Spurs - Another First in Europe

Tottenham - 8 Consecutive wins in Europe

Dimitar Berbatov - the Star of Spurs UEFA Cup campaign

Last night's win at White Hart Lane against SC Braga gives Martin Jol's side a new record - 8 consecutive wins in European competitions. No other British club has achieved that number of wins in Europe.

It is an amazing record and one which started in Prague in early September, when a goal from Jermaine Jenas gave Spurs their solitary goal victory over Slavia Prague. A late goal from Robbie Keane was enough to secure the tie on a 2-0 aggregate and into the Group stage of the competition.

Spurs headed the five team group with a maximum 12 points following wins over Besiktas in Turkey, FC Brugge at White Hart Lane, Bayer Leverkusen in Germany and the final home game against Dinamo Bucharest.

In Turkey goals from Ghaly and Berbatov gave Spurs an impressive win, while Dimitar Berbatov's goal was an indication of the class and goal scoring ability of the player who joined Spurs in the summer.

At White Hart Lane Berbatov (2) and Robbie Keane scored the goals in a 3-1 victory over FC Brugge from Belgium.

The next game saw Berbatov return to Germany to the club he had left to join Spurs and he quietly scored the only goal of the game to secure Spurs' win. The final game against the team, Dinamo Bucharest, hoping to oust Spurs from the top of the group was won with goals from Berbatov and Jermain Defoe (2).

The next round draw saw Spurs to meet old rivals from Holland, Feyenoord. However, Spurs received a bye when the Dutch side where expelled from the competition due to the bad behaviour of some of their ans in an earlier game against Lens.

The round of 16, paired Spurs with SC Braga from Portugal. The two cubs had previously met in the opening round of the UEFA Cup in 1984-84 season when Spurs were holders of the trophy. Spurs progressed comfortably then with a 9-0 aggragate win, 3-0 in Portugal and 6-0 at home. Spurs again scored three in Braga but it was a closer affair after the home side pulled back from two down to level and it was only an injury time goal from Robbie Keane which gave Spurs the advantage for the home leg. He had earlier scored the first goal and Steed Malbranque got the second. Dimitar Berbatov was the star of the game in Portugal when he had run Braga ragged but somehow failed to score. He made up for that in the return game by scoring two great goals to give Spurs a half-time lead after they had unexpectedly found themselves a goal behind against the run of play. A further goal from Malbrangue, created by Berbatov, secured Spurs place in the Quarter finals of the competition, where they are only British club left and the only club able to win it for a third time.

• Berbatov scored in four consecutive games and his failure to score in Portugal prevented him from becoming the first Spurs player to score in five consecutive European games.

• Dimitar Berbatov has now scored 7 goals in the UEFA Cup.
  
  
  

Spurs in History - 19th October

19th October, 2006

Besiktas (Turkey) 0 Spurs 2 (UEFA Cup - Group Stages)

Scorers: Ghaly, Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov

Spurs produced their best performance of the season in what had been regarded as a tricky UEFA Cup group game in Turkey.  A goal in each half saw Spurs win comfortably and in the latter stages if they had taken their chances, the win could have been even more convincing.  Spurs settled quickly and went ahead after 31 minutes when Hossam Ghaly was put through by Berbatov with only the goalkeeper to beat.  He delayed his shot and the goalkeeper blocked it but the ball rebounded onto Ghaly and into the net.  It was his first goal for Spurs and gave them a deserved half-time lead.

At the start of the second half the home team increased the pressure but with Michael Dawson and Ledley King comfortable in central defence and the midfield players working tirelessly, Spurs maintained control and after 63 minutes Dimitar Berbatov showed why Spurs paid the £11 million transfer fee for him.  Put through from a pass by Robbie Keane, he took on the defender and went round the goalkeeper and with defenders covering coolly scored Spurs second to secure victory.

A more convincing win could have been achieved if Spurs had taken all their chances.  Berbatov again pressured the defender and set up Keane who hit the bar, later Keane blazed over when through on goal and Jermain Defoe shot wide with his first touch in the final moments.

Jermaine Jenas worked tirelessly, covering acres of ground, Berbatov showed his class and Dawson and King controlled the defence.  Paul Robinson showed his class with comfortable saves and a great double save from a free kick late in the first half.

A very pleasing performance and result with Spurs top of the group and looking forward to more European success.

19th October, 1983

Spurs 4 Feyenoord 2 (UEFA Cup 2nd Round (1st Leg)

Scorers: Galvin (2), Archibald (2)

The game matched Glenn Hoddle against an ageing Johan Cryff in a head to head contest.  It was the younger star who was to stamp his class on the match as Cryff failed to live with Hoddle’s creativity and control.

Spurs were four ahead by half-time and Glenn Hoddle had played a part in all of the goals.  He controlled the game and Spurs were supreme, going ahead after eight minutes through Steve Archibald.  Ten minutes later a Hoddle cross was headed in by Tony Galvin.  Archibald scored his second five minutes later with Galvin getting his second five minutes before half-time from a forty yard Hoddle pass.

In the second half Feyenoord came more into the game but Hoddle had displayed his master class and Spurs were almost assured of qualification to the next round.

Team:

Clemence, Hughton, Galvin, Roberts, Stevens, Perryman, Mabbutt, Archibald, Falco, Hoddle, Brooke (Crook). Att. 35,404