EASY DOES IT FOR SON AND KANE
Poch delighted with table-toppers
DELE ALLI wriggled between two yellow-shirted defenders, drew in a third and found Son Heung-min, who caressed the ball into the top corner and cleansed all the pain of defeat in a North London squabble.
What delicious relief a goal can deliver. What a boost to morale a decent 45 minutes can make.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team were subdued in the first half and trailed to a goal by Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang before they jolted back into rhythm after the break.
Harry Kane equalised, a typically clinical low strike for his first goal for a month, teed up by Alli who then seized the game and conjured the second for Son with his stunning flash of individual skill.
Suddenly, all that derby- day misery was forgotten and Spurs fans celebrated with a chorus of ‘Are you watching, Arsenal?’ as they swaggered into the business end of the Champions League.
Real Madrid scored six against APOEL in Cyprus but Spurs, having taken four points from the defending champions, have won a very strong Group H and go into the last 16 in the seeded half.
It represents impressive progress after last season’s flop and means Pochettino can rest players against APOEL at Wembley next month, as the Premier League launches into its most congested schedule of fixtures.
Moreover, the Spurs boss will be thrilled to see the influential Alli and Kane slip back into the groove after minor injuries which ruled them out of international duty and Saturday’s disappointing display.
‘When you lose a derby you always try to play as soon as possible to put out the feeling,’ said Pochettino. ‘I think our fans showed they are happy after that performance and victory, and we feel proud.
‘We were very disappointed after Saturday but we keep going to play and win games. That is our job. No one result changes my perception about the team. I am so proud of them. We are competing with the best in Europe.’
Dortmund, in truth, have been toiling. They have won only one of their last nine games — a cup tie against third-tier opposition — but they opened with confidence.
Andriy Yarmolenko forced an early save from Hugo Lloris and Aubameyang squandered the chance to put them ahead.
Pochettino reshuffled his back three, deploying Davinson Sanchez, the quickest of his centre halves, in the centre in a bid to keep the blistering pace of Aubameyang in check.
But the Dortmund striker slipped clear midway through the first half on to Yarmolenko’s pass and Spurs were only saved by his terrible finish as Lloris charged out. Aubameyang tore Spurs apart in the Europa League two years ago, and converted his next chance. Released by Yarmolenko’s clever flick, he beat Lloris from an angle.
Spurs created very little in the first 45 minutes. Dortmund keeper Roman Burki made a routine stop to deny Son before two excellent saves in quick succession — the first from Christian Eriksen, connecting firmly with a low cross by Danny Rose, and then from Eric Dier’s header from the corner which followed.
Pochettino’s team came out for the second half with greater purpose and intensity, and Alli pushed further forward.
Within four minutes of the restart they were level. Rose won the ball wide on the left and Alli found Kane, who shifted the ball quickly and fired it low past Burki.
He may have been in a minidrought by his own standards but this was an 18th goal in his last 17 games for club and country and his sixth in five in the Champions League this season.
‘He’s a great striker, a great player,’ said Pochettino. ‘With a player like Harry, you don’t need many opportunities to score.’
Alli, so impressive against Real Madrid, became the dominant force in the game, smashing one effort wide from 20 yards and preying on mistakes as Dortmund’s confidence vanished.
‘I am so happy about him,’ said Pochettino. ‘He can play behind the striker or like a No 8 as he played today, because he has the quality and talent and capacity to cope with different positions.’
Son curled in the winner, another for his collection of goals against Borussia Dortmund.
He scored five in five against them while playing in Germany for Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen and this was his third against them as a Tottenham player. Dortmund keeper Burki was carried off in stoppage time after a collision with Spurs substitute Fernando Llorente. Manager Peter Bosz said he seemed to be well but would have further tests.