Champions League moments - Jan Vertonghen

We continue our Champions League moments series with one of the best individual performances of the campaign - step up, 'SuperJan'.

Our run to the Champions League has been very much about the ability to beat the odds, to drag ourselves back from the brink, that strength of character and mentality.

There is one exception, when a dominant second half performance in the first leg of our last 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund yielded three goals and took us to the brink of the quarter-finals.

The inspiration behind that performance - Jan Vertonghen.

Champions League moments - SuperJan sinks BVB!

Spurs 3-0 Borussia Dortmund - last 16, first leg - Wembley - 13 February

The first half of our last 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund went as expected. BVB, now a familiar foe in Europe, were top of the Bundesliga at the time and impressive. Clear-cut chances were few and far between. Hugo Lloris had to be at his absolute best to deny Dan-Axel Zagadou from close range.

Then everything changed.

Two minutes into the second half, Jan Vertonghen, playing left wing-back in our 3-4-3 system, whipped in an inch-perfect cross converted by Heung-Min Son. Roman Burki denied Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen. Jan intercepted a pass, beat three men and fired just wide. BVB struggled to get back into the game.

It stayed 1-0 going into the final 10 minutes - but 'SuperJan' wasn't finished. With seven minutes to go, Serge Aurier picked out his run to the far post and he buried on the volley from close range. Minutes later, Fernando Llorente glanced home Christian's corner. Scenes at Wembley!

Jan reflected: "The first half wasn’t that great from us. Dortmund had the better of the game. We pressed better in the second half and that’s why I got the ball in that position (for the first goal), Sonny made a great run, I put the ball into the box and then you have to be a bit lucky. The centre-back misjudged it a bit and then Sonny, he was having the best moments of his career around that time and finished it well with his right foot.

"We were 1-0 up and 1-0 at home in the knockout stage of the Champions League is a good result. At 1-0, we’re thinking ‘let’s try to attack’ but at the same time, not concede. It was hard for them as well. They would have taken that 1-0 back to Dortmund. We scored twice in three minutes and 3-0 at home, that was a massive result for us.

"If I look at my qualities, it’s easier to attack than defend. It might sound crazy, but it’s true. The defending (in that position) is completely different to centre-back. I feel I know when to attack the opposition’s box and that’s what happened with the goal."

From the attacking flair of the first leg, Jan was back on defensive duties for the second leg as BVB threw everything at us. Home fans including the famous 'yellow wall' believed they could get back into the tie. They couldn't, thanks to some fantastic defending and a handful of saves from Hugo Lloris, including one out of the top drawer to deny Mario Gotze.

Then, three minutes into the second half, Moussa Sissoko released Harry Kane, 1-0 on the night, 4-0 on aggregate, all over.

Jan added: "In the away game, Dortmund started well but once you go in 3-0 (at half-time) you are very close to qualifying. I remember great saves from Hugo, great tackles from Ben and Davinson. We didn’t play well in that first half, we didn’t keep the ball and if the first goal comes, you know it’s going to be tough.

"We put everything on the line. We were able to defend as a team, not just as a back four or five but Winksy and Moussa in front, wingers and strikers as well. In the second half, Harry scored and it was all over."