Second-half bonanza against Bundesliga leaders

Three second-half goals stunned Borussia Dortmund as we took a huge step towards the Champions League quarter-finals at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Bundesliga leaders simply had no answer for our magnificent performance in the second period, which started just two minutes after the interval when Heung-Min Son opened the scoring with a fine volley - his ninth goal in 11 career games against Dortmund!

Dortmund had four shots on target in the first half and were proving to be tough opponents, Hugo Lloris producing an outstanding save from Dan-Axel Zagadou just before half-time, but it was so different in the second period as we completely dominated. And the scoreline was given the goals that the performance deserved as we netted twice in the final seven minutes through Jan Vertonghen - excellent all night at left wing-back - and substitute Fernando Llorente to secure our first-ever home win in the knockout stages of the competition.

With another healthy crowd in attendance and a typical Champions League night atmosphere to match, we had the first sight of goal after just seven minutes when Lucas Moura controlled Davinson Sanchez’s header on his chest, swivelled and hit a volley that flew just inches past Roman Burki’s far post. There was a moment of danger eight minutes later when Juan Foyth - back in our Champions League squad as all four senior centre-backs started the same game for the first time - lost possession on the edge of his the area and Christian Pulisic was in on goal but his shot from a tight angle was saved by the legs of Lloris.

To be fair, both sides were defending well and chances were few and far between, although a flurry of opportunities arose just after the half-hour. Christian Eriksen sent an effort high over the bar after good work down the right flank by Foyth, Thomas Delaney’s drive from distance was parried away by Lloris and at the other end, Eriksen’s clever pass set Son free down the left but his low shot was flicked away by the boot of Burki with Lucas ready to tap home at the back post.

The best chance of the half came in the final minute and it went the way of the visitors. England winger Jadon Sancho’s cross was met by Zagadou with a downward header but Lloris dived across to claw the ball out just as it looked like it was about to cross the line.

It didn’t take long after the interval for the breakthrough to arrive though - just over 60 seconds in fact - and it was Dortmund’s nemesis Son with the goal. We won the ball back high up the pitch down the left, Eriksen finding Lucas who touched off for Vertonghen, his superb cross evading Abdou Diallo and Son able to cushion a volley past Burki. That gave us real confidence and we were attacking with much more verve, Toby Alderweireld glancing a corner goalwards which Burki saved, Eriksen testing the keeper from distance and there were a number of times when good build-up play was just let down by the final pass.

We were playing with such composure that Dortmund could barely get the ball as we knocked it about, pulling them from side to side and being patient in our possession. And that patience was rewarded with a superb second goal when right wing-back Serge Aurier sent over a magnificent centre which Vertonghen volleyed past Burki with seven minutes to go. That sent the stadium wild, but we weren’t finished there! Four minutes from time, Eriksen delivered a corner which Llorente, only on the pitch for two minutes, glanced past the Dortmund keeper to give us a very healthy 3-0 advantage to take to Germany for the return on 5 March.

Key moment

Time will tell how important our goals will be, particularly those two late strikes which gives the tie such a positive look in our favour, but we cannot underestimate the importance of Lloris’ save on the stroke of half-time.

The Frenchman dived full-stretch to his right to deny Zagadou, somehow clawing his effort behind just before it crossed the line.

Had that header gone in, it would have been a very different contest – but thanks to our skipper, it didn’t and we were able to take full advantage at the other end upon the restart. Importantly, it also denied Dortmund an away goal.

Mauricio's view

Delighted manager Mauricio Pochettino said: "I’m so happy but it’s only the first leg and we need to finish the job. It was an amazing result and the players deserve massive praise because the effort was massive but we need to think that it’s going to be tough to play over there.

"You always need some luck to open up the game and we started to play with more confidence (after half-time). The first half was tough, it was an even game but after Sonny scored the team started to feel more free and started to play in a very good way."

Second goalscorer Jan added: "We knew we would come up against a very good team. We played them last season and they have only improved compared to last time. We saw that in the first half where they played very well and made it hard for us to press and 0-0 wasn’t too bad a result at half-time.

"We came out of the dressing room well and that first goal helped us. After, it’s 1-0 and what are we going to do at home? 1-0 in the first leg is a good result, but they dropped a bit and we were able to benefit from that."

Reaction on Spurs TV

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Son 47, Vertonghen 83, Llorente 86.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Aurier; Borussia Dortmund - Delaney.

Referee: Antonio Lahoz (Spain).

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London.

Weather: Clear sky, light winds, seven degrees.

Attendance: 71,214.