Champions League: Harry Kane shines with hat-trick for Spurs

Apoel Nicosia 0 Tottenham 3

A Harry Kane hat-trick ensured Spurs maintained the 100% start to their Champions League campaign and kept pace with Real Madrid at the top of group H. The pair are on six points, with the Spanish club winning 3-1 away in Germany against Borussia Dortmund.

Tottenham now face Real in back-to-back encounters, matches that will determine who finishes top of the group. Significantly, however, Spurs have a six-point cushion over their German and Cypriot rivals and are thus already well-placed to make it through to the last 16.

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Yet again, the north London side had Kane to thank as the 24-year-old scored in his fourth consecutive Champions League appearance, a feat only Steven Gerrard has surpassed among English players in the competition.

In all, the England striker has scored 34 goals in 30 competitive appearances for Tottenham this year. He described last night’s exploits as “a very proud night for myself and the team”.

Kane scored his first of the night on 39 minutes, firing home Toby Alderweireld’s pass, and made it 2-0 just after the hour mark when he drove Moussa Sissoko’s cross into the Cypriots’ net.

His third came five minutes later with a well-placed header into the corner to take his Champions League tally this season to five.

“I try and score every game so it is a bonus when I get three,” said Kane. “We weren’t pleased with the first-half and a couple of chances could have gone the other way. We were more clinical and in the Champions League that is what you have got to be.”

Spurs started the match without seven players for various reasons but Kane described their replacements as “fantastic”. There was a palpable sense of relief from manager Mauricio Pochettino that Spurs had avoided the group banana skin.

“It was tough game,” said Pochettino. “It was important to get three points. It was a must-win and we were fantastic. There were some good performances from players who are not regulars and a hat-trick for Harry Kane, it was a fantastic performance.

“I am happy because in some games maybe we dominate and create lot of chances and cannot score. We were clinical in front of goal.”

Apoel Nicosia had their chances early on in the game, with Igor de Camargo rattling the crossbar on 19 minutes, but the difference between the two sides was Kane, who has has now scored six hat-tricks in 2017.

“I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “I’m still young, I’m feeling good, I’m feeling sharp so every game now I’ve got to try and do the same, try and help the team, run hard for the team and try and get the goals.”

Bigger challenges lie ahead for Spurs but with Kane in such form they have no reason to fear anyone, not even the reigning European champions.

“That’s six points out of two games and we’ve just got to push forward,” said Kane. “We’ve got Madrid next and we’ll look forward to that one.”

Last night’s Champions League results

Group E

• Sevilla 3 NK Maribor 0
• Spartak Moscow 1 Liverpool 1

Group F

• Manchester City 2 Shaktar Donetsk 0
• Napoli 3 Feyenoord 1

Group G

• Besiktas 2 RB Leipzig 0
• Monaco 0 FC Porto 3

Group H

• Apoel Nicosia 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3
• Borussia Dortmund 1 Real Madrid 3

Tonight’s Champions League fixtures (7.45pm kick-off unless stated)

Group A

• FC Basel vs. Benfica
• CSKA Moscow vs. Manchester United

Group B

• Paris Saint Germain vs. Bayern Munich
• RSC Anderlecht vs. Celtic

Group C

• FK Qarabag vs. Roma (5pm)
• Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea

Group D

• Juventus vs. Olympiakos
• Sporting Lisbon vs. Barcelona