Son Heung-min strikes late to give Tottenham the edge over Manchester City

Though the move was intended to usher in a new era and help Spurs take their place at European football’s top table, the Belgian urged supporters to be patient, reminding them the team “need time to build history” in its new $1.3 billion home.Had this first leg been at Wembley — the national stadium which, at times, made for an uncomfortable temporary home for Spurs — few would have given Pochettino’s side a chance against City.Tottenham had failed to beat Guardiola’s team in their previous four meetings, losing three of those, and City were on an indomitable run of 22 wins from 23 matches. But Tuesday’s game felt special. The fans sensed it, too, creating a deafening, near-constant noise in the leadup to kick off — and the players responded.Although last Wednesday’s homecoming victory against Crystal Palace was an historic moment for the club — “a truly emotional evening,” as manager Mauricio Pochettino described it — the match against City offered Spurs the opportunity to prove they could truly make this new house a home.Strange City XITottenham’s attacking trio of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli were rabid from the first whistle, not allowing City’s defenders to rest for a moment.It was the latter who would create the first chance of the match, winning the ball back in midfield and playing it wide to Moussa Sissoko.The Frenchman returned the pass, lofting the ball into the box for Alli to run onto. His connection was crisp but the ball fizzed over Ederson’s crossbar.For all their experience at the top level, City appeared nervous. Much was made of their inability to deal with the pressure at Anfield at this same stage last season, finishing that match on the wrong end of a 3-0 humbling.Despite the cacophony of noise inside the stadium, you could almost hear the collective sound of 120,000 eyebrows being raised as Manchester City’s lineup was announced.There was only a place on the bench for star midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane, while Bernardo Silva — arguably’s City’s best player this season — was left out entirely.In came Riyad Mahrez, much maligned when called upon this season, and the lesser-spotted Fabian Delph, filling in for Benjamin Mendy at left back.But with 10 minutes on the clock, and with City having barely left their half, the visiting side were gifted a route into the match.In his first foray forward, Raheem Sterling jinked and weaved his way inside onto his right foot and struck at goal, only to be denied by a last-ditch block by Danny Rose.Referee Bjorn Kuipers initially pointed for a corner, before the video assistant referee advised him to view the pitchside monitor for a potential stray hand from the English left back.The Dutch official needed to watch merely two replays to change his decision and award what was a clear penalty.Unable to watch the same replays Kuipers had, the Spurs supporters were incensed with the decision and the sound of 60,000 simultaneous boos rumbled through the stadium.Up stepped Sergio Aguero, faced not only by Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham goal but also the vast, imposing single-tier stand at the south end of the stadium.Modeled on stand which houses Borussia Dortmund’s famous ‘Yellow Wall,’ the 17,500 fans erupted as Lloris guessed the right way and palmed away Aguero’s tame penalty.Rising SonIt would prove to be City’s only real chance in a match which, from then on, looked like Tottenham’s to win. From Lloris’ save, six white shirts broke forward and descended onto Ederson’s goal.By the end of the move, City had desperately hauled 10 of its 11 players back into the box to defend, something which would become a running theme.The half-time whistle drew a deafening roar from the home fans, who sensed this night could be different. This was only the second time in their history that Tottenham had reached this stage of the Champions League, last time being comprehensively beaten by Real Madrid.Having never previously reached the semifinals, Spurs felt it was their place for the taking. Though Tottenham suffered a considerable blow midway through the second half, with talisman Harry Kane limping off down the tunnel after rolling his ankle awkwardly under a challenge from Delph, the home side pressed on undeterred.With barely 10 minutes left on the clock, Son Heung-min feinted his way past Delph and drilled a low shot through Ederson in the City goal.If anyone thought the noise inside had the stadium had been raucous previously, the fans hit new decibels celebrating the South Korean’s goal.Though Pochettino and Co. will wait anxiously for the results of a Kane’s scan ahead of the second leg in eight days time, Tottenham can, for tonight at least, celebrate a victory that makes this daunting stadium feel a little more like home.