Again in the 52nd minute, he picked the ball up near the touchline, squared up against Porro, and feinted twice — body shifting one way, then the other — before dragging the ball sharply inside. Porro recovered well this time, staying with him, forcing Lukas to release it backward.
"Better from Tottenham there," Bale noted. "They can't let him isolate defenders like that too often."
But even as Frankfurt threatened in flashes, Tottenham kept coming.
Relentless.
In the 55th minute, the pressure finally told.
Bentancur picked up the ball centrally and moved it quickly to the right, where Porro had pushed high again. Porro took a touch and slipped it inside to Richarlison, who had drifted into space just outside the box.
Richarlison didn't hesitate.
He set himself—
and struck.
Low.
Powerful.
Through bodies.
"Richarlison—!"
The shot skipped toward the corner, but Trapp reacted quickly, dropping low and pushing it wide with a strong hand.
