Tottenham beat Dortmund to advance to the top of the table

A 2-1 victory in the second leg in Germany helped Mauricio Pochettino's team maintain their unbeaten record and secure top spot in Group F of the Champions League.

Goals: Aubameyang 31' - Kane 49', Son 76'.

Tottenham showed remarkable progress in their two encounters with Dortmund in the Champions League group stage this year. Photo: Reuters

Tottenham go into the fifth round of matches three points clear of Real and will go through as group winners if they win, as they have a better head-to-head record than the Spanish side. Meanwhile, Dortmund, runners-up in the 2012/2013 season, need three points to keep alive their slim hopes of progressing.

The home side had the chance to do so. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had just returned from a disciplinary spell with Dortmund, opened the scoring with 15 minutes left in the first half. It was a goal that showed the quintessence of a fast-attacking side, the identity Dortmund have built since the Jurgen Klopp era. Andriy Yarmolenko's one-touch backheel caught Jan Vertonghen by surprise, allowing Aubameyang to use his speed to score.

Before this goal, the Gabonese striker had a face-to-face situation with Hugo Lloris after Yarmolenko's chip but his shot was inaccurate.

Kane and Son bring sadness to Dortmund again. Photo: AFP

Tottenham responded immediately. Eric Dier's header from a corner forced Roman Burki to dive to save the goal. Son Heung Min rushed in to score the rebound but failed. Danny Rose marked his return with a cross for Christian Eriksen to tap in but Burki again saved.

Tottenham continued the pressure they had put on at the end of the first half early in the second half and it paid off with Harry Kane's equaliser. The England international was a nightmare for Dortmund's defence in the first leg when he scored twice. In Germany, Kane once again showed his cunning and ability to seize opportunities. Receiving the ball from Dele Alli, the 24-year-old striker took just a beat to control and shield himself from the pressure of Marc Bartra before unleashing a low shot. Kane's very discreet kick left Burki with no time to react.

Bartra was not at his best in this match. Just minutes after making a poor pass and narrowly escaping being the villain when Son was flagged offside, the former Barca defender was beaten by Alli on a left-wing run into the box. The England midfielder then played the ball back for Son to finish into the top corner, sealing the tie. The South Korean striker also scored in the first leg.

The defeat extended Dortmund's disappointing streak. Photo: Reuters

Tottenham showed a very different side to when they were completely outclassed by Dortmund and defeated 0-3 in the Europa League in March 2016. Pochettino's players maintained the pressure on their opponents throughout the end of the first half and almost the entire second half. They had more possession than Dortmund - which was not easy. Tottenham had already qualified for the next round but Pochettino still fielded his strongest team to help his players regain their momentum after losing 0-2 to Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend.

But it must also be said that Peter Bosz's team is not in good form. Dortmund have lost four of their last five Bundesliga games. The yellow shirt team shows that the big problem lies in confidence and Bosz is likely to not hold on to his job for long after this defeat. While their opponents have clearly improved, Dortmund shows the decline of one of the teams that was once considered the toughest to play against in the continental arena.

According to VNE