The over 60,000 in attendance at Wembley Stadium couldn’t have found a better way to spend their Wednesday night.
Specifically Tottenham supporters that is, who witnessed their side produce a rare win in the national team’s stadium after edging past Borussia Dortmund 3-1 during the Group H encounter.
But, for both sets of fans, and neutrals alike, it was a match that was loaded with end-to-end action. For almost every moment Dortmund pressured Tottenham and looked poised to score, Spurs, somehow, came away with the ball and mounted a dangerous counter-attack.
However, there were plenty of mistakes that added to the excitement. Whether it was poor marking or a missed foul call, the gaffes helped the contest stand out as the most exciting spectacle from Matchday 1.
Here’s a rundown of the lapses in judgment that helped fuel the buzz at Wembley Stadium:
Referee and linesman suffer temporary blindness
In what he later described as one of his best goals, Harry Kane could have easily been stopped in his tracks for a pair of perceived fouls en route to giving Tottenham a 2-1 advantage in the first half.
The English forward muscled his way past a pair of Dortmund defenders, but there were genuine questions as to whether he should have been called for dropping Nuri Sahin and Sokratis Papastathopoulos. But it was the contact with Sokratis that appeared to be the more blatant of the two, as Kane dragged the Greek defender down from behind before breaking free on goal and delivering a fierce, left-footed finish.
Related – Watch: Yarmolenko, Kane trade golazos in frenetic start at Wembley
Harry Kane on his first goal: “It was probably one of the best goals in my career so far. It was nice to see that go in.” #UCL
— Daniel Thacker (@UEFAcomDanielT) September 13, 2017
Dortmund was later denied an equaliser when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was adjudged to be offside. Yet, replays show the Gabon forward was well within his right to lodge a complaint to the match official.
#BVB robbed of an equalizer! Aubameyang’s goal incorrectly ruled out for offside! Clearly onside, great finish too. #THFC #TOTBVB #UCL pic.twitter.com/4cLVzLvOqp
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonitoUSA) September 13, 2017
It was Tottenham who felt aggrieved late in the match when Jan Vertonghen was sent packing after picking up his second yellow for a foul on Mario Gotze.
Perhaps it was Gotze’s reaction that forced the official’s hand, as he tumbled to the ground in pain, but it’s difficult to presume there was much malice as Vertonghen’s attempt to shield the ball saw him inadvertently make contact with the German’s face.
#thfc Somehow, just somehow Jan Vertonghen has been sent off for this: pic.twitter.com/r270QNMLGb
— James McCarthy (@JMcCarthyLIVE) September 13, 2017
Burki’s nightmare
Roman Burki’s first Champions League encounter in a Dortmund shirt was one to forget.
The hosts needed just four minutes to break the deadlock when Heung-Min Son charged down the wing and fired Tottenham into the lead. But questions over Burki’s positioning have to be asked as the Swiss goalkeeper failed to properly cover his near post.
In what was almost a carbon copy, Kane found himself in a similar position just over 10 minutes later. Last season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner took a page out of Son’s book and launched his strike into the roof of the net.
Harry Kane has now scored 29 goals in 27 games for Spurs across all competitions in 2017.
Can’t stop, won’t stop. ? pic.twitter.com/vijAf1JxHE
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 13, 2017
Dembele briefly loses the plot
Andriy Yarmolenko couldn’t have asked for a better way to open his scoring account at Borussia Dortmund.
Less than a month after his move from Dynamo Kyiv, Yarmolenko sent the away section into a frenzy with a gorgeous, curling strike that found its way into the top corner of goal to bring Dortmund level following Son’s opener.
But it was a rare moment of lackluster defending from Mousa Dembele that helped Yarmolenko carve out a path and create enough space to unleash his shot, as the Belgian appeared to completely lose his marker in the seconds before the equaliser.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
