Report and free match highlights as Tottenham let a 2-0 lead from the first leg slip through their fingers in Croatia; Mislac Orsic scores a wonderful hat-trick to shock Spurs, with Dinamo Zagreb deservedly winning 3-2 on aggregate
Friday 19 March 2021 06:30, UK
Tottenham were sent crashing out of the Europa League by Dinamo Zagreb, losing 3-0 after Mislav Orsic's stunning hat-trick wiped out Spurs' 2-0 lead from the first leg.
Harry Kane's double last Thursday had put Tottenham in pole position to qualify for the quarter-finals, but they were made to pay for another horrible performance in Croatia.
Looking for a reaction after their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in Sunday's north London derby, Spurs were tepid in the first half but kept their aggregate lead intact and were 45 minutes from a gritty path to the last eight.
But forward Orsic produced an inspired hat-trick. His opener (62) was a thunderous, curling effort before slotting home from Iyayi Atiemwen's cross (82) to send the game into extra time. He then hammered home another superb effort in the added period (106) to produce one of the shocks of the round and send Spurs crashing out.
Tottenham were unable to reply to any of Orsic's wonderful goals, despite Jose Mourinho using all of the attacking players at his disposal, capping another miserable evening and leaving questions marks over where the team now goes in the remainder of the season.
It was a lacklustre first half from Spurs, who only saw a handful of half chances. Kane sent in a good cross from the left, but neither Erik Lamela or Dele Alli could convert. A
Alli then tried to send Kane through with a lovely pass, but it rolled straight into Dominik Livakovic's hands. Just after, Kane was through again, getting in behind Rasmus Lauritsen, but could not keep the ball under control as the Dinamo defender cleared.
Dinamo had eight shots to Spurs' four in the first half - five of which were blocked, mostly in a flurry of activity in the middle of the first half - but their best chance fell to Lovro Majer in the 35th minute.
His first shot tangled in Davinson Sanchez's legs, but his second effort was far better. However, he could only drag it wide of the post.
Tottenham's best opening also came just before the break. After some lovely Tottenham play, Kane drove down the left of the area before firing on a right angle, but goalkeeper Livakovic was there to save.
Zagreb were carving out openings early in the second half, and deservedly found the net in the 63rd minute. A wonderful ball from Majer fed Orsic down the left. He then cut inside before sending a sensational, curling effort into the far corner.
Tottenham made a small improvement after the introduction of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovanni Lo Celso. Moura cut the ball back to find Lo Celso in the area, and after turning past his marker, scooped an effort goalwards.
But it bounced off Lauritsen on the way through and allowed Livakovic to save. Then, it was a return as Lo Celso sent in Moura down the left but he could only smash an effort into the side of the net.
Zagreb threatened throughout to score another and did so in the 83rd minute. It was another superb goal from the hosts as Iyayi Atiemwen send a square pass into the area and Orsic was waiting in the middle to fire home.
It was only then that Spurs seemed to spring into some kind of life. Gareth Bale did well when he came on and send a cross into the area from the right flank. Kane met it at the back post, but Kevin Theophile-Catherine was there to clear it off the line, but the game was sent into added time.
Both sides saw sights of goal at the start of the extra period. Marin Leovac was found on the right by Atiemwen, but his flashed cross missed the waiting Mario Gavranovic. At the other end, Bale had all the space to shoot, but he send a good effort wide of the post.
Tottenham were stunned again in the 106th minute as Orsic completed his superb hat-trick. He easily breezed past Moussa Sissoko and Ndombele, driving into the area before unleashing another powerful effort past Lloris.
The pressure was on for Spurs and Kane could twice have won it for his side. However, both of his effort were saved by Livakovic in quick succession as Tottenham's exit from the Europa League was confirmed.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho told BT Sport: "In the 90 minutes and in the first half of extra-time, there was one team that decided to leave everything on the pitch. They left everything there - they left sweat, energy, blood and at the end of the game, they had even tears of happiness. Very humble, very committed and I have to praise them
"On the other side, my team didn't look they were playing an important match. But for me, it is for the respect I have for my own career and my own job. Every match is an important match for me and I believe that for every Tottenham fan at home, every match matters and another attitude is needed.
"To say that I feel sad is not enough because what I feel goes much further than sadness.
"I just left Dinamo's dressing room where I went there to praise the guys and I feel sorry that one team - that is not my team - won the game based on attitude, on comprise so I feel more than sad. Football is not just about players who think they have more quality than others. The basics of football go beyond that, the basics of football is the attitude and they beat us on that.
"Many times I fear my thoughts, my feelings but I don't blame myself in the sense that I always share them. Before the game, I told the players the risks of a bad attitude. I told them at half-time, even with 0-0, the risk of playing the way we were playing and it happened because I believe that the players only realised the game was in risk when they scored the second goal and it went to extra-time.
"I feel sorry that my team, I belong to that team, is the team that didn't bring to the game not just the basics of football, but the basics of life, which is to respect our jobs and to give everything.
"On behalf of my team, in spite of maybe some of them who don't share my feelings and my emotions, I can only apologise to the Tottenham supporters and I hope that the players feel the same as I feel."
Jamie O'Hara told Sky Sports News: "Tactically, I think they were all over the place. What was the plan going into the game? It was a basketball match. Too many players were not leaders on the pitch. Giving the ball away on the pitch. You cannot give the ball away in Europe because you don't get it back.
"It was a fantastic performance by Dinamo but Spurs gave them the lift, gave them the belief. That is one of the worst performances from Tottenham that I have seen in a long time."
Clinton Morrison told Sky Sports News: "Players like Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son want to play in the Champions League. Spurs are not going to be in the Champions League next season now. It is a huge body blow for Tottenham and the Tottenham fans."
Orsic was the thorn in Spurs' side for more than one reason. He scored a truly wonderful hat-trick and the Tottenham defence seemed to back off the longer the game went on, with Orsic afforded all the space to score his third goal. He will go down in Europa League history for his performance.
Orsic has been directly involved in seven goals in his last five Europa League games (five goals, two assists) and became the first Dinamo Zagreb player to score two hat-tricks in major European competition, also netting one in last season's Champions League versus Atalanta.
The Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draw will take place from 12pm UK time on Friday, March 19. You will be able to follow both draws with Sky Sports.
Tottenham are back on Sky Sports on Sunday when they visit Aston Villa in the Premier League; kick-off 7.30pm. Dinamo Zagreb will host HNK Gorica in the Croatian league on Sunday.