Bremen fight back against Tottenham
After a promising first half, Tottenham had to settle for a point against Werder Bremen in the Champions League on Tuesday. The game finished 2–2.
It was Spurs' first ever Champions League game, and Harry Redknapp's side will be disappointed not to have held on to the two-goal lead it created in the first half. With 60 Champions League games played,
the more experienced German side pressured Tottenham for the remainder of the half, pulling one goal back before the break and leveling just after.
“It’s great for the fans, hopefully we can win our home games and get through to the knockout stages,” an optimistic Redknapp told Sky Sports after the game. “I think that first 42 minutes was as good
as you will see us play. We looked like a fantastic team, opened them up time and time again."
Crouch sets up dream start
Before Spurs began creating scoring chances, Bremen's Wesley Lopes da Silva cut inside on the left wing, producing a right-footed drive that flew just beside Carl Cudicini's goal.
In the 12th minute, Benoit Assou-Ekotto's through-ball sent the impressive Gareth Bale clear down the line. Petri Pasanen did his best to ensure Peter Crouch did not get on the end of Bale's cross, but
the Finn only managed to knock the ball past his own keeper for Hotspur's first goal.
Six minutes later, Crouch proved that he did not need the help of opposing defenders to score. New signing Rafael van der Vaart was given plenty of time to pick out his cross from the left, and Crouch
did well to to send a powerful header into Tim Wiese's left corner.
Left-back Bale made another offensive run in the 31st minute, forcing a stop from Wiese after racing clear before Crouch and Jermaine Jenas failed to convert the rebound.
Bremen needed fewer chances to capitalize, as Wesley Sneijder's speculative cross was met by Hugo Almeida in the box. The striker cleverly directed his header towards the ground, and it took a bounce before
beating a helpless Cudicini.
Spurs pressured in the second half
After the break, Spurs' defensive frailties were exposed by Bremen. With time to advance towards the Tottenham box from 40 yards out, Marko Marin took a few strides before placing a low shot inside the
left post to draw his side level.
Things could have got worse for Spurs when Almeida raced clear in the 57th minute, but defensive pair Ledley King and Younes Kaboul did just enough to force the striker to a rushed finish that flew over
the goal.
Crouch got a chance to win it before ordinary time was up, but after latching on to subsitute Wilson Palacios' through ball in the 88th minute, his finish drifted wide of the left post.
After Bremen gave them some scares, Tottenham did well to come away with a point in a tough away encounter. To progress from a tough group that also includes Inter Milan and FC Twente, though, Spurs will
have to start securing their leads.
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