Tottenham took another step towards the Europa League quarter-finals when Harry Kane’s double secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday night.
Kane’s predatory attack put the hosts in front (25) before the forward pounced on a loose punt by Kevin Theophile-Catherine to double his count for the night (70).
There would be no second European hat-trick of the season for the England captain, who was replaced late as a precautionary measure following a challenge from Arijan Ademi.
The result puts Tottenham in a solid position ahead of the last 16 second leg matches on March 18, when José Mourinho’s team is now focused on facing Arsenal in the North London derby. Sky sports, on Sunday.
Tottenham proved too strong for Dinamo Zagreb in the round of 16 first leg
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Player Ratings
Tottenham: Lloris (6), Aurier (7), Dier (6), Sánchez (6), Davies (7), Sissoko (7), Ndombele (8), Lamela (7), Alli (7), Hijo (7), Kane (8).
Subs: Hojbjerg (6), Bale (6), Bergwijn (6), Lucas Moura (6), Vinicius (n / a).
Dinamo Zagreb: Livakovic (6), Ristovski (5), Lauritsen (5), Theophile-Catherine (5), Leovac (6), Majer (5), Jakic (6), Ademi (5), Ivanusec (6), Petkovic (5) ))), Órsic (5).
Subs: Gavranovic (n / a), Kastrati (6), Franjic (n / a), Atiemwen (n / a).
Man of the match: Harry Kane.
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Five wins in a row… Arsenal follow for Spurs
Tottenham had faced the Croatian side only once before in European competition, with Spurs beating Dinamo 4-0 at home during the 2008/09 UEFA Cup group stage, in which Darren Bent scored a hat-trick.
On Thursday, there was another display of the man leading Tottenham’s front row as Kane scored his 25th goal of the season during the opening period of his team’s 45th game of a hectic season.
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Tanguy Ndombele was one of seven changes for Tottenham
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Dinamo came to North London on a winning streak of eight straight, but after Mislav Orsic tested Hugo Lloris in the first minute, there was one-way traffic to the away goal.
Zoran Mamic’s team almost fell behind in fortuitous circumstances for the Spurs after 10 minutes when a Kane cross looking for Heung-Min Son at the far post wickedly deflected from Theophile-Catherine and flew just over the crossbar by Dominik Livakovic.
The hosts began to dominate possession, and it wasn’t long before Kane celebrated another Europa League goal after 25 minutes. Dele Alli pounced on a fumble before Ben Davies found Erik Lamela, who embarked on a slaloming run into the Zagreb penalty area.
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Kane reacted faster after Erik Lamela’s shot hit the post
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A good shimmy from the Argentine lost Theophile-Catherine but his shot with the outside of the boot cut the foot of the post. However, the ball fell kindly for the predator Kane, who was right up close.
Zagreb had sporadically threatened in the first half, with Luka Ivanusec priming Bruno Petkovic for a tame effort, but Mourinho sent his side roughly at the restart in search of a second goal.
Spurs team news
Mourinho promised changes and made seven in his starting eleven. Hojbjerg, Moura, Bale, Winks, Alderweireld, Doherty and Reguilon withdrew after the weekend’s 4-1 win against Crystal Palace. Davies started as a left back, Aurier as a right back, Dier as a center back, while Sissoko was selected alongside Ndombele. Dele Alli and Erik Lamela supported Son and Kane.
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Tanguy Ndombele felt he should have received a penalty when he fell inside the box under a challenge from Lovro Majer, but Dutch official Serdar Gozubuyuk was unfazed, much to Mourinho’s chagrin.
The Tottenham head coach prepared a triple change when Petkovic fired wide from the angle, as Gareth Bale, Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura entered the fray, and it almost paid instant dividends as Bale set up Bergwijn at the far post and his low volley It was rejected. by Livakovic.
But the Spurs would find the cushion of a second goal through a familiar source. Ndombele, who was in high spirits throughout, found Aurier with a raked pass and after his cross was deflected by Theophile-Catherine on Kane’s path, the result was inevitable, his shot passing low past Livakovic.
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Bruno Petkovic makes an early shot against Tottenham during 2-0 defeat
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It was actually a rare quality moment during a second period in which Kane was retired following a challenge from Zagreb captain Ademi. Ice was applied to the forward’s knee with Arsenal in mind, while substitute Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg received a warning, meaning he will miss the second leg due to suspension.
Bale was denied a mere third at the far post from Bergwijn’s center in the dying embers, while Carlos Vinicius still had time to meekly shoot at Livakovic’s gloves, but Spurs settled for two.
Jose: Kane doesn’t hit anything big
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Kane was removed late and ice was applied to his knee.
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Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho He said BT Sport: “I think one more goal would be a good reflection of the game and would put us in a much better position. But before the game, if you asked me if 2-0 was a good result, I would say. It is only a good result if we do the work there. It will be a difficult match. At home, they will feel more comfortable trying it with nothing to lose.
On Kane’s possible injury: “Harry I don’t think it’s anything big. Sunday is a game that everyone wants to play and the little things won’t stop it. I don’t have the feeling that it’s anything serious.
“He is doing everything. He’s doing the forward work of scoring goals, the teamwork of creating spaces and linking the game and the extra work that not many forwards do on defense. It helps us a lot. He has an incredible amount of clearances from crosses and corners. We couldn’t be happier. I gave a lot of the players a break and I’m very happy with what Vinicius is giving us. But with Harry on the field it’s a different story for us. “
Man of the Match – Harry Kane
Kane enjoyed another profitable night, as he has so often in the Europa League this season. With eight goals already in the competition, the 27-year-old is simply a Champions League player feeding on a lower level.
Kane has now scored 26 goals for Spurs this season, already surpassing his goal tally from each of his two previous seasons (24 in 2019-20 and 2018-19).
Zagreb couldn’t cope with his move, well placed for his two goals here, anticipating where the ball would land. Feeling another hat-trick, his importance to this Spurs team was underscored by the speed with which Mourinho called for Vinicius to take his place at the first sign of a hit.
Lloris: It’s only part time, work not done.
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Hugo Lloris highlighted the importance of the stage Tottenham is entering
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Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, speaking with BT sport: “The clean sheet is a satisfaction. It is good for us. The 2-0 is a good result. We could have scored one more but we are happy. We know what it will be like there. It is not done, only rest.
“He (Kane) is just enjoying his football. As we can see, it draws the ball. Lamela did an amazing job for the first goal and Harry was there at the right time to score. His second gives the team some relief before the second leg.
“We had some ups and downs in the season, but now we are in an important period and it is good to feel that the players are ready to help the team. If we work well as a team, we will give our talent more power to make a difference. ”
Opt for statistics
- Spurs have made progress in each of their three previous UEFA Europa League qualifiers when they won the first leg, against Lyon and Internazionale in 2012-13, and RZ Pellets WAC earlier this season.
- Dinamo Zagreb have still not beaten English rivals in European competition (two draws and seven losses), and each of their last six trips ended in defeat.
- Spurs have won each of their last five games in all competitions, matching their longest winning streak under coach José Mourinho (five, previously held in November 2020).
- Including the playoffs, Dinamo Zagreb suffered their first defeat in European competition since September 2020 (1-2 against Ferencváros), ending a nine-match unbeaten streak and six consecutive victories in tonight’s defeat.
Whats Next?
Sunday March 14 4:00 pm
Start 4:30 pm
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Tottenham travels to face Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday, live Sky Sports PL Y Sky Sports main event; coverage begins at 4 pm starting at 4:30 pm. Dinamo Zagreb will visit Varazdin at Prva HNL on Sunday at 2pm.
The second leg of this round of 16 tie will be on Thursday, March 18 at 5:55 pm.
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