Braga 2 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur

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Thursday Mar 08 2007 09:35

Tottenham Hotspur let a two-goal lead slip before Robbie Keane's last-gasp goal earned his side a 3-2 victory in Portugal over Sporting Braga.

The first half was dominated by Spurs, with Dimitar Berbatov the danger man for the north Londoners.

Early on the Bulgarian drifted past a couple of markers on the left and found himself one-on-one with keeper Paulo Santos, before sliding his shot wide of the near post.

Twenty minutes in Berbatov fired across the face of goal after being played in on the right by Steed Malbranque.

Six minutes before the interval Berbatov got his effort on target following Lee Young-Pyo's run and cross from the left, but Santos was in the right place to block.

Soon after the restart Ze Carlos went close for the home side, but just before the hour mark Spurs finally hit the front.Aaron Lennon skipped past a couple of defender on the left and lifted a pass in to Keane, who chested the ball down and volleyed home superbly from the edge of the area with his right foot.

Keane almost added a second from Malbranque's well-flighted cross, but 18 minutes from time the Frenchman got himself on the scoresheet, latching on to the rebound after Santos had spilled Lennon's low shot.

Within four minutes Braga were handed a lifeline after sub Diego went down under Anthony Gardner's challenge and although Paul Robinson saved Paulo Jorge's spot-kick, the same player rammed home the rebound.

Nine minutes from time it was 2-2 as Vitor Castanheira swung in a left-footed free-kick from the right and Ze Carlos rose highest to head home from eight yards out at the near post.

However, Spurs were not to be denied their victory and deep into stoppage time Didier Zokora released Keane and the Irishman drove his shot under the advancing Santos to snatch a deserved win.

  • 80
    Oliviera Joao Pinto is replaced by Lima Barbosa da Cunha Maciel.
  • 77
    Pascal Chimbonda is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 74
    Tottenham are replacing Teemu Tainio with Tom Huddlestone.
  • 69
    Braga are replacing Arruda Said Wender with Da Silva Costa Diego.
  • 69
    Braga are replacing Alexandre Vilela Bruno Gama with Dos Santos Cesinha.
  • 50
    Dimitar Berbatov is booked for unsporting behaviour.

Statistics

Braga
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 10
Offsides 2
Corners 5

Tottenham Hotspur
Shots on target 7
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 14
Offsides 2
Corners 1

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