White-hot Tottenham as Son leads Dortmund destruction to put one foot in Champions League quarter-finals

This was a statement of intent, a statement that Tottenham Hotspur have come of age on this grand stage as they overpowered Borussia Dortmund in a devastating second half to all but seal their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Yellow Wall of Dortmund came tumbling down.

“He’s magic, you know, Mauricio Pochettino,” chanted the Spurs fans soon after the third goal went in and this was a magical night for them; a memorable, magnificent night. They travel to Dortmund in under three weeks time knowing it will take an extraordinary reversal for them not to reach the last eight for the first time since their first Champions League involvement in 2010-11.

It was also the first time Spurs had won a Champions League knock-out match at home, even if Wembley is only their temporary home.

Heung-Min Son started it; he broke the resolve as he so often has done with his 11^th goal in 12 games and his ninth in 11 matches against Dortmund – a record stretching back to his time in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg. Son has not scored more goals against any other team.

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Here comes the Son, and the relentless forward illuminated this high-energy encounter, with the prospects made even brighter as Jan Vertonghen also added a volley and, then, substitute Fernando Llorente scored a third which surely ended any doubt as to the outcome of this tie.

And this was all achieved without Harry Kane and without Dele Alli, who should both be back for the return fixture. Pochettino really is magic; or a magician or an alchemist. The Spurs manager has marshalled his resources superbly – again - and received his reward with this performance. It was another sign of Spurs’ belief that all three goals came in the second half, two of them late on.

They did not settle for just a win when they could achieve something more emphatic, and that is what the best teams do, while no player ran more than Christian Eriksen which shows the work-rate Pochettino demands from even his most gifted of performers.

Dortmund were also depleted, shorn of top-scorers Marco Reus and Paco Alcacer, but they are still a good team, a strong team, a defensively well-organised team under their canny coach Lucien Favre and this was only their third defeat of the season in all competitions. The squad has been suffering with flu, also, but they caught a cold here.

To put the result into context, Dortmund are five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, ahead of Bayern Munich, and won their Champions League group against the seasoned campaigners of Atletico Madrid. Spurs, by contrast, dramatically squeezed through to the last 16 but that determination and that fight has served them well.

They showed it again here on a night which belonged to the likes of Son and Vertonghen, who was surprisingly used at left wing-back in a rejigged formation. It was from there that the Belgian claimed a goal and an assist, and also shackled the threat of Jadon Sancho. It was one of his best-ever performances for Spurs. He really was super Jan.

It was not a night for Sancho, who was being watched by Gareth Southgate. The 18 year-old showed flashes of brilliance but the England manager will have been equally, if not even more, impressed by the mature performance of Harry Winks at the heart of Spurs’ midfield.

And to think Dortmund had, largely, controlled the first half and maybe the pivotal moment came just before the break when goalkeeper Hugo Lloris excelled himself by diving to his right to, one-handed, keep out a header that had appeared set to beat him by Dan-Axel Zagadou, after the defender met Sancho’s cross.

Before that there had been a chance apiece. First, Lucas Moura whistled a volley just past the post and then, for Dortmund, Christian Pulisic stole possession away from Juan Foyth – a rare mistake by the young defender on a strong showing on his Champions League debut – with Lloris saving with his knee from the resultant shot.

Pre-match, Pochettino had called for one more big effort from his team which has had such a heavy schedule of fixtures and will now have a break for 10 days. “My players are heroes,” he later said, and he got a heroic response in the second half.

It helped that they struck early and with what was their first effort on target. But it was also a product of hard work and bravery as Spurs pressed high and turned the ball over, with Eriksen finding Moura who laid it off to Vertonghen by the touchline. He swung in a deep cross that caught out Zagadou as Son stole away from him to jump and guide a side-footed volley past Burki from close range. It was the fourth successive game at Wembley in which Son had scored, having come back from the Asian Cup after South Korea were eliminated, to underline – again – his importance.

Spurs were energised and sensed they could finish this tie – which is a sign that they have developed not just a durability but a harder, winning edge. In fact, their second goal was similar to the first: Davinson Sanchez sharply won the ball back, Serge Aurier delivered a measured cross and, this time, it was Vertonghen running in to crash a powerful volley high into the net.

Spurs did not even settle for that with a corner won and delivered by Eriksen. Llorente had just come on and turned a near-post header past Burki to, surely, settle it. “Unreal second half from the whole team!” a delighted Kane later tweeted. He was right. And to think Spurs still have him to return when they return to action.

9:53PM

Full time: Spurs 3 Dortmund 0

A sensational result. It was a game of two halves - hey, someone should do that as a football saying - but it really was. Dortmund first half: quick, fluid, dangerous. Second half, neutralised, pushed back. Poch moved his fullbacks forward and he got some tremendous individual performances.

9:49PM

89 mins: Spurs 3 Dortmund 0

Guerreiro has curled a glorious effort just wide.

9:48PM

88 mins: Spurs 3 Dortmund 0

Raphael Guerreiro comes on for Jadon Sancho, who had the Full Sven: first half good, second half not so good. Son off, Lamela on. Wanyama is coming on to replace Sissoko for the last few.

9:46PM

GOAL! Spurs 3 Dortmund 0 (Llorente 85)

Corner from Eriksen, perfect delivery and there is Llorente. The Pamplona-born target man nods it in and Poch must feel like he can do no wrong.

Llorente has been on for, what, two minutes? This is 34th time he has come on as a sub and this is his first goal. They bought him, I suppose, as an impact option, and while that has not quite worked out, he has certainly had his say tonight.

9:45PM

84 mins: Spurs 2 Dortmund 0

9:43PM

GOAL! Spurs 2 Dortmund 0 (Vertonghen 82)

A magnificent performance for the out-of-position Belgian, a pin-point cross from Aurier and Vertonghen watches it like a hawk on to his foot as he arrives in the inside left channel. He smashes it at goal, he has got every last bit of that and the net bulges as the big defender makes a heart shape on his chest and caps one of the great adaptation performances we have seen in recent years. He has played like a latter day Roberto Carlos down that flank and it has been a sight to behold. Poch must be cock-a-hoop.

9:38PM

77 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0         

VAR is in play, a fiercely struck Spurs effort is suspected of having caused a handball. Moura hit it, the ball hit Delaney in the... in the back, as it turns out. VAR VAR VAR decides that it has not hit a human hand. We bow to you VAR VAR VAR.

9:36PM

75 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0       

Another fine ball form Vertonghen. Eriksen has an effort from the edge of the box. Deflected behind. A couple of corners ensue. Moura with a wild shot.

9:35PM

72 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0       

Spurs with a break. Moura down the left. Son on the right. Hakimi has his hands full, but somehow manages a solo rearguard to slow and eventually break up the counter.

9:33PM

70 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0     

Delaney's found Dahoud with a nice pass, but alas the shot is not its equal. Easy for Hugo.

9:26PM

66 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0     

Spurs down the right now, Aurier crosses low and that is great defending form Toprak to cut that out.

Having got lucky to be level at the break, Spurs are now all over their guests.

9:23PM

65 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0   

Pulisic with a rare foray, but it is all Spurs rn.

9:23PM

63 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0   

Vertonghen is suddenly playing like a left-footed David Beckham. Shifts it outside and unleashes another exocet into the middle.

9:21PM

62 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0 

And Spurs work the keeper from the resulting corner, Alderweireld getting up for the near post header.

9:20PM

61 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0 

Ooh, Spurs had a chance to move into pole position here in this tie! A quick freekick sends Eriksen galloping clear, he looks up to see Son, unmarked, in the middle - but crosses too near to the keeper. Gah.

9:18PM

59 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0

Vertonghen is having a good game. Aurier now with a powerful, direct run and a shot that sadly does not do justice to the build up.

9:13PM

54 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0

Alas, an off-night for Eriksen looks to be continuing as he wastes the well-placed free.

9:12PM

52 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0

Delaney has totally crunched Son. What would Bonnie say? Clear yellow card, and it gives Spurs a central freekick.

9:10PM

50 mins: Spurs 1 Dortmund 0

Ali said before the game that Dortmund are vulnerable to crosses.

9:07PM

GOAL! Spurs 1 Dortmund 0 (Son 47)

High press from Spurs, they win the ball back down the left and Vertonghen has produced a simply magnificent cross that lands as if laser-assisted onto Son's foot. Great cross, great run from Son and a pretty good guided finish as well, giving the goalie no chance - and giving Spurs the lead.

9:03PM

46 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0

No changes at half time. Dortmund the better team in the first, and Sancho the best player.

9:03PM

VAR VAR VAR

In the other game. It's the first usage of it in the Champions League - Ajax have a goal chalked off.

8:53PM

Half time: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0

Well, Spurs had a good early chance with that Moura volley but have been under the cosh for most of this. Sancho electric. Game played at a high speed, slick. All that said, not many actual chances.

8:49PM

44 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0

Save! Ball comes in from Dortmund, they have got two on one, Zagadou gets above Foyth and heads it. It bundles into Foyth, which takes some of the pace off the ball, allowing Lloris to get across for a tremendous save. His body was behind the goal-line as he clawed it clear with the right hand in Banksian fashion, and one or two of the visiting players appealed (wrongly) for a goal.

8:46PM

41 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0

Said Sancho is giving Spurs a roasting, no question. But no end product either, from him or his colleagues.

8:41PM

37 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0             

Sanchez is getting a tough time. He's lost Sancho, who is clear and is surely, surely?! clipped from behind by Sissoko. How's that not a foul? If it is not a foul, it's a dive, no?

8:38PM

35 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0           

This is more like it from Spurs: Eriksen getting into it, finds Son, whose cross/shot would have reached the well-placed Moura were it not for a smart intervention from Bürki.

8:38PM

33 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0           

Moura getting on the ball. Vertonghen with a cross in. Cleared. Aurier and Foyth link up, and the latter sets up Eriksen for an effort.

8:35PM

30 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0         

A much better little period. Spurs on the front foot, even.

8:34PM

27 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0         

Spurs are getting a handle on the game, though. They are slowing it down, battling.

8:28PM

25 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0       

Gotze now, and Sancho still, another promising move and Dortmund are a decent final ball away from taking a control of the tie here.

Eriksen hasnae had a kick. Spurs need more from him. If Dortmund keep attacking at this pace Spurs are gonna get plenty bookings.

8:25PM

20 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0       

Spurs are getting the bully-ram here. Sancho now, lightning surge down the right, Vertonghen is out of (the unfamiliar) position. Here is Sancho turning D Sanchez inside and out, the lanky Colombian World Cup vs England cheat is done all ends up. Unlike Jan V, however, Foyth is very well positioned and cuts out the cross.

8:23PM

17 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0     

Hakimi with a run and Sissoko has absolutely launched himself into a tackle, lucky for all concerned that he doesn't meet the Dortumnd player because that would have been a) red card and b) hospital food. Anyhow, ref is generous. A freekick, half cleared, Witsel cracks it from distance but no.

8:20PM

14 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0     

Danger! Foyth dithers and fiddles, Gotze pinches it off him in near the Spurs box. Pulisic has a chance to cross it to the waiting Sancho but makes a poor decision and tries to be Lloris at the near post.

NARRATOR: He does not beat Lloris at the near post.

8:15PM

12 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0   

Dortmund are quick and dangerous. Moura has shoved Witsel to the Wembley turf.

8:14PM

10 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0   

Booking! Pulisic has got away from Aurier, or at least he thinks he has... the Spurs man has grabbed his shorts and practically pulled them down.

Yellow card for mobbing.

8:10PM

6 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0 

Dortmund have probably been on top, but the most exciting moment so far belongs to Spurs. Vertonghen, again good work down the left, crosses. Half cleared, nodded back in by Sanchez and L Moura cracks a shot at volley at goal with great tekkers. Wide.

8:08PM

4 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0 

Sancho, Gotze and Pulisic have all had promising little darts but Spurs have been on top of the situation each time.

8:07PM

3 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0

Vertonghen has pulled out to the wing in a sort of wing back type position and has tried to hit a long ball to Son. Not bad effort but the Yellows defence are well set up.

8:06PM

2 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0

It is my regrettable duty to inform you that Robbie Savage is in the Big Ron role on TV. I don't mind him as speak your branes pundit so much, but not in the analyst gig.

8:03PM

1 mins: Spurs 0 Dortmund 0

And we're off! BD have started at a high pace, swishing the ball around at a good clip, looking fluid and bright and busy.

8:03PM

There's a moment of tribute

before the match in honour of Gordon Banks and Emiliano Sala,

7:55PM

The players are in the tunnel

Big night! Reckon Spurs can do it? I kind of do.

7:38PM

Nice tribute from Pat Jennings

about Gordon Banks on the TV just now. Returning to the present day, if you fancy Son to score in the first half, there is a betting offer here.

7:35PM

Very fine young men

7:31PM

The teams

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Foyth,  Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen, Son,  Lucas Moura.

Subs: Gazzaniga, Trippier, Rose, Lamela, Wanyama,  Llorente, Skipp.

Borussia Dortmund: Burki, Hakimi, Zagadou, Toprak, Diallo,  Witsel, Delaney, Sancho, Dahoud, Pulisic, Gotze. Subs: Hitz,  Guerreiro, Balerdi, Philipp, Wolf, Schmelzer, Bruun Larsen.

Referee: Antonio Jesus Lopez Nieto (Spain)

7:23PM

Method

7:22PM

Jadon Sancho

"Coming from street football I always do loads of skills. Some people might call it showboating or whatever but my teammates tell me to do it.

"It is crazy playing with Gotze, my friends are always asking me about it! He is such a big player.

"I know these players from playing Fifa so it is mad playing with them. And hearing the Champions League music when you walk out.

"I just want to do well to make a better life from my family and my mum. Me and other young players, we want to make our families proud."

7:10PM

Two curious formations

Spurs figuring "why select two centre halves when you can have four"?

while Dortmund thinking that centre forwards are for squares, oprint instead for two wingers and an attacking midfielder in Gotze.

7:01PM

Dortmund

6:57PM

... Ribbon?

6:56PM

Tottenham

6:49PM

Wall

6:48PM

Flame

6:47PM

Can English teams do it?

5:31PM

Good evening

An exciting Champions League tie in prospect as Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs welcome Borussia Dortmund to Wembley.

The German side are going nicely in the Bundesliga: they have a handy five-point team over everyone's second least favourite team, Bayern Munich, after 21 matches. A lot of that success has been down to the performances of a young man born in Kennington, who got his career started at Watford, was signed by Man City while still in short pants, and then of course moved to Germany. He has scored eight, and provided 10 assists, so far this season.

Spurs apparently had a keen interest in getting the player from Watford, so there's some good haunting potential in that, and the reported £8m that the Germans paid is looking like the bargain of the season.

Poch has said: "We knew very well that he was capable of doing what he's doing now. We were talking in the last few years that he was a massive prospect."

But it is swings and roundabouts for the Dortmund side: the lad Sancho gets a start at least in part because Marco Reus is out with an injury.

Spurs, of course, have injury problems of their own, and will have to do this without Sir Harry, but have been coping reasonably well in his absence.

It should be a fun, fast and exciting game. I'll have the team news for you as soon as I can get it.