Spurs take control with second half goal burst

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Son leads way as Vertonghen plays starring role

TOTTENHAM 3 BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0

Tottenham put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after a thrilling second half performance saw them beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 in the last-16 first leg at Wembley.

Spurs were second best in the first half, but put that right after the break as goals from Son Heung-min, Jan Vertonghen and Fernando Llorente swung the tie firmly in their favour.

It will take some capitulation in Dortmund on March 5 for them not to make it through to the last eight, on a night where Harry Kane and Dele Alli could be back in the fold.

Son continued his leading role in the influential duo’s absence as he scored his 11th goal in his last 12 games early in the second half and his love affair with playing Dortmund continued as that was the ninth time he has scored against them in 11 games.

Vertonghen, who was playing at left wing-back, capped a man-of-the-match performance with a second goal in the 83rd minute and then three minutes later Llorente gave Spurs vital breathing space by nodding home from a corner with his first touch of the game.

It was the club’s first win in a home knockout tie in the Champions League and by keeping a clean sheet it means the Bundesliga leaders have to score at least four goals in the second leg to have any chance of progressing.

Vertonghen told BT Sport: “I think they had the better of the game (before half-time) and then in the second half we were able to turn it around.

“I think they dropped off a bit and then that early goal in the second half helped us.

“We were happy with 1-0 so we could continue attacking and I think it gave us the second and the third goal and the confidence to keep going.”

In last night’s other tie, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio were on target as Real Madrid secured a 2-1 win over Ajax in Amsterdam.

But the reigning champions, seeking a fourth straight title, were given a major scare by the only team left in the competition who had to come through qualifying.

Four-time winners Ajax, in the knockout stages for the first time in 13 years, dominated for long spells.

In a vibrant display they hit the woodwork, tested Thibaut Courtois frequently and had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee before Benzema struck.

Hakim Ziyech then equalised for Ajax, only for substitute Asensio to grab the winner three minutes from the end.

Jan Vertonghen: Scored in a manof-the-match performance.