Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Borussia Dortmund 0.
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur3B DortmundBorussia Dortmund0
Tottenham produced a magnificent second-half display to totally dominate Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund and take control of this Champions League last 16 tie in the first leg at Wembley.
Mauricio Pochettino's side mounted a remarkable revival to advance from the group stage - and they made the most of that hard work to establish a perfect platform to reach the quarter-finals.
Spurs were irresistible after a tight first half, Son Heung-min breaking the deadlock two minutes after the interval with a side-foot volley from Jan Vertonghen's cross.
Dortmund, regarded by many as favourites with Spurs missing injured talisman Harry Kane as well as Dele Alli, failed to respond and the home side rammed home their superiority in the last 10 minutes.
The outstanding Vertonghen slid in on Serge Aurier's delivery and substitute Fernando Llorente headed in Christian Eriksen's near-post corner - with Spurs also keeping a clean sheet to enhance their chance of progressing.
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Spurs dig deep to find inspiration
How could anyone underestimate the resolve of this Spurs side after the manner in which they have kept pace with Premier League pace-setters Manchester City and Liverpool without any squad strengthening and recent injuries to key figures Kane and Alli?
They survived a fierce first half, when keeper Hugo Lloris saved crucially from Dan-Axel Zagadou's header, to gather themselves for a sustained second-half assault.
And there were heroes to be found everywhere as Spurs' defence was so assured and the whole side so well-drilled that Dortmund barely threatened after the break.
Son has risen superbly to the extra responsibility thrust upon him by Kane's absence while Vertonghen was inspired in all areas, not only in his accustomed defensive position but further forward as he created one goal and scored another.
Spurs might have settled for a one-goal lead had it been accompanied by a clean sheet. To score three without reply is dreamland and makes them huge favourites for the second leg in Dortmund on 5 March.
Disappointment for Dortmund's young guns
Lots of eyes were on two young talents in the Dortmund line-up, with 18-year-old Jadon Sancho a big future England hope and 20-year-old Christian Pulisic on his way to Chelsea in the summer in a £58m deal.
This was not the night to make any serious judgement as Dortmund were ultimately overpowered by Spurs.
Sancho, who delayed Dortmund's flight to London by forgetting his passport, showed flashes of pace and quality in the first half but disappeared from view as Spurs assumed total control.
Pulisic was a peripheral figure throughout and it is clear he will arrive at Stamford Bridge very much as a work in progress.
However, the talent is clear and they could still pose a big threat when the teams meet again in Germany.
Man of the match - Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)
'The only problem is that we can only play 11 and not 22' - what they said
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino told BT Sport: "It was a fantastic second half. The first half was difficult. It was a difficult game from the beginning. It was difficult to find what the best position was in both directions.
"When we had the ball we struggled to play in the way we wanted to play. The team started to feel comfortable, then we scored. And afterwards we played with more confidence.
"In the first half we played a little - not nervously - but not with the confidence. The second half was very, very good.
"We spoke about our defensive positions and changed things a little. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I wanted to take the best decision to perform in the best way. It was a fantastic game.
"Always when we play this competition and against a good side like Dortmund it is very difficult. There is still work to do.
"We have a lot of talented players. We have an unbelievable squad. I am happy with all the players. The only problem is that we can only play 11 and not 22."
Son shines again - the stats
- This was Tottenham's joint-biggest Champions League victory, winning by a three-goal margin for the fifth time in the competition.
- This was the fifth time Borussia Dortmund lost 3-0 in a Champions League game, equalling their biggest defeat in the competition.
- Tottenham became the first English side to win a home Champions League knockout game against German opponents since Manchester United beat Schalke in the 2010-11 semi-final.
- Fernando Llorente scored just two minutes and 26 seconds after coming off the bench for Spurs.
- Tottenham's Son Heung-min has scored nine goals in 11 games in all competitions against Borussia Dortmund, more than he has against any other side in his senior club career.
- Son Heung-min has been directly involved in 16 goals in his past 12 appearances for Spurs in all competitions (11 goals, five assists).
- Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho became the seventh Englishman to play against an English side for a non-British club in the Champions League.
- Jan Vertonghen scored and assisted in the same game for just the second time in his Tottenham career, also doing so v Swansea in March 2013.
What's next?
There's no FA Cup for Tottenham this weekend so their next match is a trip to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, 23 February (12:30 GMT). Dortmund are back in Bundesliga action on Monday away at Nuremberg (19:30 GMT). The return leg of the Champions League tie is on 5 March.
Line-ups
Tottenham
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Lloris
- 21Foyth
- 6D Sánchez
- 4Alderweireld
- 24AurierBooked at 12mins
- 17SissokoSubstituted forWanyamaat 90+1'minutes
- 8Winks
- 5Vertonghen
- 23Eriksen
- 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forLamelaat 90'minutes
- 27Lucas MouraSubstituted forLlorenteat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Trippier
- 3Rose
- 11Lamela
- 12Wanyama
- 18Llorente
- 22Gazzaniga
- 52Skipp
B Dortmund
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Bürki
- 5Hakimi
- 36Toprak
- 2ZagadouSubstituted forSchmelzerat 77'minutes
- 4Diallo
- 19Dahoud
- 28Witsel
- 6DelaneyBooked at 53mins
- 7SanchoSubstituted forGuerreiroat 88'minutes
- 10Götze
- 22PulisicSubstituted forBruun Larsenat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Guerreiro
- 18Balerdi
- 20Philipp
- 27Wolf
- 29Schmelzer
- 34Bruun Larsen
- 35Hitz
- Referee:
- Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
- Attendance:
- 71,214
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamB Dortmund
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away5
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Borussia Dortmund 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Victor Wanyama replaces Moussa Sissoko.
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Attempt missed. Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mario Götze.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Erik Lamela replaces Son Heung-Min.
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Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Thomas Delaney (Borussia Dortmund).
Substitution
Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Raphael Guerreiro replaces Jadon Sancho.
Substitution
Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Jacob Bruun Larsen replaces Christian Pulisic.
Goal!
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 3, Borussia Dortmund 0. Fernando Llorente (Tottenham Hotspur) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Marcel Schmelzer.
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Foul by Juan Foyth (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Fernando Llorente replaces Lucas Moura.
Goal!
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 2, Borussia Dortmund 0. Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Serge Aurier with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Moura.
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Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Hand ball by Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Hand ball by Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund).
Comments
Join the conversation
From an Arsenal fan.
Sissoko - DANCING!
Vertonghen - SUPERMAN GOAL CELEBRATION!
Winksy - so SMOOTH!
I am in absolute AWE of the sheer GRIT of this team!
COYS!!!
However, just wanted to comment on the abysmal decision in the Ajax/Real game to disallow the Ajax goal at 0-0... UEFA sticking their oar in to make sure Real make it to the latter stages as usual... what a complete joke...
Only complaint; I think the goalie needs to chip in with a few goals too, he’s letting his team mates down!!
As a born and bred Scouser and lifelong LFC supporter can I just say you shame us all.
This man/child DOES NOT represent even a noticeable minority of Liverpool fans.
Congrats Spurs on a great job well done.
YNWA
But on a serious note. WHAT. A. MATCH!!! What a performance!
And just another point to make, who remembers the ‘Wembley Hoodoo’? Distant memories now ey XD
YNWA