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Tottenham started brilliantly, a totally different side to the one that was demolished in 20 minutes at the San Siro. They passed, attacked, and deserved to go 1-0 up when Modric and Van Der Vaart combined to brilliant affect. An important save by Cudicini after a typically classy free kick from Sneijder saw the home side keep their lead at the half time break.
Having scored a fabulous hat-trick in return fixture, Bale had worried Maicon in the first half. In the second half he destroyed him. Multiple times the young welshman ran pass the full back, one of the best in the world, like he wasn’t there. When the Spurs fans started mockingly singing ‘Taxi for Maicon’, the Brazilian must have been slightly hopeful that someone was genuinely offering him a way out of the torment! Apart from running his opponent ragged, Bale delivered two killer crosses that were finished calmly by Crouch and Pavlyuchenko to secure the victory. Tottenham’s third goal was critical, as a lapse from Hutton and Gallas has allowed Eto’o's destructive finishing to put the holders back into the game.
An amazing night, a glory night, a night that leaves Tottenham within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League knock-out stages at the first time of asking. A tough lunchtime battle with Bolton is next on the agenda, but for now Spurs can just savour the moment.
