Match ends, APOEL Nicosia 0, Tottenham Hotspur 3.
Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as Tottenham maintained their 100% start in the Champions League with victory over Apoel Nicosia.
Kane - who also scored twice in Spurs' opening win over Borussia Dortmund - put his side ahead in the 39th minute, slotting into the bottom-left corner from Toby Alderweireld's pass.
The England striker then calmly stroked in Moussa Sissoko's cross from the edge of the penalty area in the 62nd minute to double the lead.
He completed his hat-trick five minutes later with a header into the bottom corner.
- Kane can be Spurs' greatest striker - Hoddle
- Listen: 5 live's Football Daily podcast
- In Short: 'I'd choose Kane over Aguero, Morata and Lukaku'
Kane's three goals were Tottenham's first three shots on target in the match, and Mauricio Pochettino's side were lucky not to concede earlier.
Apoel hit the crossbar through Igor de Camargo's fierce shot in the 19th minute, while Hugo Lloris was forced into two smart saves after the break with the score 1-0.
But Kane's clinical performance was the difference and he has now scored six hat-tricks in 2017 and five goals in the Champions League this season.
The win takes Tottenham level on points with Real Madrid at the top of Group H and importantly six points clear of Borussia Dortmund, who lost at home against Real.
Kane inspires depleted Spurs
Tottenham were without key players Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen through suspension, as well as the ill Christian Eriksen, for their trip to Cyprus but Kane ensured Spurs did not slip up against the side expected to be the weakest in the group.
His hat-trick was a 'perfect' one - his first goal coming with his left foot, the second his right foot and third with his head.
Although different in their finishes, Kane's goals were alike in the way he showed uncanny composure to score from Spurs' only clear chances on the night.
There has been plenty of debate as to whether Kane is world class but he has now scored six goals in his past four games in Europe's elite club competition.
The England striker has also scored 11 goals for club and country this month, having failed to score in August.
After the match he rightfully paid tribute to the excellent delivery for each of his goals from Alderweireld, Sissoko and Kieran Trippier, but this was Kane's night.
Improved Spurs strongly placed in Group H
Last season's Champions League campaign was one of frustration for Spurs as they finished third behind Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen and only won two of their six matches.
But this season Tottenham have as many wins in two matches and sit in prime position in the group as they look to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2010-11.
They now face back-to-back champions Real Madrid in consecutive games, firstly at the Bernabeu on 17 October.
Spurs still have to travel to Dortmund to play the current Bundesliga leaders but they will do so knowing they would likely progress with a draw at Westfalenstadion, were they to repeat their victory over Apoel at home.
The north London club have an identical record to Real Madrid after two games and, with Kane in his current form, may well fancy their chances against a side who have only taken 11 points from 18 in La Liga.
It was must-win - Pochettino
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "It was a tough game. They were very motivated. It was important to get three points. It was a must-win and we were fantastic. Today 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. Tonight we were clinical in front of goal."
Kane's incredible 2017 - the best stats
- Harry Kane has now scored 34 goals in 30 competitive appearances for Tottenham in 2017.
- Following this goal, Kane has now scored against 46 different opponents during his club career and versus 36 different teams for Tottenham in all competitions.
- Kane has now scored in four successive Champions League appearances - only the second English player to do this in the competition after Steven Gerrard (five in a row).
- His treble means that he has scored six hat-tricks in 2017 alone and nine in his whole career - all for Spurs.
- He is the seventh different English player to score a Champions League hat-trick (after Andy Cole, Mike Newell, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer, Danny Welbeck).
- Tottenham have won their opening two games of a Champions League campaign for the first time.
- Spurs have netted six goals in the Champions League this season from just eight shots on target.
- Apoel have never kept a clean sheet at home in the Champions League group stages (10 games).
Line-ups
Apoel Nicosia
Formation 4-4-2
- 99WatermanBooked at 39mins
- 29Vouros
- 5Rueda
- 50da Cruz Junior
- 3Lago
- 17Zahid
- 16Oliveira FrancoBooked at 51mins
- 26Morais BarbosaSubstituted forAlexandrouat 84'minutes
- 46AloneftisSubstituted forFariasat 75'minutes
- 20SallaiSubstituted forMakrisat 63'minutes
- 9de Camargo
Substitutes
- 1Gudiño
- 8Poté
- 11Alexandrou
- 22Antoniou
- 25Farias
- 30Merkis
- 33Makris
Tottenham
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Lloris
- 24AurierSubstituted forLlorenteat 57'minutes
- 4Alderweireld
- 6D Sánchez
- 33Davies
- 2Trippier
- 15Dier
- 29WinksBooked at 85mins
- 17SissokoSubstituted forGeorgiouat 84'minutes
- 7Son Heung-min
- 10KaneSubstituted forNkoudouat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Vorm
- 14Nkoudou
- 18Llorente
- 21Foyth
- 37Walker-Peters
- 42Georgiou
- 46Oakley-Boothe
- Referee:
- Pavel Kralovec
- Attendance:
- 16,324
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, APOEL Nicosia 0, Tottenham Hotspur 3.
Post update
Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Igor de Camargo (APOEL Nicosia).
Post update
Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Praxitelis Vouros (APOEL Nicosia).
Post update
Attempt missed. Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Son Heung-Min.
Post update
Corner, APOEL Nicosia. Conceded by Toby Alderweireld.
Post update
Attempt missed. Igor de Camargo (APOEL Nicosia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ghayas Zahid with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jesús Rueda (APOEL Nicosia) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Booking
Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Agustín Farías (APOEL Nicosia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Anthony Georgiou replaces Moussa Sissoko.
Substitution
Substitution, APOEL Nicosia. Nektarious Alexandrou replaces Nuno Morais.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
Post update
Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Agustín Farías (APOEL Nicosia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Corner, APOEL Nicosia. Conceded by Davinson Sánchez.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ghayas Zahid (APOEL Nicosia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Agustín Farías with a headed pass.
Comments
Join the conversation
Shaky first half. Fantastic result. COYS
COYS!!
Kane has scored more goals in 2017 than West Ham!
Kane has scored more goals than the Goons this season
Kane's scored multiple goals against all the 'Top 6'. He scored a brace against Dortmund. He's got 7 goals in 5 UCL games. He's not the beneficiary of "comedy defending". He scores all sorts of goals & makes 'em look simple as he always does the right thing. 99% of players in the same position wouldn't score. Anyone who thinks he isn't the real deal needs to go to football school.
---
@42. garthybarthy
"I like Spurs but singing Harry Kane 'He's one of our own' when the guy was an Arsenal supporter growing up, your biggest rival. It's quite comical"