Dortmund exit Champions League as misery continues

Borussia Dortmund 1 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur

(Aubameyang 31' - Kane 49', Son 76')

For nineteen minutes of Tuesday night's match, things looked rosy again for Borussia Dortmund. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had got back on the scoresheet after his suspension, Peter Bosz' tactics looked sound and Spurs appeared frustrated.

But it took just four second half minutes, and another individual error, for all that fragile confidence to unravel. Jeremy Toljan dwelt in possession on the right and was robbed by Son, he found Dele Alli, who found Harry Kane and the England hitman did the rest.

Suddenly Dortmund looked less like the confident European giants who had taken the lead with a briliiantly crafted Aubameyang goal in the first half and more like the side that hasn't won a match against another top flight side since September.

Marc Bartra denied Kane a second before handing the ball straight back to Spurs in a dangeorus area, Roman Bürki just about smothered another promising Spurs break and then the killer blow arrived, and again it was all too easily preventable.

Once more, Alli was involved, the young England midfielder wriggling through a pair of challenges from Mario Götze and Bartra far too eaily before shifting it to Son to curl home in acres of space in the middle of the penalty box.

With Real Madrid hammering APOEL Nicosia 6-0 away from home, even a win wouldn't have been enough for Dortmund to stay in the Champions League but a result would have made them breathe slightly easier on matchday six.

As it is, Dortmund have the small matter of a Revierderby against resurgent Schalke at the weekend, which Bosz admitted after the game he "needs to win for my position"- and will then either need to get something from Madrid on December 6 or hope APOEL lose to Spurs, who are assured of topping the group.

The way things are going for the Dutch coach and his men, relying on others may be the best thing for them.