Tottenham knocked out of Champions League despite Hugo Lloris heroics

TOTTENHAM’S Champions League adventure came to a sloppy end tonight.

Spurs had been given a lifeline when second-placed Bayer Leverkusen could only draw at CSKA Moscow.

But a catalogue of defensive errors and desperate lack of concentration cost them dear despite a heroic display from their keeper Hugo Lloris.

Tottenham knew a draw would be enough to keep them in with a chance of qualifying for the last 16 after the CSKA match kicked off early because of the fierce Russian winter.

And they made a bright start in the Mediterranean principality.

Monaco had lost just one of their previous 23 games in the Stade Louis II and Radamel Falcao – who flopped at Chelsea and Manchester United – had rattled in five goals in three games.

If only Son Heung-min could have shown that sort of eye for goal in the sixth minute.

Put yards clear by Dele Alli’s through ball, he took too long when faced by Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic and then took the ball horribly wide.

Tottenham should have been behind after 11 minutes when they dithered instead of clearing their lines.

Even though Fabinho’s tumble looked farcical, Eric Dier had kicked his shin and the Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the spot.

It was Falcao who faced Lloris and although his penalty was low, true and heading towards the corner, Tottenham’s France captain dived low to push the ball to safety.

Moments later it took a double save from Lloris to keep out Ben Mendy and then Valere Germain.

Aside from domestic cup games, since the start of last season Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had either Jan Vertonghen or Toby Alderweireld in his starting line-up.

So the decision to drop Vertonghen to the bench given Alderweireld’s absence was a mystery, especially as Dier and Kevin Wimmer looked vulnerable.

Germain was the next to take advantage, firing inches wide of Lloris’s far post after 35 minutes having left Wimmer for dead.

Monaco finally took the lead three minutes after restart.

Mendy’s trickery on the left got the better of Harry Winks and his cross was headed home by Djibril Sidibe, lurking unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

Spurs were heading out but four minutes later they were back in it, after Kuipers awarded the second penalty of the night for a foul by Kamil Glik on Alli.

Kane, as he had done on Saturday against West Ham, fired home with confidence.

If Spurs had reacted speedily to their setback, Monaco wasted even less time responding – 38 seconds to be exact.

That’s all it took for Tottenham to switch off again and for Monaco to regain the lead.

Sidibe crossed from the right, the ball eluding Tottenham’s defence and fell to Thomas Lemar, who blasted the ball into the opposite corner.

It could have got worse but for an astonishing save from Lloris to keep out Glik’s point-blank volley.

And the keeper was at his best again to keep out Falcao, who had broken clear of Tottenham’s ragged back line.