Tottenham Hotspur have ended a six-match losing streak at Wembley Stadium to secure their place in the Europa League courtesy of a 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in their final Champions League group game this evening.
The hosts went into the match knowing that a win or draw would be enough to seal third spot in Group E and with it a place in the last 32 of the Europa League, and after a brief scare they came from behind to pick up their first win at the national stadium since 2008.
Spurs made the brighter start to the match with some slick passing moves in the opening exchanges, and they should have taken the lead after only seven minutes when Dele Alli planted a header from Christian Eriksen's cross wide of the target.
Son Heung-min, who scored the only goal of the game in the reverse fixture between the two sides, also came close just three minutes later when he collected a pass from Harry Kane before driving into the box and drawing a low stop from Igor Akinfeev in the CSKA goal.
Eriksen was the standout player of the match, though, and he had a chance of his own in the 13th minute when Kyle Walker and Kane combined to send him through inside the area, but his low strike was too close to Akinfeev.
Having squandered a number of clear chances to take the lead, Spurs almost broke the deadlock in controversial circumstances when Alli lofted an effort onto the roof of the net while CSKA were expecting the England international to give the ball back to them.
Alli continued to be involved as the half wore on and missed another decent chance with his head midway through the opening 45 minutes before scuffing a glorious opportunity straight at the keeper shortly afterwards having been found by Eriksen's incisive through-ball.
Spurs were made to pay for their missed opportunities shortly after the half-hour mark, though, with CSKA slicing through the Tottenham defence before Alan Dzagoev drilled his finish past Hugo Lloris to give his side the lead on their first meaningful attack.
The visitors' advantage lasted just five minutes before Spurs finally found a breakthrough, though, and it was Alli who atoned for his earlier misses by taking down Eriksen's cross at the back post before placing his finish into the far corner for his first ever European goal.
The goal also ensured that Akinfeev's wait for a Champions League clean sheet extends to 39 matches - a run that stretches back more than 10 years to November 1, 2006.
CSKA almost stunned Spurs once again with just two minutes remaining of the half when they launched another counter that cut right through the hosts, but this time Lloris was able to collect Georgi Milanov's low strike.
Indeed, it was Tottenham who went into the break ahead courtesy of a Kane tap-in, with the in-form striker making it eight goals in his last seven appearances having been handed the simplest of chances by a combination of Eriksen and Danny Rose.
Clear chances dried up in the opening stages of the second half, but Spurs continued to control proceedings and Akinfeev was called into another save when Kane let fly with a volley from just outside the area.
Kane had a much clearer chance shortly after the hour mark, though, as he rose unchallenged in the area to nod Walker's cross towards goal, but he couldn't keep his header down before firing a free kick into the arms of Akinfeev two minutes later.
Alli, Eriksen and Kane all brought saves out of the overworked Akinfeev as Spurs went in search of a valuable two-goal cushion, but CSKA provided the occasional warning shot, with Fedor Chalov and Lacina Traore both having half-chances on the turn inside the area.
A third goal did finally arrive for the hosts with just over 10 minutes remaining, though, and it was more poor defending from CSKA as Alli was left unmarked inside the area to get his head on a Kane cross. The Tottenham midfielder should have doubled his personal tally, but his header was saved by Akinfeev, only for the ball to bounce back off the goalkeeper's foot and in for an own goal.
Spurs were also able to welcome Toby Alderweireld back after almost two months on the sidelines, and the Belgian almost became the most popular scorer on the night with two headers in the final 10 minutes that flew narrowly off target.
The hosts' third goal killed the game off once and for all, though, and Spurs were able to comfortably see out the victory that ensures they will be playing European football in 2017.
CSKA, meanwhile, are condemned to another bottom-placed finish in the Champions League having now lost 10 of their last 12 away games in the competition and extended their winless streak to 10 matches.
The match brings an end to Leonid Slutsky's record-breaking spell in charge of the club, with the manager overseeing more than 300 games and winning three Russian league titles and two domestic cups during his time at the helm.
Barney Corkhill
