Spurs survive Dortmund onslaught to advance to Champions League last eight

Harry Kane was once again Tottenham’s hero as Spurs survived a ferocious attacking display by Borussia Dortmund to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 4-0 aggregate victory after it finished 1-0 on the night.

The England striker also became the all-time top goal scorer for the north London side in Europe, notching his 24th in European competition, usurping Jermain Defoe’s previous record of 23 goals.

The Bundesliga leaders flew out of the traps as the Westfalenstadion formed a cacophony of noise to engulf the pressure on Tottenham with every touch as an early goal would immediately reopen the game as a serious contest.

After a momentum-building opening ten minutes Marco Reus had the first clear-cut opportunity as the club captain was one-on-one with Hugo Lloris before Jan Vertonghen slid in with a last ditch challenge to dispossess the Dortmund winger, but an early shot across the Spurs goal reminded Mauricio Pochettino’s men that the job was far from over.

Paco Alcacer twice tested the discipline of the visiting back five, but was flagged narrowly offside both times.

Lloris, under the spotlight after several suspect performances between the sticks, was called upon to bail his side out with a series of fantastic saves throughout the first half as the hosts repeatedly banged on the Spurs door. First he smartly held a Reus effort which deflected off Davinson Sanchez before denying Jadon Sancho moments later.

Lucien Favre’s more offensive starting line-up saw Marius Wolf occupy the right-back spot, though usually a winger by trade. The German wide man endured a difficult evening, particularly in the first half as quality Dortmund moves were ended with subpar crosses from the winger.

Spurs did muster a chance just after half an hour when Christian Eriksen played Heung-min Son through the middle. The South Korean raced away from Wolf but was given a slight push from the German just as he steadied himself to take aim at Roman Burki’s goal. Perhaps the Dortmund makeshift defender was lucky to escape without conceding a spot kick.

Lloris then produced more magic to keep the visitors in control of the tie as a barrage of Dortmund attempts rained down on his goal. Julian Weigl flicked a header towards his near post which he was equal to before Ben Davies cleared the rebound.

The French shot-stopper then palmed away a curling Mario Gotze effort from 12 yards as Dortmund ended the half with 11 shots on his goal.

Favre will have been pleased with his side’s first half display, but their dominance was not rewarded with a goal and, three minutes after into the second half, their hopes were dashed.

Moussa Sissoko played Kane through with a pinpoint, defence-splitting pass. The England marksman steamed goalward and then lashed his shot past Burki from just outside the penalty box.

The Westfalenstadion fell flat soon after, and the 3,000 plus Spurs fans who had travelled to Germany were now the dominant voices.

The goal settled Spurs down as they asserted more authority over the ball and left a frustrated Dortmund side to chase them.

Favre threw on Chelsea bound Christian Pulisic, Thomas Delaney and Jacob Bruun-Larsen in the faint hope that they could somehow get back into the game, but it was not to be.

Alcacer tested Lloris once more in the dying embers of the game but, much like the efforts than had gone before, the Spurs goalkeeper was equal to it.

Pochettino’s satisfaction will be enhanced off the back of a tricky couple of weeks domestically which saw them go from outside title contenders to fighting for their top four spot for next season with Arsenal and Manchester United breathing down their necks.

Their European charge continues into the last eight. A professional two-legged display against the Bundesliga leaders could provide the base for a late surge to the big-eared trophy.