LONDON • When Jan Vertonghen scored against Borussia Dortmund, he ran to the home crowd and did the "Superman" celebration - pretending to tear open his shirt.
His manager Mauricio Pochettino duly saluted him and his Tottenham teammates as heroes after the 3-0 Champions League last-16, first-leg win as they took a huge step towards reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2011.
Spurs had been under pressure as Dortmund dominated the first half but were sparked into life by a fine finish from forward Son Heung-min after the interval.
Defender Vertonghen capped his own powerful performance when he scored late, and substitute striker Fernando Llorente's goal put the seal on a remarkable result that had the Wembley crowd rise to their feet in a loud, emotional salute.
Insisting his players deserved all the praise after emerging from a gruelling schedule, Pochettino said: "It was a fantastic game, a massive effort. My players are heroes. They deserve a lot of praise for the effort they are doing this season.
"Sonny was fantastic again. He translates good energy and his performance in every game is improving. We're so happy.
"3-0 is a very good result, but we must go to Dortmund (on March 5) with the idea of winning. There is a lot of work to do."
16Â
Tottenham's Son Heung-min has been directly involved in 16 goals in his last 12 matches in all competitions (11 goals, 5 assists).
It was an impressive success for Pochettino given he was without the injured Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Danny Rose and Ben Davies.
Credit has to be given to the Argentinian's managerial alchemy, inspiring his men at half-time, encouraging them to go for the jugular.
He also got them to get closer to Jadon Sancho, subduing the English midfielder in the second period.
The Londoner Sancho, blessed with so much pace, balance and remarkably mature decision-making for an 18-year-old, was on the right, having to deal with Vertonghen's ventures from wing back. But he was always quick to attack, whipping in a couple of threatening crosses.
Christian Pulisic was over on the left, stretching Spurs, causing Serge Aurier problems. Chelsea fans would have been impressed by the burst of speed and direct running of the American, who will play for them next season. In one such sudden break, Aurier could stop him only by grabbing his shorts and was deservedly cautioned.
Not until the second half did Spurs show real adventure, more energy and precision.
So many good individual displays spiced Spurs' second-half performance. Centre-back Vertonghen, played out of position to good effect, was immense at left wing-back, playmaker Christian Eriksen started to grow into the game and the key man was Son.
This was his fourth goal in successive games and it came as a welcome riposte after all the pressure that Spurs had endured from the lively Sancho in the first half.
One moment the South Korean was chatting to Dortmund captain Mario Gotze as the teams prepared to restart, and the next he was scoring.
With the goal, Spurs were almost unrecognisable from the first half.
They looked like far more intelligent, incisive, heavyweight European campaigners. And Son's excellence continued with good passes and then running shrewdly into space for Eriksen to pick out.
"The first half was very difficult. We didn't feel the confidence to play," said Pochettino.
"At half-time, we showed them a few situations that could have been different. We tried to help the team make the right decisions and perform in the best way.
"Maybe today everyone will say it was a fantastic decision. If it was a different result, people might say I'm the worst coach in the world."
THE TIMES, LONDON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Jermaine Jenas believes that Hugo Lloris should lose his place in the Tottenham team after his mistake cost his side two points against Liverpool on Sunday. The Spurs captain spilled a late
Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris should
hollywoodadviser.com/liverpool-2-1-tottenham-spurs-goalkeeper-hugo-lloris-should-be-dropped-and-replaced-by-paulo-gazzaniga-says-jermaine-jenas/
Hu-gone Lloris made the latest in a long line of mistakes on Sunday as he gifted Liverpool a late, late win over Spurs Hugo Lloris' latest mistake cost Tottenham a point at Liverpool, and Jermaine Jenas says it's now time for the goalkeeper to be dropped by Mauricio Pochettino.
Jenas suggests Spurs man should be dropped vs Crystal Palace
Hello and welcome to my AXE Media TV review.. Is AXE Media TV a scam? This is one of the questions that we are going to look into and share my thoughts. We are also going to discover information about the company and who owns it, the products or services they offer and the compensation plan and how you get paid.
Barcelona News: Club President confirms Valverde stay
Speaking ahead of Cardiff's trip to Arsenal on Tuesday, their first match since Sala's plane vanished, Warnock said it had been the most difficult week of his career and admits he had questioned whether he could even carry on doing his job. "You think 24 hours a day about whether to carry on," Warnock, told reporters. "It's impossible to sleep.
Soccer-Warnock says Sala tragedy is most difficult week of
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
Shape up or ship out: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns his Manchester United squad they must be fit before pre-season or they will not go on tour. dailymail.co.uk - Joe Bernstein. Manchester United players have been given strict training programmes for their summer holidays — and been told to reach peak fitness before they …
Step Up or Ship Out - YouTube
Football: Fandi Ahmad rues missed chances in U-22s' 1-1 draw
Jan 22, 2019 · Jan. 22 (UPI) --Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo pleaded guilty to tax fraud in a Madrid Court Tuesday and agreed to pay $21.6 million in fines. Ronaldo also received a two-year suspended prison
Ronaldo fined €19m for tax fraud, avoids jail
Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel says it will be 'super difficult' for Neymar to be fit for their Champions League tie against Manchester United next month. The Brazilian superstar suffered a fractured metatarsal against Strasbourg in the French Cup on Wednesday night.
UEFA Champions League: 'Super difficult' for Neymar to be fit
Tottenham Hotspur Mauricio Pochettino is disappointed over his team's loss to Bournemouth as he sent-off two men in their 1-0 defeat. Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues. By
Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues - Reuters
Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho embarrassingly slipped after presenting a symbolic face-off to a match in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League on Monday. Videos of the 56-year-old
Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league face-off
Football: Hougang United seek Fifa resolution after new signing Rafael Ramazotti quits and joins Mexican club Feb 8, 2019, 12:05 am Subscribe to The Straits Times
Fifa News from Singapore, Latest Fifa News from Singapore
news.trendingnews.co.in/singapore/fifa
Get the Fifa News from Singapore, Latest Fifa News from Singapore, Trending Fifa News from Singapore, Current Fifa News From Singapore on trendingnews.co.in. Grab exclusive coverage on breaking national news, current politics, regional and educational news with trending now, most popular from Singapore.
2019 Hougang United FC season - Wikipedia
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar