Comeback Spurs edge home

Huddlestone: Scored equaliser

Related links

Teams

• Tottenham Hotspur

Also see

• Player ratings
• Join the debate
• Gilberto set for Spurs exit

Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the knock-out stages of the Uefa Cup after coming from two goals down to draw with Spartak Moscow at White Hart Lane.

The visitors took the lead in shocking fashion as a mix-up between Gilberto and Heurelho Gomes from a Gareth Bale back-pass allowed Artem Dzyuba to steal in and score on 23 minutes.

He then doubled the advantage 10 minutes later after yet more suspect defending, rounding Gomes and coolly slotting home.

Harry Redknapp brought on Aaron Lennon for the second half and was rewarded when the England international ran down the right and crossed for the unmarked Luka Modric to score his first goal for Spurs.

Tom Huddlestone then netted the equaliser on 73 minutes, heading home a Bale cross from the left to the relief of the Spurs faithful.

The point sees Tottenham qualify from Group D along with NEC Nijmegen and table-toppers Udinese, with brave Spartak falling just short.

Europe is not Redknapp's priority but this result highlighted the lack of depth the Spurs boss has in his squad - none of his first-choice defenders were available and they were ruthlessly exposed.

Error

Gilberto was guilty of an error for the opener and the Brazilian full-back was hauled off at half-time, which is how his debut in March against PSV Eindhoven ended.

It was his first appearance under Redknapp and only his second this season, with the other match also seeing him substituted at the interval under Juande Ramos.

Redknapp has bemoaned a lack of numbers and it is no surprise he has been linked with the likes of Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson at former club Portsmouth.

The visitors are coached by Danish legend Michael Laudrup, whose previous visit to the ground was the bizarre night last season when news of Martin Jol's sacking circulated around the stadium while the Dutchman was still in the dugout against Getafe.

Laudrup's men also rocked the hosts here, with Redknapp getting irritated by the fourth official blocking his view as his team defended in the opening period.

Dzyuba was at the centre of the attacks and he almost got on the end of Artur Maloyan's early cross after an exciting run.

He then back-heeled for Vadislav Rizhkov to shoot from the edge of the area - but the effort was straight at goalkeeper Gomes.

Opener

It was Dzyuba who inevitably grabbed the opener - but Gilberto was clearly at fault for gifting the striker the opportunity.

Bale passed the ball towards Gilberto but the full-back left it for Gomes, allowing Dzyuba to nip in and squeeze his finish through the legs of the goalkeeper.

When Dzyuba's second came, in the 33rd minute, it could also be filed under farcical.

The beanpole forward tapped the ball around Didier Zokora and was allowed to skip beyond the Spurs defence and round Gomes before finishing into an empty net.

Dzyuba could have had a first-half hat-trick but Gomes parried his deflected effort as the interval approached.

Redknapp's response at the interval was to take off Gilberto and put on Lennon, signalling his intentions for the second half.

The first danger after the restart came from the other flank, with Fraizer Campbell getting his header saved by Stipe Pletikosa after meeting Jamie O'Hara's cross on the left.

Dzyuba was presented another opportunity - this time Zokora's clearance went straight to him - but he fired straight at Gomes.

Modric then pulled one back for the hosts, tucking his finish under Pletikosa from Lennon's pull-back from the right.

Huddlestone levelled the match 74th minute by thumping his header beyond Pletikosa from Bale's cross after David Bentley had sent the Wales youngster down the left.

Pletikosa's reaction save from Campbell prevented a Spurs win.

NEC Nijmegen's victory against Udinese made Spurs' comeback all the more important, with Redknapp's men finishing second in the group - and a clash against a UEFA Champions League drop-out next.