Harry Kane hands Tottenham a Champions League lifeline after leading fightback against PSV

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 PSV: The England forward helped bring Spurs back from the brink

Harry Kane's late intervention mean Spurs can still technically qualify for the last 16 (Getty)

If this is to be the greatest escape in Champions League history, it has begun dramatically enough. Harry Kane scored two late goals here to turn a 1-0 defeat – and the end of Spurs’ European season – into a 2-1 win which just about keeps it alive. It was a comic book ending of the type that Kane specialises in. But it was also a win that Tottenham deserved.

Yet again Spurs made life hard for themselves, conceding in the first minute, but then they dominated the game and created more than enough chances to win it. And yet the decisive blow in the final minute came with a tame header that deflected off two PSV players to divert it slowly into the net.

Looking back at Spurs’ campaign so far, the injury time defeat in Milan, the injury time draw in Eindhoven that felt like a defeat, and there was something gratifying about how they won this game. After not getting the results their performances deserved, here the little details finally went their way.

The legacy of those two bad away results is that even this win will probably not be enough to help Spurs through to the last-16. But at least they are still in contention, and qualification, as unlikely as it is, is still in their hands. It will be a huge night when they face Inter here on 28 November. But beat them by two goals or more, and Tottenham will have the upper hand. Then they will be able to qualify by beating Barcelona at the Nou Camp, unless Inter make it easier by failing to beat PSV. Yes it is still very unlikely, but that is better than impossible, which is what Spurs were staring at for most of tonight.

Spurs started as well as they could have done for a team who conceded their first goal after one minute. This is a bad habit that Tottenham have got into, and this was as bad an example as any. At least when they played Manchester City or Barcelona here they could put their early concession down to the elite quality they faced. But this was PSV Eindhoven and Spurs still could not start the game with the right attitude. After Toby Alderweireld sliced an early clearance behind, it was too easy for Luuk de Jong to run away from Dele Alli and head the ball into the net.

That was 1-0 down, and Tottenham were heading not for the Europa League but for a spring devoid of any European football whatsoever. Not what people were expecting when they dreamed of new European nights in the new White Hart Lane.

Perhaps that threat was what Spurs needed to spark them up. Because despite everything, the poor start, the hopeless context, and the 46,588 crowd, Tottenham went on to play surprisingly well. The only option for this game was to attack, so Pochettino went with one of the most attacking sides he has put out this year. His open 4-3-3 had Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli either side of Harry Winks, the nominal holder. Spurs sides in the past have had Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele or Victor Wanyama in that space. This was a very different approach.

Luuk de Jong celebrates his goal for PSV (Getty)

But with a midfield dedicated to creation, not destruction, Spurs dominated possession and started to make chances. Alli, put back into the team after missing Saturday’s trip to Wolves, was at the heart of everything Spurs did. He had a flick blocked on the line. He set up Kane whose shot was blocked by Nick Viergever. He fed Eriksen, his shot was saved by Jeroen Zoet and so was Alli’s follow up. Starting from deep but arriving late into the box, he was difficult to pick up. Only Zoet could stop him.

Three points were precious to PSV and so they defended as deep and rigidly as you would expect. The second half became a patience test for Spurs, as they tried to pick their way through the PSV defence without leaving themselves too open on the break. There was not much space and none of Spurs’ half openings ever turned into something they could exploit.

Pochettino had to turn to Erik Lamela, Fernando Llorente and Kieran Trippier from the bench, desperate for anyone who could make a difference. But not many would have expected Llorente to be the man to do that. When Spurs launched the ball forward, Kane won it, but this time he had a strike partner in Llorente to collect his flick on and give it back to him. Kane tucked the finish in the bottom corner.

Tottenham squandered a number of chances in front of goal but eventually got the result they deserved (Getty)

A draw was a bad result for both teams and so they each attacked as if they were desperate to avoid it. Llorente could have won the game for Spurs, but then Donyell Malen and Daniel Schwaab could have won it for PSV too. It did feel as if there was one more goal to come and it was Spurs who had the good fortune to get it.

Alli rolled the ball down the line to Davies who whipped in one last cross from the left. Kane got up at the far post to win a header that would never have beaten Zoet by itself. But it deflected off first Viergever and then Trent Sainsbury to roll into the only part of the net that Zoet could not beat. Lucky, yes, but also deserved for a dominant 90 minutes of football. It will probably not be enough for them, but who knows?