Tottenham Hotspur vs Juventus. UEFA Champions League First Knockout Round.
Wembley StadiumAttendance84,010.
3-4
Thursday 8 March 2018 06:15, UK
Tottenham were knocked out of the Champions League after Juventus scored twice in three minutes to win the second leg of their last-16 clash 2-1 at Wembley and secure a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Heung-min Son's 39th-minute opener looked to have put Spurs on track for the quarter-finals.
But, despite looking to be on the ropes for much of the opening hour, Juve stunned the hosts as Gonzalo Higuain finished in the 64th minute and then played in Paulo Dybala to score the second shortly aftwerwards.
Harry Kane came agonisingly close to a late equaliser but saw his header roll along the goal-line after hitting the post.
As Juventus celebrated wildly at the final whistle, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino headed straight down the tunnel, having seen his side blow a golden chance to make the last eight for the first time since 2010/11.
Unlike in Turin, where Juventus scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, this time it was Spurs who made the fast start, as they set a pace that the visitors struggled to cope with in the first half.
Son forced Gianluigi Buffon into an early save with a shot across goal before Kane rounded the Juventus goalkeeper but could only hit the side-netting from a tight angle.
Juventus were rightly aggrieved in the 17th minute when they were not awarded a penalty after Jan Vertonghen slid in and caught Douglas Costa from behind.
However, that was a rare positive moment for the hurried visitors, as Buffon punched away a header from Son and Dele Alli and Kane also had shots before the deadlock was broken in the 39th minute.
Alli was denied by a sliding challenge as he was set to pull the trigger but the ball broke for Kieran Trippier to square for Son to finish with a scuffed effort.
Miralem Pjanic almost replied quickly with a shot that went narrowly wide, but otherwise Juventus offered little, with Spurs continuing to look the dominant side even after half-time.
But the visitors improved after a couple of substitutions and scored twice in three minutes to turn the tie on its head.
First, Sami Khedira flicked on a cross for Higuain to turn in and then Dybala was played through and finished expertly past Hugo Lloris.
Spurs piled on the pressure in the final 20 minutes but the closest they came to forcing extra-time was when Kane's header hit the post and rolled along the line.
Mauricio Pochettino: "I am disappointed because we missed a lot of chances and the team deserved more. The way we conceded two goals we feel disappointed, but the performance was fantastic. It was a bit unfair because to concede these two goals is tough because until this Tottenham were much better and the game was under control. But that is football and now we try to see the future and look to a lot of games ahead."
Massimiliano Allegri: "The changes made a difference and gave us a real boost, it was the right time because I felt there had been a bit of dip in the physicality of the Spurs players. Even at 1-0 down we had a good reaction and we carried on playing, we knew we were capable of scoring and if anything we were concerned that we would concede another goal."
Giorgio Chiellini had some excellent moments in defence for Juventus, as well as some rash moments, but Higuain provided the decisive moments.
Despite hardly been involved in the game, he finished well to pull the visitors level and then spun away from Davinson Sanchez and played a perfect pass through for Dybala to make it 2-1.
Spurs are next in action on Sunday when they host Bournemouth in the Premier League, live on Sky Sports. The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals takes place on March 16, with the matches on April 3/4 and 10/11.
