FC Basel reach Europa League last four
10-man Tottenham have been sent crashing out of the Europa League on penalties to Swiss side FC Basel.
Spurs managed to survive an extra-time onslaught from Basel to take their hosts to spot-kicks in their quarter-final tie but Tom Huddlestone and Emmanuel Adebayor missed from 12 yards to send Basel into the last four.
Spurs were already without injured trio Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and William Gallas for tonight’s second leg in Switzerland and saw Jan Vertonghen sent off in the dying stages of normal time.
Clint Dempsey gave Spurs the lead at St. Jakob-Park, but goals from Mohamed Salah and Aleksandar Dragovic put Basel back in the driving seat, as they lead 4-3 on aggregate.
But Spurs kept pushing and Dempsey grabbed his second of the night, before Vertonghen saw red.
It was a patient start by Tottenham, who fought back from a 2-0 deficit in the first leg at White Hart Lane last week, but they were rewarded as Vertonghen’s pass evaded Dragovic and Dempsey rounded Yann Sommer to slot home.
But Spurs couldn’t hang on to their advantage and sloppy defending allowed Salah to fire an equaliser past Brad Friedel.
Watch the goals here:
Mohamed Salah Goal:
NENI CHANCE:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCb1JimHweY[/youtube]Pennalties:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKSuh3em2F8[/youtube]Mohamed Salah Highlights:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shPosj3cQrY[/youtube]Mousa Dembele went close to restoring Tottenham’s lead, but was denied by a fine save from Sommer.
And it was the hosts who took the lead shortly after the break. A corner was met by the head of Fabian Schar and Friedel could only parry it to the feet of Dragovic, who couldn’t miss.
But Spurs kept pushing for a goal which would level the tie and it finally came through Dempsey with eight minutes remaining, as the American tucked the ball under Sommer who will feel he should have done better.
Normal time ended on a sour note for Andre Villas-Boas’ side, who faced extra time with 10 men, after Vertonghen was sent off for his foul on Streller, with the Basel captain through on goal.
The hosts were unfortunate not to take the lead in the opening stages of extra time, as a stunning piledriver from Mohamed Elneny rattled the woodwork with Friedel beaten.
And Basel continued to pile the pressure on 10-man Spurs, but couldn’t find away past the Tottenham rear-guard as the game went to penalties.
Fabian Schar made no mistake with Basel’s first spot kick, but Huddlestone saw his effort saved as Spurs got off to the worst possible start.
Despite Gylfi Sigurdsson netting the visitors’ next penalty, Adebayor blazed his over the bar, leaving Marcelo Diaz to bury the winner.
