Former U.S. youth international Brandon Austin earns second Tottenham start as goalkeeper leads Spurs to Europa League victory over Hoffenheim

Former U.S. youth international Brandon Austin and Tottenham Hotspur defeated Bundesliga side Hoffenheim 3-2 in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, as Spurs secured a crucial three points behind the goalkeeper, who earned just his second start for the club.

Austin, who has been with the club for nine years, made his senior debut with Spurs in early January after the club was dealing with an injury crisis in net.

On Jan. 4, he earned Man of the Match in a 2-1 loss to Newcastle, and in his second start on Thursday, earned his first victory with his boyhood club.

Austin represented the U.S. only once at the youth level, but was on the bench for three other matches at the U18 level. In his lone cameo for the U.S., he led the squad to a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Slovakia, where he made a crucial save in the second round of spot kicks.

With Spurs, his first appearance in January marked his first competitive match at the senior level since 2021, as he's long served as the club's third-string shotstopper. However, at age 26, he has stepped up in recent weeks due to injuries to Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster.

With Thursday's result, Spurs sit fourth in the UEL standings on 14 points.

Austin also represented England at multiple youth international levels, playing for their U20 and U21 squads, but he never logged a start for the Three Lions, primarily playing as a backup goalkeeper.

In addition, he had a short stint on loan with Orlando City SC - making five league appearances for the MLS club.

Tottenham are back in action on Sunday in the Premier League against Leicester City. Austin will likely serve as the backup to January signing Antonin Kinsky, while Forster is also back to fitness.