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Thursday, 20 March 2014

Benfica Bundles Tottenham Out Of The Europa League

Ezequiel Garay Tottenham Hotspur FC Benfica Europa League 20032014

Tottenham crashed out of the Europa League as they were held to a 2-2 draw on the night by Benfica meaning the scoreline stands at 3-2 on aggregate.


Having lost scandalously 1-3 at White Hart Lane, Tottenham rallied from a goal down and post in two quick goals from Nacer Chadli but their dream of qualification was dented when Lima converted a late penalty to put the scores at 2-2.

Benfica started the brightest of the two as they missed a great opportunity to extend their aggregate lead as early as the ninth minute when Garay nodded the ball into the path of centre-back partner Luisao but he could only head over the crossbar from eight yards out when unmarked.

The miss could have been punished by Roberto Soldado six minutes later when the Spanish striker controlled the ball at the back post before his half-volley went down into the turf and wide of the target.

Tottenham spurned another chance to take the lead after 26 minutes, with Chadli heading Gylfi Sigurdsson's corner wide.

Benfica took advantage of the visitors' wasteful finishing in the 34th minute as Eduardo Salvio ghosted past stand-in captain Aaron Lennon on the right before clipping an inviting cross into the box, which Garay finished with a thumping header.

The visitors looked comfortable in possession for the remainder of the opening period and continued that trend in the second half. Luisao could have had his third goal of the tie in the 58th minute when he leapt highest to head Miralem Sulejmani's corner wide.

With tie seemingly petering out to a Benfica win, Tottenham turned the game on its head after 78 minutes as Chadli cut in from the right flank and rifled a right-footed shot into the far corner.

Just a minute later Chadli scored his second when he spun on the spot and hooked his shot in the top-right corner.

There was further drama in the closing stages when Suljmani felled substitute Harry Kane in the area but the referee did not award the penalty.

Benfica were then grateful to goalkeeper Jan Oblak deep into injury time as first he kept out Sigurdsson's header with a fine point-blank save before holding Kane's tame header.

The hosts then settled the game as Lima equalised from the spot, after Sandro had fouled the midfielder in the area.

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