Tottenham 3 Borussia Dortmund 0: Spurs earn commanding first-leg lead

Tottenham will take a 3-0 advantage into its Champions League last-16 second leg with Borussia Dortmund after victory at Wembley.

Published : Feb 14, 2019 03:37 IST

Son converted Spurs' first shot on target at Wembley on Wednesday as the Bundesliga leader was made to rue a string of first-half misses.
Son converted Spurs' first shot on target at Wembley on Wednesday as the Bundesliga leader was made to rue a string of first-half misses.
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Son converted Spurs' first shot on target at Wembley on Wednesday as the Bundesliga leader was made to rue a string of first-half misses.

Tottenham took a huge step towards the Champions League quarterfinals as goals from Son Heung-min, Jan Vertonghen and Fernando Llorente sealed a 3-0 first-leg win over Borussia Dortmund.

Son converted Spurs' first shot on target at Wembley on Wednesday as the Bundesliga leader was made to rue a string of first-half misses.

Mauricio Pochettino's side struggled in the opening 45 minutes but, as has often been the case in the Champions League this season, it found the net in the second period.

After Son's first European goal of the campaign, late efforts from Vertonghen and Llorente put the Premier League title contender in a fantastic position heading to Signal Iduna Park in three weeks.

Tottenham went agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the seventh minute when Lucas Moura's volley fizzed wide of goal, the Brazilian having controlled Davinson Sanchez's header on his thigh.

It would be as close as Spurs would come, though, as Christian Pulisic, Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney all forced saves out of Hugo Lloris.

The France international had to be at his acrobatic best in the closing minutes of the half as Dan-Axel Zagadou rose to meet Jadon Sancho's cross, the goalkeeper clawing the ball away at full stretch.

Son draws first blood

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Son Heung-Min put Tottenham in the lead.
 

Having weathered the storm prior to the break, Spurs opened the scoring two minutes after the restart as Son peeled away from Zagadou to volley Vertonghen's pinpoint cross past Roman Burki.

Toby Alderweireld went close to doubling Tottenham's advantage from a Christian Eriksen corner moments later, but Burki was on hand to keep his header out.

Mahmoud Dahoud wasted a great chance to draw Dortmund level, his meek effort easily saved, and Vertonghen showed him how it should be with a fine volley from Serge Aurier's deep cross.

Substitute Llorente headed in a third in the closing minutes from Eriksen's corner to ensure Spurs take a commanding lead into the return fixture.

What does it mean? Advantage Spurs 

While he will be delighted his side emphatically won the game, keeping a clean sheet will be just as pleasing for Pochettino. Stopping Dortmund registering an away goal is a major achievement and sets Spurs up nicely for their trip to Germany.

Son is Spurs' lucky charm 

Forget Harry Kane, forget Dele Alli, Son is Tottenham's lucky charm at the moment. For a 13th time this season, Spurs have gone on to win when he has scored. He had a quiet opening 45 minutes but pounced when presented with his first chance.

What's next? 

Tottenham travels to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, with clashes against London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal also to come before the return leg in Europe. Dortmund also has three league matches between now and March 5, as it goes up against Nurnberg, Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen. 

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