TOTTENHAM PUT DERBY DAZE BEHIND THEM TO WIN THEIR GROUP
Kane and Son lift derby gloom to clinch top spot
Dortmund 1 Tottenham 2
THREE days after losing the north London derby, Tottenham fans were back taunting their rivals again.
“Are you watching, Arsenal?” came the chant from the away end after HeungMin Son smashed in Tottenham’s winner to maintain his incredible scoring record against Borussia Dortmund.
But much more importantly, it means Tottenham are guaranteed to top Group H ahead of Real Madrid and Dortmund, the two European superpowers who left a few Spurs fans fearing another season in the Europa League when the draw was made.
It is a remarkable achievement from Mauricio Pochettino’s men – no wonder the
supporters feel like crowing about it as they are on Europe’s top stage while their neighbours are stuck with Thursdaynight football.
Harry Kane scored his first goal in a month – mind you, he still has 17 goals in his last 16 games for club and country – and just as pleasing was Dele Alli’s return to form.
Alli provided both assists for Kane and then Son, who has now scored eight goals in eight games against Dortmund for Hamburg, Leverkusen and now Tottenham.
Tottenham midfielder Alli has been really struggling for form and confidence but this was a return to his best.
Even when he has a quiet 45 minutes, as he did in the first half, you ignore Alli at your peril. This was a big win for Tottenham who can now rest a few players for the final group match with Apoel in a fortnight. They are guaranteed first place because of the head-to-head results with Real Madrid.
Tottenham started rather sluggishly, maybe a hangover from losing at Arsenal on Saturday, and it was Dortmund who went ahead.
Andriy Yarmolenko’s wonderful back-heel put in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the striker buried a low shot past Hugo Lloris.
Aubameyang had been suspended by Dortmund after turning up late for training but under-pressure boss Peter Bosz turned to him in an emergency and it looked as if it would pay off.
But Spurs woke up and could easily have been level before half-time. Danny Rose’s low cross found Christian Eriksen and his fierce shot forced a terrific reflex save from Dortmund keeper Roman Burki after 40 minutes. Two minutes later, Eriksen’s corner picked out Eric Dier at the near post and his header was brilliantly saved by Burki.
Pochettino pushed Alli further forward and the tactical switch paid dividends. Rose found Alli and his pass set up Kane who scored a typical Kane goal after 49 minutes.
Then, after 76 minutes with the clock running down, Alli did a little dance in the penalty box, took two defenders with him, and then found Son, who lashed the ball into the top corner.
It left Spurs fans chanting: “We are top of the league” at the end. And they had good reason to celebrate.