Tottenham 2 Roma 2: Mats Hummels scores stoppage-time equaliser as Spurs denied victory despite Son and Johnson goals

MATS HUMMELS scored a last-minute leveler in his first European match since the Champions League final, coming to the rescue of Claudio Ranieri.

The German veteran, 35, converted ex-Manchester City player Angelino's cross in stoppage time to break Spurs' resistance.

He had not played in Europe since losing to Real Madrid in the biggest club match in European football at the end of last season.

Spurs had hoped to pick up a crucial three points in their bid to seal automatic qualification for the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Son Heung-min's penalty and a Brennan Johnson strike, either side of an Evan N'Dicka header, seemed to be enough to do just that.

But in a match full of chances for both teams, Ranieri marked his return to England with a valuable point thanks to Hummels.

The former Chelsea and Leicester boss, now 73, had only taken charge of Roma for a third time earlier this month.

Everyone was wondering which Spurs would emerge after their wildly inconsistent performances this season.

Would it be the one that beat Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad in the final match, or the one that gave Ipswich their first Prem win of the season the game before?

At least with Postecoglou's Tottenham you know it will always be an entertaining experience and this was no different.

The Aussie side had the chance to make a perfect start when Hummels set up the excellent Pape Matar Sarr in the box within three minutes.

It looked like a stonewall spot kick, but bizarrely referee Glenn Nyberg didn't give it – until VAR told him to check the pitch monitor again and he immediately reversed his decision.

Captain Son did things from twelve yards and sent keeper Mile Svilar the wrong way.

This was only Ranieri's second game in charge, with his first win coming in a 1-0 defeat to Serie A leaders Napoli, managed by ex-Spurs chief Antonio Conte.

Paulo Dybala impressed, having a shot well blocked by Fraser Forster in what was a confidence-boosting early moment for the big man, replacing the foreseeable due to Guglielmo Vicario's broken ankle.

Yet the England international could do nothing to stop Roma's equalizer shortly afterwards as N'Dicka rose highest and Dybala's free-kick crashed off the crossbar.

Ranieri thought his side had scored a brilliant second moments later, but Stephan El Shaarawy's lightning strike was disallowed for the slightest offside.

Spurs continued and a Johnson shot was cleared off the line by ex-Manchester City man Angelino.

After 34 minutes the home team regained the lead with a thrilling counter-attack.

Sarr fired a perfectly weighted ball into space on the pitch that Dejan Kulusevski was running into, before crossing to Johnson to hit home first time.

Postecoglou's punched the air in delight as the Welshman raced away to celebrate his ninth goal in 19 Spurs games this season.

It should have been more before half time, but when the ball bounced back to Son after Kulusevski had hit the post, the South Korean somehow shot over.

Ranieri's side had the ball in the net twice early in the second half, but both were cleared as striker Artem Dovbyk was offside.

Pedro Porro then guided an Angelino volley towards the crossbar, before hitting the Roma woodwork himself with a dangerous free-kick.

Spurs hit the post for the third time when Dominic Solanke headed it.

It would prove costly as after Forster made two excellent stops late on, Roma would not be denied as Hummels converted at the death.