UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Tottenham 3 Werder Bremen 0:TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR have certainly made the most of their reprieve. When their travelling supporters rubbed their eyes and saw their team 3-0 down after 28 minutes of the first-leg of the play-off against Young Boys back in August, they feared nights like these would be denied them.
The Continent, conceivably, might have missed out on the spectacle of Gareth Bale ripping defenders to shreds, of Tottenham’s vim and vigour and of their never-say-die spirit. Instead, Harry Redknapp’s players battled back against the Swiss and they have since advertised their potential to all and sundry.
With Bale once again outstanding – he received an ovation upon his withdrawal late on – Tottenham were a cut above Werder Bremen, who had arrived with concerns over form and fitness. A place in the knock-out phase is now theirs, with a game to spare, and if they can beat FC Twente, they will advance as Group A winners.
Tottenham’s journey has allowed their supporters to dream and nobody will want to face them in the last 16, particularly as White Hart Lane has come to resemble a fortress. Redknapp could even enjoy a rare clean sheet here, as Bale and his creative forces pulled Werder apart.
Redknapp’s team began in clinical mood, eager to put the issue beyond doubt. Moreover, in front of them was a Werder defence that has, to put it politely, looked vulnerable this season.
Thomas Schaaf, the Werder manager and club stalwart, raged on the touchline as his players gave their opposite number too much space in the early exchanges. Certainly, Aaron Lennon was in yards of it when he laid on the opening goal.
Lennon scampered at Daniel Jensen, dropped his shoulder and dashed for the by-line. He was always going to get there first, but what of his final ball?
It was perfect, pulled back intelligently for Younes Kaboul, who was still forward after a corner, and the defender hammered a right-footed volley down into the ground and past Tim Wiese.
Kaboul is on fire in front of goal. He was still basking in the afterglow of his winner against Arsenal on Saturday. Now this.
Bale, meanwhile, is simply on fire. The Wales winger surged past Clemens Fritz, the one-time Germany international, for the first time in the fourth minute and it would not be the last time. Far from it. Fritz joins the long list of right-backs to have suffered twisted blood at the hands of Bale.
He was booked in the 41st minute for pulling Bale back.
It was one of the handful of occasions he got close to him.
Tottenham ought to have extended their advantage when Bale drove and crossed but Peter Crouch’s and then Roman Pavlyuchenko’s sights were awry. Pavlyuchenko would see another first-half effort blocked by Per Mertesacker after another good cross by Lennon.
Werder could boast their own entertainer in Marko Marin, the quicksilver left-winger, who showed delightful touch and flickered in the final third, but it was Tottenham who headed for the interval in charge. Crouch rose to contest Alan Hutton’s high ball and, when it broke, Luka Modric threw Sebastian Prodl with a feint and shot past Wiese.
One of Tottenham’s strengths this season has been their depth. When Jermaine Jenas was forced off with a muscle strain in the 19th minute, Wilson Palacios excelled in his stead, some of his shuddering challenges drawing appreciative murmurs from the crowd.
Tottenham remained on the front foot in the second-half. Bale rattled the crossbar with a curling, 25-yard free-kick before he blotted his copybook by missing a penalty, awarded for a trip by Felix Kroos on Modric. Bale stepped up ahead of Pavlyuchenko, who had missed from 12 yards against Blackburn Rovers, and he sent his kick too close to Wiese.
Pavlyuchenko was replaced by Jermain Defoe soon after and he was not happy. Having peeled off his gloves and thrown them to the floor, he marched past Redknapp to shrug and sigh on the bench. The Russian had missed his two chances and contributed little. He could not argue with the decision.
The second period became a procession. Crouch was unlucky to see an effort hit Prodl and dribble wide, Defoe went close and Bale did everything but score. After one of his crosses had bounced back off the crossbar, Lennon nutmegged Dominik Schmidt and crossed for Crouch, who tucked home the clinching goal.
Guardian Service
TOTTENHAM:Gomes, Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Jenas (Palacios 20), Modric, Bale (Kranjcar 81), Pavlyuchenko (Defoe 57), Crouch. Subs not used: Cudicini, Keane, Bassong, Corluka.
WERDER BREMEN:Wiese, Fritz, Mertesacker, Prodl, Schmidt, Kroos (Ayik 55), Jensen (Pasanen 86), Bargfrede, Marin, Hunt (Thy 80), Wagner. Subs not used: Mielitz, Huseinovic, Andersen, Testroet. Booked: Fritz, Prodl, Kroos, Wagner.
Referee:O Benquerenca (Portugal).
Att:33,546
Kaboul 6, Modric 45, Crouch 79
