Tottenham through to Champions League quarter-finals as Harry Kane becomes club's all-time record scorer in Europe
Wednesday 6 March 2019 08:50, UK
Harry Kane's second-half winner settled Tottenham as they beat Dortmund 1-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate in their Champions League last-16 second leg in Germany.
Hugo Lloris kept Dortmund out in the first half with fine saves from Marco Reus, Julian Weigl and Mario Gotze as the hosts went gung-ho, while Heung-Min Son poked wide having gone through on goal during a rare Tottenham attack.
But Kane's vital away goal flattened Dortmund, producing a fine finish having been played through on goal by Moussa Sissoko (49), and with it becoming Spurs' all-time top European scorer.
The result means Spurs reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2011, with the draw for the last eight on March 15.
Dortmund dominated the ball in the first half, registering 70 per cent possession, but could not find a way through Spurs as Lloris came to the rescue on more than one occasion.
Jan Vertonghen made a fantastic last-ditch tackle to deny Reus, but Reus did then manage to get a shot off on goal, forcing Lloris into a sharp save after deflecting off Davinson Sanchez.
Son spurned a rare Spurs opportunity after being played through one-on-one by Christian Eriksen, poking wide after a suspected push in the back by Marius Wolf, before another onslaught on Spurs' goal at the other end saw Lloris make two quickfire stops.
First, the Frenchman saved on the line from Julian Weigl's header, before keeping out Mario Gotze's curling effort from inside the box with a fine one-handed stop.
But Kane became Spurs' all-time top European scorer after the break, overtaking Jermain Defoe with his 24th in trademark style as he curled a fine finish around Roman Burki from 18 yards after Sissoko's through ball cut open a snoozing Dortmund back line.
Soon-to-be Chelsea midfielder Christian Pulisic headed over in space with 15 minutes remaining, and Lloris earned a deserved clean sheet with a fine low save from Paco Alcacer's drive.
Lloris has been under the microscope again of late after the mix-up which led to Chelsea's second in their 2-0 defeat last Wednesday, but his contribution ensured Spurs crucially went into half-time level.
He made seven saves in total, five of which were more than your routine stop, on a night where Mauricio Pochettino's masterplan still depended on a fine goalkeeping performance.
Mauricio Pochettino: "To move to the next level or the last level is not only to show a professional display like we did, we need to do more, to be in different positions. Of course it's so important to be in the quarter-finals but in the end you need to show more to be on the next level and to stay there."
Mauricio Pochettino's team is growing not stagnating, writes Adam Bate.
This Harry Potter-themed team sheet - including Alcacer as No 9 3/4 - made us all chuckle before kick-off...
Tottenham now go to Southampton on Saturday in the Premier League at 3pm, while Dortmund host Stuttgart, also on Saturday. The first legs of the Champions League quarter-finals will be played on April 9 and 10.
