UEFA Champions League Report: Tottenham held to a draw by Dutch minnows FC Twente
Tottenham Hotspur, the new boys in this year’s UEFA Champions League, ended the first half of their 2nd group game against FC Twente with the score at 0-0.
Harry Redknapp did not have too many fitness issues ahead of the match with several players coming back in time. Redknapp decided to start with Gomes in goal. Chris Hutton, Sebastian Bassong and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, started in
defence. Dutch midfielder Van der Vaart took up the left flank spot, while Huddlestone and Luka Modric were marshalling the centre of midfield, Gareth Bale was at left back, and strikers Pavlyuchenko and Crouch were leading the attack.
There were a number of players making a comeback in the team. Centre-back Ledley King came back after a long layoff while Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who had just started full training last week, also made the cut.
Winger Aaron Lennon was one of those that had to make way. FC Twente too made two changes from the side which drew 2-2 with Ajax at the weekend. Midfielder Emir Bajrami and striker Marc Janko replaced Luuk de Jong and Nacer Chadli.
Theo Janssen was Twente's playmaker and he was looking dangerous for the Dutchmen. His free-kick into the area only just eluded Douglas, who had found a bit of space behind the Tottenham defence.
The Dutch team did start brightly and continued to attack. Soon there was another sniff for Twente. Denny Landzaat's shot was blocked by Sebastien Bassong, but the ball dropped for Bryan Ruiz, who shot over from the edge of the
area. Tottenham had not really got going in the first 15 minutes.
But the attacks did not stop there. Soon Twente had their best chance of the half. Just after Roman Pavlyuchenko shot wide for the home side, Bryan Ruiz ran clean through and was only denied by a superb Heurelho Gomes save, who
reached out an arm to keep out the Costa Rican's shot.
After 25 minutes, Spurs had finally woken up a bit, with Rafael van der Vaart forcing a fine low save from Nikolay Mihaylov after letting fly from the edge of the area. Tom Huddlestone was getting involved too, and was perhaps
lucky to escape a card after a tangling with Marc Janko.
There was then a surprise first change for Twente. Emir Bajrami pulled up with an injury after being unchallenged and had to be replaced by Nacer Chadli.
When Spurs finally come out to play, there was action at both ends of White Hart Lane. First, Twente had to deal with a dangerous Gareth Bale cross, but then quickly broke and Marc Janko's first-time shot fizzed just wide of the
post.
Despite numerous chances at both ends the first half ended at 0-0. Spurs should be favourites to go on and get at least one goal in the 2nd half.
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