SOCCER: Tottenham beat 10-man Dortmund to close in on last-16 spot

LONDON — Tottenham Hotspur shook off their domestic struggles with a convincing 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, easing the pressure on head coach Thomas Frank and bringing them closer to securing a spot in the Champions League knockout stages.

Captain Cristian Romero opened the scoring in the first half, followed by a goal from Dominic Solanke, giving Tottenham full control against a disappointing Dortmund side.

The German team played most of the match with 10 men after Daniel Svensson received a red card, further weakening their chances.

Tottenham’s Premier League form at their home stadium has been poor this season, with only two wins in 11 matches. That slump has put Frank’s position under scrutiny. However, in the Champions League, the club has been outstanding, winning all four of their group-stage games in North London.

Their latest victory moved them to a provisional fourth place in the standings ahead of Wednesday’s games. With another win against Eintracht Frankfurt next week, Tottenham could secure a top-eight finish and advance to the last 16.

Dortmund, who entered the night level with Tottenham at 11 points but ahead on goal difference, will now face Inter Milan in their final group match. They are likely to have to rely on the playoffs to progress.

-Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis/Reuters