Kane at the double as Tottenham edge out Dortmund
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
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Harry Kane was the difference in a high-octane encounter as his two goals helped Spurs see off Dortmund and further quell talk of a Wembley hoodoo.
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Harry Kane was at his clinical September best, scoring twice as Tottenham saw off a spirited Dortmund side 3-1 in an absorbing encounter at Wembley.
The England striker's goalscoring instinct was the difference as Spurs, who ended with 37% possession, made the most of their opportunities.
His first goal capped a frenetic opening 15 minutes where Heung-Min Son's opener from an acute angle was cancelled out by a stunning curling shot from Andriy Yarmolenko on his full debut for Dortmund.
Kane's killer second on the hour came just as Dortmund stepped up their search for a second equaliser. From then on Spurs were the more likely scorers, though their second UEFA Champions League win in five attempts at Wembley was tempered slightly by a late red card for Jan Vertonghen.
Key player: Harry Kane (Tottenham)
With the ominous month of August gone, it seems Kane is back to his best just in time for the big stage. The Spurs ace took his first chance before killing the game off just as Dortmund threatened to turn things around. Some have questioned how dangerous Kane can be against the best, but his composed finish for Tottenham's third, his fourth in four UEFA Champions League appearances, is a perfect riposte.
Reporter's view: Daniel Thacker (UEFAcomDanielT)
This was the perfect start to UEFA Champions League Group H for Spurs, who managed to banish their Wembley jinx in the process of recording an important win against a direct rival for qualification. Kane was inspired, deciding things as he does with such regularity domestically, but praise must also go to Mauricio Pochettino, who got his tactics spot on. The Argentinian asked his players to sit deeper than usual and play on the break; their reward was three vital points.
