SON SETS ON SPURS HOPES
Korean makes flying start but Dybala and Higuain end dream
TOTTENHAM’S Champions League dream turned into a nightmare as they lost to Juventus at Wembley.
The call from Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino for his players to be heroes looked like it might have had an effect when Son Heung-Min put them ahead in the 39th minute.
But nerves were shredded when Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain made it 1-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate when he scored with their first shot on target. Three minutes later Paulo Dybala hit the winner.
Harry Kane struck the post late on with a header but Tottenham could not find the goal which would have at least forced extra-time.
Manchester City lost to Basle but went through on aggregate.
PEP GUARDIOLA was left furious after City ignored his pre-match warnings and slipped to only their fourth defeat of the season.
Even though City were 4-0 up from the first leg, Guardiola had demanded a solid, professional performance to go through to the quarter-finals in style.
But they stumbled through with Basle twice capitalising on hesitant defending to register a shock victory and join Shakthar Donetsk, Liverpool and Wigan as the only clubs to lower City’s colours this season.
City got the perfect start when Gabriel Jesus tapped them ahead but City failed to press home their advantage.
Mohammed Elyounoussi equalised after 18 minutes with City’s defence all over the place and, with the game looking as if it might peter out to a draw, Michael Lang struck a 71stminute winner with question marks again over the defending.
Lang obviously likes upsetting the Manchester clubs – he scored the late winner against United in a group game in Basle in November.
Guardiola had given many of his regulars a breather but still fielded a strong team and the performance underlined why he feels City are not at the level of Barcelona or Real Madrid and should not be considered favourites for the Champions League.
There were some bright spots. Jesus got his first goal and his first full 90 minutes under his belt since returning from a 12-game injury lay-off. That will improve City’s armoury for the business end of the season. And youngster Phil Foden produced a promising display in only his third start – and his first at the Etihad.
But Guardiola will be frustrated that City’s long unbeaten home run stretching back 15 months has been broken. The only consolation was that it came in a match that did not matter.
He made six changes following Sunday’s win over Chelsea. In came Jesus, Foden, Yaya Toure, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Claudio Bravo.
But it did not have a negative impact, with City taking the lead after eight minutes.
A typical weaving run from Leroy Sane unhinged the Basle defence and Bernardo Silva’s low cross was tapped in at the far post by Jesus, who dropped to his knees in prayer.
Ilkay Gundogan looked certain to increase City’s lead but Tomas Vaclik reacted smartly to save at point-blank range after another Bernardo Silva cross. Guardiola approved of City’s movement going forward but the sloppiness in defence was dismaying him.
Oleksandr Zinchenko lost possession and let in Geoffroy Serey Die for a clear chance that he fired wastefully over the bar. And City’s defence was caught all at sea for Basle’s surprise equaliser.
Blas Riveros ran into space down the left before squaring – with a deflection off Stones – to Elyounoussi, who was afforded the time to take a touch before firing a shot past keeper Bravo.
Elyounoussi wasted another chance when he dribbled past Danilo and Bravo but missed his kick with the goal at his mercy, while Riveros had a shot saved by Bravo after being allowed acres of space on the left flank.
City continued to dominate possession in the second half but found it difficult to create clear chances.
Sane was always a threat with his pace and Foden continued to show some assured touches.
It was comfortable enough that Guardiola was able to introduce another youngster, Brahim Diaz, and he showed his talent with one dazzling run.
But then Lang struck, charging into the box to beat Bravo at his near post after a neat reverse pass from Elyounoussi.