Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
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Kane smashes the ‘Yellow Wall’ to send Spurs into last eight
6 AND the Spurs go marching on.
The pocket of away fans up in the heavens were finally making themselves heard as Tottenham had silenced Borussia Dortmund’s famous “Yellow Wall”.
Harry Kane showed the Germans what a world-class striker looks like, as his brilliantly clinical finish finally killed off the tie and put the north Londoners into the quarter-finals.
There is so much talk about Mauricio Pochettino needing to win a trophy and yet this result is one to make the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.
For Spurs to beat the Bundesliga leaders twice, putting four past them in the process, is a remarkable achievement, and a real sign of progress as it is the furthest Pochettino (right) has been in the Champions League.
Nights like these will live long in the memory because Tottenham were heroic in the first half, survived an avalanche of noise and pressure, and then Kane finished it.
Dortmund missed a hatful of chances, Spurs took theirs, and Pochettino will be telling his players they must believe they can go even further, if they can demolish the best Germany has to offer.
They pride themselves on having big European nights in Dortmund, nights when the famous “Yellow Wall” blows opponents away. The noise and atmosphere in th e 80,000 capacity Signal
Iduna Park was built up even before kick-off, to a point where Tottenham knew their nerve would be tested, despite the three-goal lead from the first leg.
It was loud, intimidating, and Dortmund fielded an attacking line-up full of intent, as they unleashed fit-again Marco Reus with Mario Gotze, Jadon Sancho, Raphael Guerreiro and Paco Alcacer all starting.
Sure enough, Spurs looked nervous and edgy, as few stadiums are as intimidating as when Dortmund are in full flow, storming forward with the crowd roaring them on, with the visitors immediately on the back foot.
Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez looked particularly vulnerable in the middle of what was definitely a back five, as wing-backs Serge Aurier and Ben Davies had to sit deep in the face of heavy Dortmund pressure.
Reus went clean through after just seven minutes, looking certain to score but, just as he was picking his spot, Jan Vertonghen made a miraculous last-ditch tackle, stretching with his left leg to stop the shot.
With better decision making and finishing, the hosts could – and should – have scored to really bring the tie to life. Guerreiro’s 21st-minute cut-back set up Reus and this time his shot deflected off Sanchez and forced Hugo Lloris into a smart save.
The visitors could not get a foothold in the game and, when they did launch a rare counter attack, Heung-min Son fired wide. Dortmund full-back Marius Wolf was lucky not to be punished for a last-ditch challenge which put off Son.
Lloris was under almost constant siege as the Spurs keeper kept out Julian Weigl’s close-range header, before Davies (defending with Lloris, above) threw himself in the way of the follow-up.
Lloris then made a spectacular one-handed save to keep out Gotze’s curling shot, as Dortmund built up a head of steam just before the break.
But thanks to miraculous defending, terrific goalkeeping and wayward finishing, Spurs’ goal remained unbreached at the break.
Dortmund kept pushing at the start of the second half but, having failed to make a breakthrough, began to lose heart. And, sure enough, were punished after 49 minutes.
Moussa Sissoko, whose season just keeps getting better and better, provided a lovely through-ball to Kane.
He took one touch – and bang – smashed the ball into the top corner and Tottenham into the quarter-finals.