Tottenham’s first Champions League Final appearance in their history ended in heartbreak as Liverpool won 2-0 in Madrid to win the European Cup for a sixth time.
Spurs had, in truth, ridden their luck at times to reach the showpiece at the Wanda Metropolitano, but fortuity soon ran out as Liverpool were awarded a penalty after only 22 seconds.
Mo Salah stepped up, and Liverpool were in front.
Tottenham responded well, and dominated for large parts that followed with making the breakthrough.
A second goal would prove decisive, and it went to Liverpool. Substitute Divock Origi firing home from an acute angle in the 87th minute.
Standard Sport’s Dan Kilpatrick was part of our coverage in Madrid, and here are his thoughts from a Spurs perspective…
Contentious penalty call decisive
Defeat will be all the more painful for Spurs because of the nature of Liverpool's opening goal, a penalty by Mo Salah awarded after 25 seconds. Sadio Mane's chip struck Moussa Sissoko on the armpit and ricocheted onto his arm; referee Damir Skomina had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Sissoko had appeared to be gesturing to his teammates to form a defensive line and, while it was clearly not deliberate, his arm was in an unnatural position, so it was probably the correct decision by the letter of the law.
Although Divock Origi settled the game late on with a fine low finish, the penalty call coloured the match, killing the atmosphere and leading to a dire spectacle, in which Liverpool were simply happy to maintain their lead and let Spurs probe for an equaliser. Spurs were on the receiving end of a similar call in the quarter-final first-leg against Man City, although on that occasion Hugo Lloris saved Sergio Aguero's spot-kick, and the competition has clearly been changed by Uefa's handball interpretation. In the end, it felt somewhat fitting that it decided this final but for Spurs it will lead to many more 'what-ifs' than a less controversial defeat.
Early goal costs Spurs again
Whatever you made of the penalty call, conceding early in high-pressure European games is Tottenham's speciality. Think Juventus, Barcelona (twice), Man City and Ajax. They've conceded eight times in the first 15 minutes of Champions League games this season, proving that Salah's driven penalty was no anomaly. Even if Sissoko was unlucky, Spurs still allowed Mane in behind within 20 seconds.
They just seem too often start these games half-asleep. Clearly, their presence here proved they are also masters at responding but this was one hill too many, as the earliest ever goal in a Champions League Final proved decisive. The bad habit has been a blessing for neutrals and Spurs' fans up to this point, leading to the nerve-shredding matches against Barca, City and Ajax but it was unsustainable and always going to cost them eventually. So it was, in the biggest match of all. When they pain subsides, Spurs will be so much better for this run but one of the lessons they must take forward is to cut out the slow starts. It has happened too often to be coincidence
Three-week break affects Spurs' rhythm
In common with their opponents, Spurs simply could not get going in the first half and the three-week break seemed to have robbed both teams of momentum and sharpness. A scrappy, sloppy game would have suited Spurs at 0-0 but once they had concede the goal, they needed a moment of quality to hit back at Liverpool and they simply did not have it. Their rally, with Son, Lucas and Eriksen all forcing good saves from Allison meant they certainly edged the game in terms of good chances but it all came too late.
Kane proves his fitness but fails to shine
From a Spurs perspective, you have to analyse the decision to start Kane, given the sheer magnitude of Pochettino's call. The England captain had not played since April 9 due to an ankle injury and clearly there was a case for starting Lucas Moura after his performance in Amsterdam. It took Kane until stoppage-time to test Alisson and he was not at his sharpest. Perhaps he was not match-fit. But then nobody was, across both the teams, and certainly Kane did not look after rustier than say, Dele Alli or Christian Eriksen.
Ultimately, Kane proved he was fit by completing 90 minutes and it is impossible to leave out a fit Harry Kane, regardless of the other options. Pochettino may take some flak for the decision, particularly as Lucas looked sharp when he replaced Winks on the hour, but he made the right call with the wrong result.
Spurs should be proud of run
No-one connected with Spurs wants to hear this now but they should be tremendously proud of their run to this damp-squib of a final. It is worth a reminder, again, of where Spurs were at the start of the season: without new signings or a stadium, and plague by injuries and unhappy players. From that position, they have defied the odds to reach a first-ever European Cup final via a series of remarkable, unforgettable comebacks and come so close to the impossible dream.
In reaching this stage, they will have raised their profile around the world and the defeat could still be a springboard from which the club goes to new heights on and off the pitch. Just ask Liverpool, who were runners-up in Kiev a year ago, or Atletico Madrid, who have truly joined the elite since losing in the most painful circumstances in 2014.
This will be the final hurrah for this group of Spurs players, many of whom are expected to leave in the summer, and when the dust has settled they should look back on his run with immense pride.
Player Ratings
Lloris: 6
Trippier: 5
Vertonghen: 7
Alderweireld: 7
Rose: 7
Winks: 7
Sissoko: 5
Eriksen: 6
Dele Alli: 5
Son: 6
Kane: 6
