregate), and Real Betis who thumped Vitoria 4-0 away for a 6-2 win in the tie.