Tottenham Hotspur FC will entertain AC Milan in a fortnight's time with the cushion of an aggregate lead after Peter Crouch's goal earned Harry Redknapp's side a first-leg win at San Siro.
The second half had been largely memorable for the acrobatics of Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who twice denied Mario Yepes. But with the match seemingly destined for a goalless draw, Aaron Lennon raced from his own half, leaving Yepes in his wake, and into the Milan box where he teed up Crouch to sweep the ball in.
Christian Abbiati was called into action four times in the opening 15 minutes, holding on to shots from Crouch and Rafael van der Vaart and twice beating the lanky striker to the punch after Lennon broke down the right.
Milan, deploying Thiago Silva in central midfield due to injuries, created little in the first half other than Zlatan Ibrahimović's low cross which was destined for Robinho, but anticipated by Gomes, and a wayward free-kick from the subdued Sweden striker on the half-hour. The hosts were grateful to be on terms at half-time after Amelia tipped Van der Vaart's shot over, three minutes before the interval.
The hosts came even closer to breaking the deadlock, Gomes displaying extraordinary athleticism to claw Yepes's goalbound header over the bar on 48 minutes. Milan continued to press forward, Pato combining well with Flamini, whose shot was blocked by Wilson Palacios.
Source : uefa.com
Christian Abbiati was called into action four times in the opening 15 minutes, holding on to shots from Crouch and Rafael van der Vaart and twice beating the lanky striker to the punch after Lennon broke down the right.
Milan, deploying Thiago Silva in central midfield due to injuries, created little in the first half other than Zlatan Ibrahimović's low cross which was destined for Robinho, but anticipated by Gomes, and a wayward free-kick from the subdued Sweden striker on the half-hour. The hosts were grateful to be on terms at half-time after Amelia tipped Van der Vaart's shot over, three minutes before the interval.
The hosts came even closer to breaking the deadlock, Gomes displaying extraordinary athleticism to claw Yepes's goalbound header over the bar on 48 minutes. Milan continued to press forward, Pato combining well with Flamini, whose shot was blocked by Wilson Palacios.
Source : uefa.com