Source: Daily_Mail
AC Milan 0 Tottenham 1: Peter Crouch is the San Siro hero as Harry Redknapp's battlers win war
The sky, as Harry Redknapp said, really would appear to be the limit for this remarkable Tottenham team. For a team that has now beaten not one resident of San Siro this season but two. For a team that has somehow mastered the art of Champions League football at the first attempt. [LNB]There might still be a second leg of this last 16 tie to come at White Hart Lane but who would bet against them now? Who would dare imagine they cannot see off these bad-tempered leaders of the Italian league when they celebrated a single Peter Crouch goal but deserved to win by a far more significant margin.[LNB]Under the pressure imposed by Tottenham, Milan cracked here last night. Emotionally and physically. Gennaro Gattuso's head had gone long before he used it to try and injure Joe Jordan and the fact that their captain is suspended for the second leg is the least Milan deserved.[LNB]Had it not been for the incompetence of a French referee some will remember for his controversial dismissal of Kaka at the last World Cup, it could have been far, far worse for the hosts.[LNB] Tall order: Peter Crouch beats keeper Marco Amelia in the 80th minute after a magical counter-attacking burst from Aaron Lennon[LNB] [LNB]They should have conceded a penaltyafter little more than a minute and how Mathieu Flamini escaped with ayellow card for what Redknapp called 'a leg-breaking tackle' on VedranCorluka is something Stephane Lannoy will struggle to explain to hissuperiors at UEFA.[LNB]Gattuso could also have gone, having slapped both Crouch and Jordan inthe face before exploding with rage again at the sound of the finalwhistle.[LNB]For Tottenham, however, there were only positives. The goal was apeach. Not so much because of what was a relatively simple finish forCrouch but because it was an example of classic counter-attackingfootball.[LNB]A superb ball from Luka Modric released Aaron Lennon and a quitebrilliant run from the England winger concluded when he skipped pastMario Yepes before delivering a perfect pass to the feet of Crouch.[LNB] Heated exchange: Gennaro Gattuso and Joe Jordan square up[LNB] But there was so much more that would have pleased a manager alsoconsistently demonstrating his ability to deliver at the highest level.[LNB]Redknapp is taking Europe by storm in his first season of Champions League football.[LNB]He might have said his side are so attack-minded they can only play oneway but a first away with in Europe's premier competition was theproduct of a far more pragmatic approach.[LNB]Tottenham still had their moments Lennon, Rafael van der Vaart andLuca Modric terrorising Milan's defence. But Redknapp would have beendelighted with the discipline, intelligence and determination his teamdisplayed.[LNB]They made Milan look fairly ordinary and the fact that Redknapp shouldhave Gareth Bale and Modric in his starting line-up for the second legbodes well.[LNB]In the absence of so many key players, the understudies shone forRedknapp. Wilson Palacios and Sandro were excellent in centralmidfield. But Redknapp's defenders were also magnificent, not least during a long period in the second half when Milan pressed hard for a much-needed goal.[LNB] No goal: Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw his spectacular injury-time effort ruled out for offside[LNB] [LNB]MATCH FACTS AC MILAN (4-3-1-2): Abbiati 6 (Amelia 18min, 6); Abate 6, Nesta 5, Yepes 5, Antonini 6; Gattuso 5, Thiago Silva 6, Flamini 4; Seedorf 5 (Pato 46, 7); Robinho 6, Ibrahimovic 5. Subs not used: Oddo, Papastathopoulos, Jankulovski, Merkel, Legrottaglie. Booked: Flamini, Yepes, Gattuso.[LNB]TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-1-1): Gomes 8; Corluka 6 (Woodgate 59, 6), Gallas 8, Dawson 9, Assou-Ekotto 7; Lennon 7, Palacios 7, Sandro 7, Pienaar 6 (Kranjcar 76); Van der Vaart 6 (Modric 62, 6); Crouch 7. Subs not used: Cudicini, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Bassong.[LNB]Man of the match: Michael Dawson.[LNB]Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France) 3. [LNB]Michael Dawson and William Gallas were immense, as was BenoitAssou-Ekotto. Heurelho Gomes produced when it mattered most, palming aheader from Yepes away when it seemed the centre-half had scored anddoing so again when a second effort took a deflection.[LNB]Tottenham impressed from the beginning. There was an early chance forLennon; a super ball from Corluka that almost created an opportunityfor Crouch. [LNB]But it was when a deliberate use of the arm by Alessandro Nesta blockeda cross from Steven Pienaar that Lannoy should first have acted. Sadlyfor Tottenham, he and his additional assistant missed it.[LNB]From wide areas Tottenham were creating problems, with Luca Antonini struggling to contain the excellent Lennon. [LNB]When the Englishman delivered yet another teasing ball from the right,it took a courageous interception by Christian Abbiati to deny Crouch.Too courageous as it turned out. Abbiati was left with concussion andhad to leave the field minutes later.[LNB] All action hero: Heurelho Gomes was at his brilliant best to deny Mario Yepes on two occasions[LNB]It took Milan the best part of 20 minutes to trouble Tottenham and whenthey did, Gomes was perfectly positioned to cut out the threat posed byZlatan Ibrahimovic.[LNB]Not for the first time against English opposition, the Swedish strikerwho commands such enormous transfers fees and considers himself one of'the greats' was extremely disappointing. [LNB]Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri decided to make a change at the start of the second half as a result.It was the end for Clarence Seedorf, the veteran of so many European Cup wins losing his place to Pato. [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Calm down: Michael Dawson (second left) has words with Mathieu Flamini (fourth right) after the former Arsenal man's two-footed lunge ended Vedran Corluka's (left) evening[LNB]But it was Tottenham who continued to threaten. Before Van der Vaartwas replaced by Modric, he tested Marco Amelia with a decent strike andalso went close with a clever chip. [LNB]The turning point, however, should have come when Flamini launchedhimself at Corluka. Two-footed and as much as two feet off the ground,the challenge was bad enough to leave the Tottenham full-back nursing anasty ankle injury. [LNB]It was certainly the end of the Croatian's night,even if the former Arsenal midfielder who inflicted the wound somehow remained on the pitch. [LNB] Stetchered off: Christian Abbiati's match ended abruptly after a collision with Peter Crouch[LNB]It sparked one of many angry scenes, Gattuso shoving Jordan soonafterwards. As Redknapp suggested, he must have no idea who he wasmessing with. Never mind the fact Jordan was a Milan legend. [LNB]After Crouch's goal came what Milan thought was an equaliser, fourminutes into stoppage time. The overhead kick from Ibrahimovic wasgood enough to beat Gomes but Lannoy finally made a good call indisallowing the goal, having spotted that the Swede had shoved Dawsonin the back. [LNB]Cue absolute chaos.[LNB] [LNB] San heroes! Harry Redknapp lauds his side after San Siro win but calls for UEFA to ban bad boys Flamini and GattusoMartin Samuel: How the mafiosi of Milan have made Spurs fans of us allPICTURE SPECIAL: Mad dog Gattuso takes on Jaws Jordan and bites off more than he can chewGraham Poll: Gattuso is a pest and should be banned from White Hart Lane Spurs won't stand in Redknapp's way when England hunt for new bossSix of the best: How Spurs' reign in the San Siro ranks alongside other memorable nights...CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE: AC Milan v Tottenham - all the action as it happenedAll the latest Tottenham Hotspur news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Peter Crouch, Harry Redknapp, William Gallas, Wilson Palacios, Michael Dawson, Luka Modric, Robinho, Marco Amelia, Gareth Bale Places: Milan, United Kingdom, France, Europe
