Harry doesn’t hit Wall as he lands record
DORTMUND ..... 0 SPURS ..... 1
SPURS boss Mauricio Pochettino insists his side are growing in stature after watching them ease into the Champions League quarter-finals.
Harry Kane rewrote the history books as he finished off Dortmund with a slick second-half strike.
Tottenham silenced the famous “Yellow Wall” after surviving a first-half scare.
And England striker Kane’s killer goal saw him become his side’s leading scorer in European competitions with 24.
His clinical finish finally killed off the tie and Pochettino said: “We are in the quarter-finals. I’m so happy for the players and the fans.
“Now it’s about enjoying that we are in the quarter-finals. We need to feel proud. The experience is so important to improve and get better.”
Pochettino also singled out Hugo Lloris for praise after the keeper made a string of first-half saves.
The Spurs gaffer said: “Hugo was great. We conceded more chances than we expected but that’s football. After losing in the first leg they had nothing to lose.”
Nights like these will live long in the memory because Spurs had to survive an avalanche of noise and pressure in Dortmund.
The atmosphere in the 80,000 capacity Signal Iduna Park was built up even before kick-off and Dortmund fielded an attacking line-up with Marco Reus with Mario Gotze, Jadon Sancho, Raphael Guerreiro and Paco Alcacer all starting.
Sure enough, Tottenham were on the back foot.
Reus went clean through after just seven minutes, looking certain to score but, just as he was picking his spot, Jan Vertonghen made a stunning last-ditch tackle.
Spurs keeper Lloris then made a spectacular onehanded save to keep out Gotze’s curling shot.
(AGG 0-4) JOHN CROSS AT SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
How Spurs’ goal survived the first half unscathed was anyone’s guess.
Dortmund kept pushing at the start of the second half but, having failed to make a breakthrough, began to lose heart.
And they were punished after 49 minutes.
Moussa Sissoko provided a lovely through ball to Kane. He took one touch – and bang – smashed the ball into the top corner.