Kane, Aubameyang both get on the scoresheet but Tottenham striker edges personal duel in 2-1 win

Aditya Devavrat 03:06 22/11/2017
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  • Harry Kane keeps getting the chance to match up against some of the world’s best goalscorers, and keeps coming out of those match-ups having credibly gone toe-to-toe against more renowned opponents. It was Cristiano Ronaldo in Spurs’ last two Champions League games, with Kane giving a good account of himself against Real Madrid, and on Tuesday night it was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

    Both the Borussia Dortmund striker and the Tottenham man got on the scoresheet, but it was Kane’s side who emerged victorious – and the Englishman can even claim the smallest of victories in his personal duel. Aubameyang was a handful in the first-half but had little impact in the second, while Kane was a menace throughout as Spurs came from behind to beat their hosts 2-1.

    Here’s a closer look at how both players’ performances.

    BASIC STATS

    AUBAMEYANG

    Goals – 1

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 3 

    Shots on Target – 1

    Touches – 24

    Pass Accuracy – 71%

    Key Passes – 1

    Dribbles – 0

    Aubameyang put Dortmund in front with a well-taken goal.

    Aubameyang put Dortmund in front with a well-taken goal.

    KANE

    Goals – 1

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 3 

    Shots on Target – 1

    Touches – 28

    Pass Accuracy – 71%

    Key Passes – 1

    Dribbles – 0

    Kane's performance helped Tottenham seal top spot in their group.

    Kane’s performance helped Tottenham seal top spot in their group.

    EFFECTIVENESS

    AUBAMEYANG

    It was a tale of two halves for the Dortmund striker. In the opener he was brilliant, causing the Spurs defence all sorts of problems with his movement and overall pace. He probably should have had two goals before the break, and the game likely would have been quite different if he had managed to convert both his chances. As it was, Aubameyang converted one with an excellent finish to give Dortmund their half-time lead, but faded in the second-half along with the rest of his team as Spurs stepped up the pressure and turned the game around.

    That sort of day: Aubameyang got to celebrate a goal, but it wasn't enough.

    That sort of day: Aubameyang got to celebrate a goal, but it wasn’t enough.

    KANE

    Kane was a terror for the Dortmund defence throughout. He was harshly denied a chance to score by the referee’s whistle after being adjudged to have fouled Marc Bartra when he dispossessed the Dortmund man high up the pitch – Kane was through on goal, and that usually only ends one way. The England marksman wasn’t to be denied, however, equalising for Spurs in the second period with a precise, low finish, and his run created the space for Heung-min Son’s winner.

    Son scored Spurs' winner after Kane's far-post run created space in the box.

    Son scored Spurs’ winner after Kane’s far-post run created space in the box.

    KEY MOMENTS

    AUBAMEYANG

    19th min CHANCE: A glorious chance for Aubameyang to open the scoring. Andriy Yarmolenko’s superb pass over the top of Spurs’ defence found the Gabon striker, who slipped his marker with ease. With only the charging Hugo Lloris to beat, Aubameyang tried to slip the shot underneath the keeper’s legs but somehow managed to poke it wide.

    31st min GOAL: 12 minutes later, Aubameyang made up for his earlier miss. Yet again the chance was due to brilliance from Yarmolenko, whose back-heeled flick put the striker through on goal. No mistake this time, as he powered an unerring finish past Lloris to give Dortmund a 1-0 lead.

    35th min CHANCE: It was nearly the perfect scenario for Dortmund as they caught Spurs out on the counter, with Aubameyang charging into the box on the right. However, before he could get his shot away, Eric Dier put in a superb last-ditch tackle. The game would have been quite different had Dortmund gone 2-0 up.

    The goal that gave Dortmund the lead came from a superb finish.

    The goal that gave Dortmund the lead came from a superb finish.

    KANE

    17th min CHANCE: Technically, not even a chance, given it was called back by the referee’s whistle – albeit harshly. But it was a moment that showed what Kane’s all about. He led the Spurs press, as he usually does, and it seemed like he had cleanly dispossessed Bartra to fashion a chance for himself. Kane was through on goal but was called back as his energetic pressing was adjudged to have been a foul.

    43rd min SHOT: It wasn’t Kane’s best moment, although it showed the confidence he has in his ability. Spurs had a free kick on the left wing, and it was by no way a shooting angle. But some players do score from there, and Kane backs himself to be able to find the back of the net, or, at the very least, shoot in a way that it could turn into a chance for someone else. This time, however, his low, drilled shot hit the wall.

    49th min GOAL: A goal that typified both Spurs and Kane. Danny Rose – Spurs’ left-back, remember, but not at all going rogue by pressing high up the pitch – dispossessed Jeremy Toljan, letting Dele Alli pick up the ball. His pass found Kane, who created just enough space for himself to get a shot off. The precision in Kane’s strike beat Roman Burki in the small space available to the Dortmund keeper’s right.

    Kane went for the tougher side of the goal and found it to draw Spurs level.

    Kane went for the tougher side of the goal and found it to draw Spurs level.

    VERDICT

    AUBAMEYANG: 7/10

    If the Dortmund striker were to be judged solely on the first-half, his rating would be even higher, despite that early miss. Aubameyang went missing in the second, however, although that’s not entirely his fault – Spurs upped their game after the break and Dortmund couldn’t cope, often leaving their striker isolated. He was an absolute menace for the Tottenham back-line in the opening period, however, sending a reminder that he remains one of the world’s pre-eminent forwards.

    Aubameyang gave the watching world a reminder of his class.

    Aubameyang gave the watching world a reminder of his class.

    KANE: 8/10

    And speaking of the list of the world’s pre-eminent forwards, if there’s anyone who still doubts Kane should be on there, there’s not much more he can do to convince them. He led the line with menace, pressing high to give the Dortmund defence fits, creating space and chances for his teammates, and taking his goal with aplomb. Modern centre-forward play doesn’t get much better.

    Yet again, Kane went up against a renowned striker and came out looking good.

    Yet again, Kane went up against a renowned striker and came out looking good.

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