A half-time pep talk from Harry Kane is all it took.
Two-nil down and facing Champions League elimination, the Tottenham Hotspur captain made his way from his seat at the Amsterdam Arena to the changing rooms to deliver the words that supposedly inspired a second-half fightback that saw Spurs pull off an improbable 3-2 victory to advance to the June 1 final on away goals.
Never mind the fact that Lucas Moura scored a second-half hat-trick. Or that Fernando Llorente's half-time introduction for the woefully ineffectual Victor Wanyama allowed Spurs to get a foothold in the game. It was all down to Kane's intervention, apparently.
Admittedly, at that stage - 2-0 down, Ajax in the ascendancy and with Kieran Trippier reduced to the image of a small child flailing his arms wildly as the school bully Matthijs de Ligt held his hand against his head at set-pieces - Spurs needed all the help they could get.
What is not up for debate is that what transpired in the next 51 minutes will go down in Tottenham folklore. Moura's clinical finishing - a "superhero", his manager called him; - Llorente barging and bending Daley Blind and De Ligt to his whim; Toby Alderweireld immovable; Mauricio Pochettino emotional.
Ajax v Tottenham player ratings
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Andre Onana: 6/10. Was unlucky his spectacular save against Fernando Llorente wasn't cleared by his defenders and eventually led to Lucas Moura scoring his and Spurs' second goal. His time wasting in injury time arguably allowed Spurs the extra few seconds they needed to complete an improbable 3-2 comeback win. AFP -
Noussair Mazraoui: 7/10: The Ajax right-back kept Son Heung-min largely anonymous and always looked to join in the attacks. Reuters -
Matthijs de Ligt: 6/10: Was a threat at set-pieces and it was his header that had given Ajax a 2-0 lead that should have sent them through to the Champions League final. However, his inexperience showed as Spurs mounted a late comeback. Was caught out way up field for Moura's first goal and lost his aerial tussle with Fernando Llorente that led to the winner deep into injury time. Reuters -
Daley Blind: 4/10: Constantly surrendered possession and played Kieran Trippier onside to cross for the goal that eventually led to the equaliser. Reuters -
Nicolas Tagliafico: 6/10. Solid defensively but offered little attacking threat. Reuters -
Frenkie de Jong: 7/10. That rarity among defensive midfielders in that he is an excellent tackler and passer. Didn't deserve to be on the losing side. AFP -
Lasse Schone: 5/10. Unable to exert the same influence as he did in the first leg with his short passes from the base of midfield. Substituted after Moura made it 2-2. Reuters -
Hakim Ziyech: 8/10: The Moroccan was the standout player in the first half as Ajax tore Spurs apart. Scored a superb opener and could have sealed the tie with a late shot that hit the post. AFP -
Donny van de Beek: 6/10. Failed to exert the same influence he had on the first leg. AFP -
Dusan Tadic: 7/10. Played in a wider role on the left and crafted the opener for Ziyech. Needed to keep the ball more as Spurs came back into the game in the second half. Reuters -
Kasper Dolberg: 5/10. A late inclusion after David Neres was ruled out just before kick off. Was booed by Ajax supporters for failing to close down Spurs players in possession. AFP -
Daley Sinkgraven: 6/10. Showed some nice touches but found himself isolated too often. AFP -
Lisandro Magallan: 4/10. Brought on as a late substitute to shore up the defence. He didn't. AFP -
Joel Veltman: 6/10. Tough in the tackle but offered little else as Ajax succumbed to late pressure. AFP -
Hugo Lloris: 6/10. Kept Spurs in the game with some fine early saves. Not to blame for either Ajax goal. AFP -
Kieran Trippier: 7/10. Had a poor first half and it was baffling to see him marking Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt at set-pieces. Improved massively in the second half and supplied a steady supply of ammunition for his attackers. Reuters -
Toby Alderweireld: 8/10. A late block on Frenkie de Jong as Ajax threatened to kill off Spurs comeback epitomised the Belgian's class. AFP -
Jan Vertonghen: 8/10. Played in a protective mask following last week's facial injury in the first leg. Dependable and nearly scored with a late header. Reuters -
Danny Rose: 7/10: Had a running battle with Ajax midfielder Hakim Ziyech. Offered a constant overlap down Spurs' left and his determination drove those around him. AFP -
Moussa Sissoko: 7/10. Has any player ever endeared themselves so much to a set of fans who had for so long despised him. The Frenchman is now a firm fans' favourite for his all-action displays, despite his lack of quality on the ball. Reuters -
Victor Wanyama: 5/10: Surprising to see the Kenyan midfielder named in the starting line-up, given his first-leg struggles. Was again the weak link and Spurs were infinitely better when he was replaced with Fernando Llorente. AFP -
Christian Eriksen: 6/10. The Dane struggled across both legs against his former club but was quick to recognise that the Ajax defence were struggling to cope with Llorente's physicality and ordered his teammates to hit high balls into the Spaniard. AFP -
Dele Alli: 7/10. Played the final pass for two of Moura's three goals and always looking to take the game to Ajax. AFP -
Lucas Moura: 10/10. The Brazilian enshrined himself in Spurs history with a second-half hat-trick that took them to a first Champions League final. The way he shifted the ball out of his feet for the second goal was hypnotic. -
Son Heung-min: 6/10. Suspended for the first leg, the South Korean failed to exert much influence on the return leg but was always willing to run at the Ajax defence. AFP -
Fernando Llorente: 8/10. While Moura will take the plaudits, the Spaniard's introduction turned the tie in Spurs' favour. Blind couldn't cope with Llorente in the first leg and struggled even more on Wednesday. His flick on led to the winning goal. Reuters -
Ben Davies: 6/10. Offered plenty of drive from left-back after replacing Rose. Reuters -
Erik Lamela: 6/10. Got stuck in the heart of the action as Spurs turned the screws to find a winner. Reuters
The party taking place on the pitch was missing its special guest until Kane joined his teammates.
Facetiousness aside, the sight of Kane running - whether it be on the pitch, down the corridor or away from a lion - is a welcome sight for Tottenham fans. The magnitude of their achievement in Amsterdam to reach a first-ever European Cup final can never be overstated. All the more so because it has been achieved against the backdrop of a tired and cumbersome squad limping over the line in Kane's absence.
Since injuring his ankle during the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City on April 9, Kane has missed eight games in which Spurs have won only twice, against a team relegated in March (Huddersfield Town) and one that came close to joining them in the Championship next season (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Before his latest spell on the sidelines Kane had plundered 24 goals across competitions. A squad shorn of fresh faces the past two transfer windows has been over reliant on its marque talent. But while Kane rehabilitated, others have floundered domestically while conjuring colossal efforts in Europe.
Son Heung-min's two goals against Manchester City - plus the timely intervention of VAR to overrule a late Raheem Sterling strike - at the Etihad Stadium helped secured a semi-final showdown against Ajax.
Few would have thought anything could eclipse that night. Thanks to Moura a new chapter has been written in Spurs' European odyssey. Wednesday night's ambush in Amsterdam now make the City match seem like a pre-season friendly.
Epic though their exertions were, Spurs could desperately do with Kane free of injury and refreshed for the final against Liverpool at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Lucas Moura hat-trick seals epic Spurs comeback
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Tottenham's Lucas Moura, left, celebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick with Dele Alli and put Tottenham in the Uefa Champions League final. Reuters -
Ajax midfielder Hakim Ziyech, right, and Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli clash during the Uefa Champions League semi-final second leg at the Johan Cruyff Arena, in Amsterdam. AFP -
Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt scores their first goal with a header. Reuters -
Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt celebrates . Reuters -
Ajax Hakim Ziyech, left, made it 2-0 with a left-foot strike on 35 minutes to put Ajax 3-0 up on aggregate. AFP -
The Tottenham comeback begins. Lucas Moura had scored the first of his goals in the 55th minute before adding a second four minutes later. Reuters -
Game over as Tottenham's Lucas Moura scores his and Spurs' third goal to complete a 3-2 win to see the North London club advance to the Champions League final on June 1 in Madrid where they will face Liverpool. Reuters -
Tottenham's Lucas Moura celebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick with Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs -
Game over as Tottenham's Lucas Moura scores his and Spurs' third goal to complete a 3-2 win to see the North London club advance to the Champions League final on June 1 in Madrid where they will face Liverpool. Reuters -
Tottenham players celebrate Lucas Moura's winner. Reuters -
Tottenham's Lucas Moura celebrates in front of the fans after the match. Reuters -
Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates with Moussa Sissoko and teammates after Spurs staged an incredible fightback to beat Ajax 3-2 in Amsterdam. Reuters -
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino reacts. Reuters -
Mauricio Pochettino, front, and players of Tottenham Hotspur celebrate. EPA -
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris celebrate. Reuters -
Ajax's Hakim Ziyech looks dejected after the match. Reuters -
Ajax's Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech, centre, reacts after the 3-2 defeat to Tottenham. AFP -
Ajax's Matthijs de Ligt looks dejected at the end of the match. Reuters
Kane, 25, begins light training this week and is unlikely to be risked in Spurs' final league game of the campaign at home to Everton where a point will be enough to secure fourth spot and with it Champions League qualification next season.
That would deny Kane, scorer of 164 Tottenham goals, a last chance to work on his match sharpness before the biggest game of his career since he captained England at last summer's World Cup semi-final against Croatia.
But an extra two weeks' rest could be just what both he and this jaded Tottenham team need before they face six-time European Cup winners Liverpool in Madrid on June 1.
