Spurs reach knockout stage

12 April 2012

Tom Huddlestone's header earned Tottenham the point they needed against Spartak Moscow to reach the UEFA Cup knockout stages - but it was an uncomfortable night for Harry Redknapp's men.

Redknapp insists it is easier to get in this competition than it is to get out - and his players proved him right with a woeful first 45 minutes at White Hart Lane where Artem Dzuba scored twice for the Russians.

It took Luka Modric's first Spurs goal and Huddlestone's leveller to earn the draw they needed to be sure of a path out of Group D.

Gilberto was guilty of an error for the opener and the Brazilian full-back was hauled off at half-time, which is how his debut in March against PSV Eindhoven ended.

It was his first appearance under Redknapp and only his second this season, with the other match also seeing him substituted at the interval under Juande Ramos.

Gareth Bale passed the ball towards Gilberto but the full-back left the ball for Gomes, allowing Dzuba to nip in and squeeze his finish through the legs of the goalkeeper.

When Dzuba's second came, in the 33rd minute, it could also be filed under farcical.

The beanpole forward tapped the ball around Didier Zokora and was allowed to skip beyond the Spurs defence and round Gomes before finishing into an empty net.

Modric pulled one back for the hosts in the second half, tucking his finish under Pletikosa from Lennon's pull-back from the right.

Before Huddlestone levelled the match 74th minute by thumping his header beyond Pletikosa from Bale's cross after David Bentley had sent the Wales youngster down the left.

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