Early Sevilla strikes stun Spurs
Spurs boss Martin Jol admitted his side were “shocked’ by Sevilla’s start.
“They rocked us, they shocked us,” he said.
“They’re a good team. They were the team of the year last year but I still feel we would’ve had a bigger chances if we don’t give away goals like we did for the first one.”
Jol still had belief Spurs could come back after watching Middlesbrough perform a similar feat in the competition last year.
“At half-time we said we have to go out with pride,” he said. “It could have been a Middlesbrough story.
“The second half we won, we beat them 2-0. We still should’ve scored the third one. We went out of it with our heads held high.”
The Spanish side extended their lead from the first leg with two early strikes, the second from former Spurs striker Frederic Kanoute, which left the hosts needing four goals.
Jermain Defoe came on to pull one back before Aaron Lennon gave them hope, but the Spanish side held on, their pacy attack illustrating why they are second in La Liga.
Kanoute has scored 19 times in the Spanish league this season but the Mali marksman is merely one part of Sevilla’s efficient attack, with support from Dani Alves and Adriano on the flanks meaning Spurs effectively had to deal with four forwards when they broke.
It proved too much for a Spurs defence that had Ledley King returning after more than three months out with feet problems, and Teemu Tainio deployed as a makeshift full-back.
But Spurs’ European dream looked over after just three minutes when Sevilla opened the scoring.
Sevilla’s highly-rated coach Juande Ramos had stated that defending a lead was not in his nature.
Alves looked to attack from the start and earned a free-kick which was headed behind by King. Jose Luis Marti’s corner was met by Christian Poulsen and Steed Malbranque sliced his clearance into his own net.
Kanoute should have immediately doubled the lead when he headed wide from Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s cross, but he had not long to wait for a goal. In the eighth minute, Kanoute exchanged passes with Kerzhakov before shimmying past goalkeeper Paul Robinson and slotting home.
Spurs needed four goals and were urged forward but greeted with a sea of florescent shirts guarding David Cobeno’s goal.
Robbie Keane had sight of goal when Dimitar Berbatov slipped him through but was forced too wide, while Berbatov struck the post before the break.
Spurs switched Lennon to the left flank for the second half but still struggled to break down the visitors.
Didier Zokora felt he should have had a penalty following a challenge by Javi Navarro but play was waved on, and it took the introduction of Defoe after 65 minutes, for Spurs to score.
The England striker steered in from close range with his first touch after latching on to Keane’s scuffed shot.
Lennon then bundled home in the 67th minute after Berbatov’s cross found its way to the back post.
Despite being urged forward by fans, it was Sevilla who came closest to scoring next, Robinson forced to save from Puerta late on from a low drive. Puerta then tested Robinson from closer range, with the Spanish side holding on for victory and Tainio sent off for a late challenge in injury time.
Michael Dawson stabbed Spurs’ best effort into the ground and over the bar, with home fans clinging on to tame penalty shouts to restore parity.
Spurs still preserved their unbeaten record at home in the competition but now only have European qualification to play for this season.
Robinson, Tainio, Dawson, King, Chimbonda, Lennon, Zokora (Defoe 65), Jenas, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov.
Cobeno, Hinkel, Javi Navarro, Escude, Puerta, Daniel (Renato 55), Poulsen, Marti, Adriano Correia (Aitor Ocio 69), Kerzhakov (Maresca 82), Kanoute.
Konrad Plautz (Austria).
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