Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Spurs: (Match report)

Our lads were defeated by Borussia Dortmund 3-0 yesterday evening at the Westfalenstadion in what was a hugely one sided affair, as the German heavyweights dismantled our young side with their technical brilliance and poetical skill. It was Die Borussen who started the match with a flourish as they dictated the tempo from the moment go as they overwhelmed us with their artistry both on and off the pitch as their fans showcased the spectacle that is the yellow wall. Dortmund almost took an early lead on seven minutes as Erik Durm received a good pass inside the box and the German decided to let fly. However, the German internationals shot flashed agonisingly wide of the right post. Dortmund again went close five minutes afterwards as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a close range effort narrowly over the crossbar. The bombardment of chances that Dortmund were creating didn’t slow down in the preceding minutes and on 14 minutes Lloris was forced into making a fine save. The Armenian international Mkhitarayan hit a thumping effort from 25 metres out, and the alert Lloris was forced into making an excellent reflex save as the ball fell to the instinctive Aubameyang who managed to put the ball in to the back of the net. However the Gabonese international was ruled offside.

The struggling Lillywhites were unable to hold on and on the half hour mark the deadlock was broken by none over than Aubameyang. The forever threatening striker got on the end of Schmelzer’s wonderful cross and the Gabon international planted a header of exceptional precision in to the bottom right hand corner of the net, 1-0 Dortmund! We were unable to create any clear cut chances in the remaining minutes of the first half, and the lads walked down the tunnel at half time evidently relieved that it wasn’t three or four goals more to Dortmund as we were overwhelmed by their explosiveness in the first 45. The second half begun as similarly disappointing as the first for Pochetinno’s men as Dortmund almost doubled their lead. Aubameyang one on one with Lloris seemed destined to score, however his chipped effort went just wide as It fell at an awkward angle to Gonzalo Castro as he smashed the post. Spurs were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty shortly after as the skilful son was brought down forcefully in the Dortmund box by Bender. However the beautiful football that Dortmund played in the minutes after was some of the best seen in Europe all season, and on 61 minutes they reaped their rewards. Nevan Subotic knocked a deft header down to Marco Reus, and the extremely talented winger fired Dortmund into a two goal lead as he expertly volleyed the ball in to the roof of the net, 2-0 Dortmund!

Things went from bad to worse for our lads as less than 10 minutes after grabbing his first, Reus scored his second to make it three for Dortmund. The winger received a perfectly weighted cross inside the box and the German coolly slotted the ball with a side footed volley past the helpless Lloris, 3-0 to Dortmund. There were to be no more clear cut chances for either side in the remaining minutes as Dortmund won the match three nil on the night to send our lads home bitterly disappointed. It was an extremely dispiriting night for the Spurs fans as we had witnessed our high flying men be destroyed by a much better side, we were carved open from the start as Pochettino’s weakened side were unable to get a grasp on the game. Despite from an abundance of negativity that will be voiced by some fans from this game there were positives that should be highlighted. The defeat didn’t come down to a host of poor individual performances, it in fact came down to the fact that we lacked the steel and shape of a team that could deal with the tactically flawless Dortmund.

Pochettino’s selection was rightfully questioned and scrutinised by the fans as it was a much weakened side, we missed Dier’s tenaciousness in the midfield as well as Kane’s instinct and threat up front. However Alderweireld played extremely well despite the scoreline, the Belgian was omnipresent his individual performance was incredible and he was the reason that Dortmund didn’t score more. Lamela also showed great passion and hunger when he came on later in the match as did Onomah. However we are left with a humongous task next Thursday at the lane and if we are to gain anything from that match, we will need to field our strongest 11 and Dier and Dembele will be key to the scoreline in that match as well as the atmosphere generated from the White Hart lane faithful. COYS⚽️

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c); Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies; Carroll, Mason; Onomah, Eriksen (Lamela 65), Son (Kane 76); Chadli (Dembele 57). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Walker, Bentaleb.