Football
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Hat trick hero Harry Kane calls Spurs' win a 'Great night -- until I went in goal'

Harry Kane savoured a "great night" under the White Hart Lane floodlights as his hat trick helped Tottenham to a 5-1 Europa League victory over Asteras Tripoli.

The striker not only scored his first treble for Spurs but ended the Group C clash in goal after Hugo Lloris' late sending-off

"It was a great night until I went in goal," he said after the match. "In fairness I think I'll leave that to the keepers from now on.

"It was a great result for us, a great win, and obviously I'm happy to get the hat trick."

Reflecting on his three goals, Kane said the first "was a sweet strike. When it left the foot I knew it had a chance and fortunately it came off the post and went in which is always nice.

"I thought it was good to get the second and third as well, extra goals when the team is dead on their feet and when we want to start killing off teams and getting the five goals was great."

Erik Lamela threatened to steal the limelight from Kane with two awe-inspiring strikes of his own.

The Argentina forward brought the 21,428 spectators to their feet on the half-hour mark by wrapping his left foot around his right leg to score with a "rabona" strike from the edge of the box.

Lamela then doubled his night's tally with a fine volley in the second half and Kane was pleased to see his team-mate get on the scoresheet.

"I've seen him do it [on the training ground]," Kane said. "He's got that in the locker, so it's great for him to see it pay off on the big stage of a game and I'm very happy for him because it is two goals."

Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino said it was one of the top goals he's seen as a manager.

"One time I scored one goal like that myself," Pochettino said, laughing. "You will find it on YouTube. No, it was a very big goal, a great goal, an unbelievable goal. I am happy for him and it helped us to get the three points.

"Maybe it is the best [by one of my players ever]. Probably."

Tottenham's night was slightly soured by the 87th-minute dismissal of Lloris and Jeronimo Barrales' subsequent consolation strike moments later that Kane let slip through his grasp after he had replaced the Frenchman in goal.

Pochettino hailed his side's effort going forward but his side's failure to keep a clean sheet seemingly irked the former Southampton boss.

"It was OK," Pochettino said. "I am happy for the result, 5-1, and disappointed with the last five minutes because we gave the possibility for them to play one v one with our keeper.

"We need to manage better the game. I am disappointed with the last five minutes but after that happy with the result. Our objective was to get the three points and it was done.

"I think that Hugo's behaviour was correct. Unlucky because it was a red card but I am not happy with the last minutes because our line defensive was very high. We gave the possibility to play in behind our defensive line and at 5-0, with three minutes before the end of the game, we were not ready and focused in that action. We gave them the possibility to play well one v one with the keeper and for that I am not happy."

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