In a thrilling encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 28, 2024, Tottenham's aspirations for the Europa League round-of-16 suffered a significant blow as Mats Hummels struck late to salvage a 2-2 draw for AS Roma. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring disallowed goals, penalties, and a fierce battle for qualification.

Tottenham began the match with confidence, with Son Heung-Min converting a penalty in the 5th minute after a VAR review confirmed a foul by Hummels on Pape Matar Sarr. Spurs looked to be in control when Brennan Johnson doubled their lead in the 34th minute with a brilliant finish from Dejan Kulusevski's cross.

However, Roma refused to back down. The Italians leveled the match earlier when Evan Ndicka scored with a header from a Paulo Dybala free-kick. The drama continued as Stephan El Shaarawy thought he had put his side in front, only to have his goal disallowed for offside, highlighting the razor-thin margins that defined this clash.

Spurs dominated the early exchanges, with opportunities piling up. Kulusevski nearly made it 3-1, but his shot rebounded off the post, leaving Son to miss a clear chance that could have sealed the game before half-time.

The second half saw Roma ramping up their intensity, even with the absence of Dybala who was substituted at half-time. Despite having two goals disallowed for offside, the visitors remained a threat. The woodwork rattled from both ends as Angelino and Porro hit the crossbar.

As time ticked down, it seemed Tottenham would escape with all three points until Hummels redeemed his earlier misstep. In the 91st minute, he redirected a powerful low cross from Angelino into the net, igniting celebrations among the Roma fans and securing a crucial point for the struggling side.

This result leaves Tottenham languishing in ninth place in the Europa League table, outside the automatic qualification slots, while Roma, sitting in 21st, will likely need to navigate a playoff round in February. After the dismissal of two managers earlier this season, this draw was a vital morale booster for Claudio Ranieri and his squad as they look to turn their campaign around.

The match underscored the unpredictable nature of European football, as both teams showcased moments of brilliance, but also the harsh realities of the competition. With qualification still up for grabs, fans can expect more high-stakes action as the group stages come to a close.