Ajax have the lead and a potentially crucial away goal after beating Tottenham 1-0 in the first leg of this eagerly-anticipated Champions League semi-final.
Here, Press Association Sport picks out five of the main talking points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Vertonghen concussed?
Kane needs to be able in Holland
‘To dare is to do’ read the huge mosaic as the teams emerged – but there was precious little daring football when play got under way. Pochettino spoke about the importance of imposing Fernando Llorente’s presence before the match, but he failed to hold up the ball particularly well and wasted opportunities in the air. Son Heung-min’s suspension robbed Spurs of a key attacker and compounded the absence of star turn Kane. There is hope that the striker could make the return fixture in Amsterdam and his absense was keenly felt here, so too was that of Son.
Ajax in the driving seat
After knocking out Champions League holders Real Madrid and perennial Serie A champions Juventus, it was no surprise to see this bold, young side approach this game in such a fearless manner. This is Ajax’s first semi-final since 1997 and they taught Spurs a footballing lesson in the first half. Their weekend break saw them come into the match fresh and Donny Van De Beek coolly finished at the end of a superb team move inside 15 minutes. There were hairy moments for Erik Ten Hag’s side, but David Neres could have all but put the tie to bed when he hit the post as the match came to a close.
Ajax stars to be snapped up
So much talk has been about Barcelona-bound Frenkie De Jong and Ajax’s inspiring captain Matthijs De Ligt, but there are so many other impressive components of a side that is sure to be broken up sooner rather than later. Hakim Ziyech, the fleet-footed Morocco star, shone at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Van De Beek continued to impress as he complemented a fine finish with impressive running. Neres is another star in the making and head coach Ten Hag is sure to be lined up by another European big boy when a vacancy opens up.