Dominic Solanke justified his selection with a decisive goal, leading Tottenham to a vital 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday night. The win, fueled by an energetic first-half performance, eases the pressure on Tottenham's manager, Thomas Frank, who has been under increasing scrutiny.

Spurs took the lead early in the 14th minute when Cristian Romero powerfully converted Wilson Odobert's low cross following a corner. Odobert, proving to be a constant threat, was also involved in the sequence of play that led to Daniel Svensson's red card in the 26th minute. Svensson's bad foul on Odobert resulted in the initial yellow card being upgraded to red after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.

Dominic Solanke, making his first start of the season, doubled Tottenham's advantage in the 37th minute. Odobert drove down the right before delivering a cross that Solanke bundled over the line. While the finish was somewhat unorthodox, it marked Solanke's first goal of the season and provided a valuable cushion for Tottenham.

Tottenham dominated the first half, outshooting Dortmund 11-0. Dortmund struggled to cope after Svensson's dismissal, and Tottenham capitalized on their numerical advantage.

In the second half, Dortmund showed some signs of improvement, but Tottenham managed the game effectively. Guglielmo Vicario made a crucial save in stoppage time to deny Nico Schlotterbeck, preserving Tottenham's clean sheet. Randal Kolo Muani had an opportunity to extend Tottenham's lead late in the game, but his shot was saved by Gregor Kobel.

Besides the goal scorers, Wilson Odobert was a standout performer, providing assists for both goals and drawing the foul that led to Svensson's red card. Cristian Romero's leadership at the back also contributed to Tottenham's solid defensive performance. Other notable performances included Pedro Porro who was solid defensively. Archie Gray also put in a gutsy display, winning three tackles.

The win moves Tottenham up in the Champions League table and improves their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages. For Thomas Frank, the victory provides much-needed respite and a platform to build on as Tottenham navigates the rest of the season.

Tottenham Player Ratings:

• Guglielmo Vicario (6/10): Made a strong save late in the game.
• Pedro Porro (7/10): Solid defensively and offered an outlet.
• Kevin Danso (6/10): A composed performance.
• Cristian Romero (8/10): Opened the scoring and showed leadership.
• Destiny Udogie (7/10): A comfortable return to the starting lineup.
• Archie Gray (7/10): Won three tackles in a gutsy display.
• Lucas Bergvall (6/10): A solid showing.
• Wilson Odobert (8/10): Two assists and was involved in the red card incident.
• Djed Spence (8/10): Inspired and demanding of the ball.
• Dominic Solanke (8/10): Justified his selection with a decisive goal.
• Jun'ai Byfield (6/10): Looked assured on his debut.
• Randal Kolo Muani (6/10): An impactful cameo.