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PARIS.
Tottenham shocked seven-times European soccer champions AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro on Tuesday night with Peter Crouch firing the only goal on a superb night for the north Londoners.
Spurs had lost by the odd goal in seven to holders Inter Milan in an extraordinary group phase encounter at the same venue had to make do without that night’s hat-trick hero Gareth Bale owing to injury.
But even in his absence Spurs turned in a supremely professional showing which belied the fact this is their first season of Champions League fare.
After ensuring they kept things tight at the back – remembering the lesson of their nightmare opening half against Inter, Harry Redknapp’s side geared themselves for a rapier strike and Crouch was on hand to fire home after a brilliant surging run by Aaron Lennon ten minutes from time.
The win means the English Premier League outfit will be favourites to finish the Italians off at White Hart Lane in three weeks time.
“What a performance from us. We stood tall to a man, Sandro, Steven Pienaar, Michael Dawson, Heurelho Gomes . . . I could go on,” said a proud Redknapp.
“I said to the lads, too, at half-time to get it to Aaron Lennon whenever we could because he tore the left-back apart all night – and his role in the goal was fantastic. It’s a great night for the fans and a great night for Tottenham.”
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said his side hadn’t got going early enough.
“In the first half we were too afraid to go forward, it was difficult to play in such tight spaces and we made many mistakes,” he admitted.
Milan may be the Serie A leaders but they had precious little penetration when push came to shove – although Zlatan Ibrahimovic did put the ball in the net with an acrobatic volley only to have his effort ruled out for a marginal offside.
The game ended with ugly scenes as Milan hardman Gennaro Gattuso appeared to aim a headbutt at Spurs assistant manager and former Milan player Joe Jordan, igniting a scuffle. In the day’s other match, Valencia were frustrated as former Real Madrid striker Raul, who scored against them in the 2000 final, came back to haunt his countrymen. Raul ended 16 years at the Bernabeu last summer and joined Germany’s Schalke – and although another Real Madrid man Roberto Soldado put the hosts ahead Raul bagged the equaliser for a record 71st European goal in a 1-1 draw at the Mestalla stadium. – AFP.