1 week ago
20
It was a contender for shock result of the season. Nobody had given Tottenham any hope after Saturday’s Premier League disaster here against West Ham, one which had come coated in vitriol for Thomas Frank. The fans had demanded his immediate removal as the manager only for him to stagger on.
The execution was stayed. But here were Borussia Dortmund, the Bundesliga’s second-placed team, who had lost only three games all season, to apply the final cut. Frank could see the bones in his resources – 13 players unavailable, only 11 established outfielders from which to select.
And yet Spurs rebelled. Frank rebelled and when it was over, he could reflect on taking a huge step towards direct qualification into the Champions League’s last 16. It was a fourth home win out of four in the competition – and a fourth clean sheet.
Xavi Simons was the star turn and he had plenty of support around him, players mining the depths of their resolve. Cristian Romero opened the scoring, Dortmund had Daniel Svensson harshly sent off in the 25th minute and Dominic Solanke – on his comeback to the starting XI – scored the second, his first of an injury-ravaged campaign. What crisis?
It was difficult to look too far beyond the Frank plot line. The occasion had felt as though it was all about him, however much he hated that. It was about the players, he had insisted on Monday – those that were still standing from a Spurs point of view. Frank was forced to load his bench with six teenagers.
The context was the toxicity against West Ham, which had moved the dial significantly in terms of Frank’s job prospects. Frankly, nobody had expected to see him back at the scene of his torment.
Frank changed his system again, lining up with three central defenders, mirroring how Dortmund set up. It was Destiny Udogie, who was back from injury, on the left of the trio, Djed Spence at left wing-back. Randal Kolo Muani was squeezed out and onto the bench.
It looked like an inspired move at the outset. Spurs tore out of the blocks, with Spence throwing down the gauntlet to the Dortmund right wing-back, Yan Couto. Spence had the size, strength and skill to trouble him. Simons was determined to make his moves and ask questions. So was Wilson Odobert. Simons probed with menace, his first-time passes especially easy on the eye.
The breakthrough goal swelled an unexpected feelgood factor. Spence won a corner after another surge around Couto and when Serhou Guirassy could only half clear it, Odobert swung at the dropping ball and missed. He was quick to react, quicker than Julian Brandt and blasted over a low ball. It was made to measure for Romero, who swept home.
It was a golden first half for Frank and Spurs, everything going their way. From the red card to Solanke’s lucky finish for the second goal. Svensson knew what was coming when the referee, Glenn Nyberg, a fellow Swede, was advised to go to the pitchside monitor. Svensson had taken a heavy touch and stretched out a leg in a bid to recover the ball. He swiped and missed, going into the side of Odobert’s knee instead. It was one that looked worse on the replays.
The Spurs fans rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Guglielmo Vicario took a poor touch on 21 minutes and had to clear for safety but Spurs were winning so no harm done. No boos. There were cheers upon the half-time whistle, the knowledge that Frank’s team could have been even further ahead. Simons had two decent sightings of goal before the interval.
Solanke could smile broadly after his goal. Odobert had danced away from his man to cross low and Solanke had a tap-in. Except he got himself into a tangle, the attempted flick going into his front foot, bouncing back off his trailing one and ricocheting in.
Dortmund have been a tough nut to crack this season. But for Bayern Munich’s pulverising form, Niko Kovac’s team would probably be in the conversation for the Bundesliga title. Their mentality has been if they are not to win then do not lose.
Kovac made changes for the second half, introducing Julian Ryerson at left wing-back and Emre Can into central midfield. The 10 men stabilised. The Dortmund fans kept up with their anthems. They bounced as one in the rain. Ryerson whipped a free-kick past the post.
It was possible to feel a few nerves among the home support and Frank certainly did not need to lose Lucas Bergvall to a muscular problem. On came the 17-year-old, Jun’Ai Byfield, for his debut at right wing-back. Pedro Porro moved into midfield.
Spurs needed to dig in because the fatigue levels rose. Simons led by example, playing through the pain of the swollen ankle he had suffered against West Ham. He launched into one tackle on Couto and whipped up the crowd. When he bought a yard inside the area to work Gregor Kobel, there was a smile on his face.
Kolo Muani was denied one-on-one by Kobel but it was about whether Dortmund could do anything at the other end. They controlled the second half in terms of possession and territory and it did not look as though they had the numerical disadvantage. Vicario kept out a late Nico Schlotterbeck header. Spurs held firm.
