Are we on the road to greater things now?

Apoel 0 Spurs 3.

I predicted 4-0, but we quite didn't get there, but good enough for me. We needed to set our marker and show the world that we haven't joined the Champions League to make up the numbers. Deary me, no. We are here to challenge the best and by the end of the tournament hopefully hold the trophy high. I know some will smirk at that remark, but I do have confidence in our squad and what we can do. Last year we had the best starting eleven. This season, we not only got that, but have a good squad to back them up

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Before kick-off, Ian Moores, a striker who had played for Tottenham in the 1970s and then Apoel in the 1980s, was remembered with a video of some of his 39 goals while living in Cyprus. Sadly Moores died of lung cancer in 1998 at the age of only 43.

Apoel were hoping to become the first Cypriot team to defeat an English opponent in European competition, sadly - for them - not this time.

Let us make no bones, Apoel was a persistent threat. Finding space behind Serge Aurier down Tottenham’s right and were within inches of taking the lead when Stathis Aloneftis released Igor de Camargo, only for his shot from the edge of the penalty area to bounce off the cross-bar. Their centre-back, Carlao, then got past Toby Alderweireld following Ghayas Zahid’s corner but headed wide. A Lloris’s clearance struck Aurier and back just wide of his own goal.

Thirty-nine minutes were gone when Kane suddenly delivered. Alderweireld played a long ball forward and Kane cleverly turned Jesus Rueda before opening up his body to finish past goalkeeper Boy Waterman with his left-foot. Apoel shouted for offside but it was their full-back Praxitelis Vourplayinging him on-side. 

Spurs had an excellent chance to extend their lead within seconds of the second-half starting when Kane found Son down their left but his attempt from an acute angle went narrowly wide.

Apoel was still trying to take the game to us whenever they disrupted possession and soon nearly created an equaliser. First Zahid found space and shot over before Roland Sallai forced a save of Lloris. Lloris then had to be alert again to deny Aloneftis, who had beaten Aurier for pace and delivered a powerful shot. Pochettino took off Aurier and moving to Trippier to right full-back while pushing Fernando Llorente up alongside Kane. It proved inspired, with Trippier then releasing Moussa Sissoko who in turn found Kane on the edge of the penalty area. He instantly brought the ball under control before finishing with a great goal. Kane was still not finished and he then glances Trippier’s cross beyond the helpless Waterman.

Match over and job done. Two league matches to go (Huddersfield away, and then Bournemouth home)  and then a trip to Madrid - on the 17 October - to meet Real Madrid, arguably the best European football club team. To either beat them or get a draw on their home turf would mean so much to us. It would mean we have arrived. And don't forget that Real Madrid has Bale and Modric, both former Spurs players. Can it get any more exciting than that? You can feel the excitement running through your veins.

Spurs home is at Wembley, but I don't see it as a jinx, but a chance to prove our worth. A good team will be able to play anywhere and under any conditions.

We are now 2nd in the Champions League, on equal footing to Real Madrid; goal difference, everything.

Yours Truly, Don Scully