Tottenham walked out at Wembley with sights set on the Champions League quarter-finals but ended the night beaten by the greater experience and ruthlessness of old campaigners Juventus.
Son Heung-min’s scrambled finish six minutes before the interval strengthened Spurs’ position at Wembley after they recovered from two goals down to draw the first leg in Turin 2-2.
In an eventful first 45 minutes, Son and Harry Kane had wasted chances for the hosts, while Juventus were denied a clear penalty when Douglas Costa was brought down by Jan Vertonghen.
Tottenham appeared to be in control until Gonzalo Higuain turned in Sami Khedira’s flick to give Juventus a 64th-minute lifeline – which they capitalised on ruthlessly and Paulo Dybala raced clear for the decisive goal three minutes later.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side fought to revive their chances but to no avail, coming agonisingly close in the dying moments when Kane’s header hit the inside of the post but bounced right on the goal-line.
For Spurs, who last reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2010-11, it was a first defeat in 18 matches, while Juventus are unbeaten since 22 November – a run of 20 games.
The London club are the first English team to be eliminated from this season’s Champions League. Elsewhere on Wednesday, Manchester City lost 2-1 to Basel but went through 5-2 aggregate win to join Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
Manchester United and Chelsea could make it four Premier League sides in the last eight of Europe’s top club competition when they play the second legs of their ties next week.
United entertain Sevilla on Tuesday following a goalless first leg in Spain, before Chelsea play at Barcelona on Wednesday after it finished 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.
The result that came as a bitter disappointment to the English side and their supporters in the 84,010 crowd – and it is becoming a familiar tale under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
But the pain of this defeat could yet help to shape a successful future.
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