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Tottenham played host to Dinamo Zagreb in their round of 16 Europa League first-leg clash. Having Harry Kane back with the in-form Gareth Bale has done Tottenham a lot of favours even though Gareth Bale was rested on the night and Dele Alli, Lamela and Son all played behind Harry Kane.
Tottenham had come for huge criticisms with their pattern of play and how they slipped off the table and the Europa League is their real chance of breaking into the top 4 as the competition for it has become so fierce lately. You can expect them to take it seriously, especially with Mourinho gunning for a trophy at least for Tottenham even though they have a final to be played against the in-form Manchester City.
Son tried to connect the ball for Dele Alli to nod in the 5th minute but he narrowly missed and the ball went for a goal kick. In the 20th minute too, Aurier delivered a wonderful ball into the ball and surprisingly, the goalkeeper sent it back out with his feet, giving no chance to the teeming Spurs players waiting to pounce in the box.
Lamela was instrumental in Kane bagging the goal in the 24th minute. He drove him and tried to poke the ball into the back of the net but the post came to the rescue to stop it and it came to the feet of Harry Kane who wasted no chance to tap into the empty net and give his side a deserved 1-0 lead. He is always in the right place and at the right time. Good striker's instinct.
Dinamo also had a chance of theirs in the 30th minute but it was easily saved by Hugo Lloris as the ball didn't threaten much. There was no better placement for the effort.
Harry Kane's goal was the only difference between these two sides and rightly deserved. They bombarded Dinamo and restricted them to only half chances throughout the first half.
In the 59th minute, Petkovic had the chance to draw his side level when an inviting ball found him in the box. He couldn't direct his effort properly and he found the side of the net instead. For a side who hadn't gotten many opportunities in the game, they should be ready to take a chance like this but they fluffed their lines.
Bale came on for Tottenham and in the 63rd minute, his outside the foot pass found Bergwijn at the edge of the post but given how narrow the side is, the goalkeeper produced a wonderful save to deny him after he attempted to get the ball in with his first time effort.
Tottenham put the game beyond Dinamo in the 69th minute when Aurier found Harry Kane in the box. He brilliantly controlled the ball and directed it into the back of the net cooly. 2 goals up for Tottenham and it looked good for them for the second leg.
The game ended 2-0 in favour of Tottenham and Dinamo had a lot to do in the second leg as they couldn't get the away goal that should tilt the tie in their favour at least.
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