Tottenham dumped out of Europa League as Mislav Orsic hits stunning hat-trick in Dinamo Zagreb comeback

Dejected: Tottenham crashed out of the Europa League in Zagreb
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
George Flood18 March 2021

Woeful Tottenham have been dumped out of the Europa League at the last-16 stage after a terrific comeback from Dinamo Zagreb.

Mislav Orsic completed a stunning hat-trick in extra-time to seal an incredible 3-0 second-leg win for the Croatians, who initially trailed 2-0 in the tie after a listless first-leg loss in north London seven days ago.

Such a dismal, unexpected result that follows hot on the heels of defeat by rivals Arsenal leaves serious questions to be answered by manager Jose Mourinho, with Tottenham now left with the unenviable task of needing to overhaul a six-point gap to the top four in the Premier League in the final 10 matches in order to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

But what an extraordinary achievement from Dinamo, whose preparations for the second leg were massively disrupted earlier this week after head coach Zoran Mamic resigned in the aftermath of being handed a four-year prison sentence for fraud. Former Zagreb midfielder Damir Krznar was named as his replacement.

The best chance of a quiet first half in normal time fell to Lovro Majer, who drilled a low effort wide as Davinson Sanchez - who gave away the decisive penalty in Spurs’ north London derby defeat on Sunday - and Eric Dier were also forced to make key blocks.

Tottenham’s best sight of goal before the break was for a man whom many felt beforehand should potentially have been rested in Harry Kane, who tried to lift the ball home at the front post but was denied by a smothering save from Croatian international goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

Dinamo were much the better and more purposeful side after the interval, with Bruno Petkovic’s shot blocked by Dier before the striker blazed over from a difficult angle.

Then the damage was emphatically inflicted by the excellent Orsic, who first cut inside Serge Aurier and rifled an unstoppable effort beyond Hugo Lloris and into the top corner before wretched Spurs failed to learn their lesson and substitute Iyayi Believe Atiemwen’s cut back was sidefooted home with style by the Croatian.

Kane’s back-post header was later cleared off the line by ex-Cardiff defender Kevin Theophile-Catherine and substitute Gareth Bale failed to make the most of a last-gasp free-kick as extra-time beckoned.

Marin Leovac and Bale both missed chances in the opening period of extra-time before another lovely, flowing finish from man of the match Orsic proved decisive.

Livakovic then joined Orsic in attaining hero status, denying Kane with a superb last-ditch save as the England captain, Bale and Steven Bergwijn all tried to force a penalty shootout to no avail, leaving Dinamo to enter Friday’s quarter-final draw.

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