Spurs blitz Bremen to mark another European milestone

IT may not have had the high drama of their defeat of Inter three weeks ago, but Spurs marked another milestone on their European journey by qualifying for the knock-out stages of the Champions League last night with this easy win over Werder Bremen.

Goals form Younes Kaboul and Luka Modric gave Spurs a first-half lead they thoroughly deserved, and a late strike from Peter Crouch gave the scoreline a realistic look as Harry Redknapp’s men won at a canter.

“It is fantastic for us to get through,” said Redknapp. “That was a difficult group when it was drawn. Overall I think we’ve done very well.”

Spurs were rarely troubled by a lacklustre German side that went into this game on the back of five defeats in their previous six matches.

Tottenham, by contrast, were buoyed by that sensational 3-1 win over holders Inter in their previous Champions League game, and still on a high from their remarkable victory at Arsenal on Saturday.

And they got off to a great start when Kaboul picked up where he had left at the weekend, by scoring a goal to get the Spurs supporters roaring.

Having grabbed the winner against Arsenal in the final minutes at the Emirates with his head, the French defender used his feet, more specifically his right boot to open the scoring in the sixth minute.

Jermaine Jenas mis-hit Gareth Bale’s corner, but the ball was only cleared to Alan Hutton, whose first-time pass found Aaron Lennon in acres of space on the right. The winger drove in at speed and cleverly cut the ball back for Kaboul to meet it with a first-time volley from 12 yards that flew past keeper Tim Wiese.

Spurs looked comfortable, with Bale always to test the German right back, Clemens Fritz.

The Germans did not offer much by way of a threat on Tottenham’s goal as Heurelho Gomes had as quiet a game in the Tottenham goal as he could have wished for.

“It was a good performance tonight,” added Redknapp.

“We didn’t get stretched defensively but when we did I think William Gallas was outstanding. He has brought an awful lot to the team.’’

Modric was outstanding again, and as half-time drew close, he got the goal he deserved. The Croatian playmaker was coolness personified when Crouch knocked a floated cross from Hutton into his path. Modric found the time in a crowded penalty area to control the ball with his left foot, drawing his marker, before lashing it into the net with his right boot.

Bale had two great chances to increase the lead, hitting a thumping free-kick against the bar five minutes after the break, and then missing from the penalty spot after Modric was tripped by Felix Kroos. Bale hit his kick too close to Wiese, who saved with ease.

Modric continued to pull the strings from the centre of midfield, and his tackle sent substitute Jermain Defoe clear, only for the England striker’s stinging shot to be well parried by Wiese. Defoe then set up Bale, whose angled shot zipped past the far post, before another break from the Welsh winger set up the third goal, in the 79th minute. Bale beat Fritz to the byline yet again and his lofted cross rebounded off the bar. Lennon was alert to the loose ball, though, and darted back in, with a low centre that Crouch was able to side-foot into the net from close range.

When Bale was replaced by Niko Kranjcar moments later, he received a standing ovation from the home supporters, who can now look forward to the knockout stages of the competition in the New Year.

Inter’s win over FC Twente means the Italians also qualify, and Tottenham travel to the Dutch club in two weeks’ time knowing victory

TOTTENHAM 4-4-2: Gomes 7, Hutton 7, Kaboul 7, Gallas 7, Assou-Ekotto 6 Lennon 6, Jenas 6 (Palacios 7), Modric 8, Bale 7, Crouch 6, Pavlyuchenko 6 (Defoe 7)

Subs for Tottenham: Palacios for Jenas, 20, Defoe for Pavlyuchenko 57, Kranjcar for Bale 81.

WERDER BREMEN 4-5-1: Wiese 7 Fritz 6, Mertesacker 6, Prodl 5, Schmidt 6 Kroos 5, Hunt 5, Bargfrede 6, Jensen 6, Marin 7 Wagner 5.

Subs for Werder Bremen: Ayik for Kroos 55, Thy for Hunt 80, Pasanen for Jensen 86.

Referee: Oleg Benquerenca (Portugal) 7/10