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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Tottenham v Panathinaikos, Europa League

We went minute-by-minute as Tottenham sought to secure their passage to the knockout stages

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Tottenham 3-1 Panathinaikos (FT)

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog. Here are the teams:

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Caulker, Vertonghen, Naughton, Lennon, Sandro, Carroll, Dempsey, Defoe, Adebayor. Subs: Cudicini, Huddlestone, Dembele, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Townsend, Stewart.

Panathinaikos: Karnezis, Seitaridis, Triantafyllopoulos, Vyntra, Spyropoulos, Vitolo, Sow, Sissoko, Zeca, Mavrias, Toche. Subs: Kapino, Christodoulopoulos, Fornaroli, Marinos, Petropoulos, Chouchoumis, Velazquez.

We’re underway…

Nothing much to report on so far.

Tottenham have been playing it nicely between the back four without posing much attacking threat.

It’s a somewhat experimental line-up for Spurs tonight. They don’t play 4-4-2 often, while Tom Carroll has been handed a rare start in midfield.

Just to be clear in case there’s any confusion, Spurs need to win tonight to be guaranteed progression to the knockout stages, though a draw could be good enough.

Tottenham have been disappointingly inept in attack so far, while the Greeks are currently sitting back and inviting the hosts to try to break them down.

I should also mention that Newcastle lost 2-0 to Bordeaux earlier, while Liverpool beat Udinese.

Both sides progress to the next round.

It’s been a frustrating first few minutes for Tottenham, with Kyle Walker’s disappointing free-kick hit straight at the visitors’ wall on the edge of the box epitomising their inability to capitalise when in promising positions.

It’s early yet though, and Spurs will at least be satisfied with the way they’ve controlled possession.

A dangerous Panathinaikos free-kick finds an unmarked Toche, whose weak finish is straight at Friedel.

That was a good opportunity for the visitors, which they may come to rue ultimately.

Tottenham look a little short of creativity at the moment, with their decidedly defence-oriented midfield.

If the game continues in this manner, don’t be surprised to see an appearance from either Huddlestone or Dembele soon.

GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM!

It’s a simple goal to open the scoring for Tottenham. Clint Dempsey plays a lovely through ball to Adebayor, who breaks the offside trap and finishes coolly (28 mins).

Spurs really in the driving seat now.

There is a palpable confidence in the way Spurs are passing the ball now.

Clint Dempsey, in particular, seems to be enjoying his role on the left in Gareth Bale’s absence, and Spurs look the more likely to get the game’s next goal.

However, they have been burdened by over-confidence at times in this competition already, so they can’t afford to get cocky.

Meanwhile, Lazio are winning 2-0 against Maribor, so Tottenham probably won’t finish top of the group even if they do go through.

Aaron Lennon’s cross falls kindly to Jermain Defoe, and the England striker shows an uncharacteristic lack of composure, blasting well over from close range.

If the Greeks aren’t careful, Spurs could win this game by a considerable margin.

Good interplay between Carroll and Adebayor sends the latter through on goal, but he’s denied a chance thanks to a last-ditch tackle from the Panathinaikos defender.

From the resulting corner, Vertonghen’s header goes just wide.

HALF-TIME: TOTTENHAM 1-0 PANATHINAIKOS

So at half-time, Tottenham are well in command at White Hart Lane.

Panathinaikos have been poor enough. There’s been an evident lack of confidence about their play, as if they don’t really believe they have the ability to cause an upset.

Spurs, consequently, have looked relatively comfortable, without excelling.

At this stage, it looks as if the hosts would need to really take their foot off the pedal to allow the Greeks back into this game.

Here’s a look at that Adebayor goal:

YouTube credit:

The second half is underway…

Another clever pass from Dempsey, and Defoe’s powerful shot violently ricochets off the post and deflects away to safety.

He was quiet in the first half, but that was a glimpse of the significant threat the striker offers.

(Tottenham Hotspur’s Emmanuel Adebayor celebrates scoring their first goal of the game – Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

GOAL FOR PANATHINAIKOS!

Naughton falls asleep and allows Zeca to get a free run and header from a dangerous cross that gives Friedel no chance (53 mins).

Tottenham have looked lax in this second half, and they’ve been punished as a result.

Half an hour remains, and keep in mind that Spurs are still going through as it stands.

Panathinaikos need to win in order to progress.

Kyle Naughton has just been booked for cynically blocking his opponent’s run.

The ex-Sheffield United man hasn’t had the best of games tonight, as he was exposed for the goal and has looked unconvincing in general at times.

And the winner of the worst pun of the night award goes to…

Naughton again fails to clear, and Toche’s resulting shot goes just wide.

Tottenham are really living on the edge right now, and Dembele is about to come on to attempt to shore up their midfield.

An important header from Vertonghen has just prevented a near inch-perfect cross finding Toche.

For all Tottenham’s ineptitude, Panathinaikos have looked far more impressive since the break, and look the better side right now.

Meanwhile, Dembele has replaced Carroll.

GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM!

A beautiful curling free-kick from Walker finds the head of Dempsey, and the ball then hits the bar and deflects off the unfortunate Karnezis and finds the back of the net (75 mins).

Tottenham are in the lead again, albeit in somewhat fortuitous fashion.

GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM!

Guess who? It’s that man again, Jermain Defoe. It stems from great play from Lennon, who makes a good solo run before playing an exquisite through ball to the little striker, who calmly chips it over the keeper (82 mins).

That’s game over, if there were any doubts beforehand.

The game has hit a bit of a lull unsurprisingly, as we enter injury time…

FULL-TIME: TOTTENHAM 3-1 PANATHINAIKOS

Speaking to ITV, Jermain Defoe says “everyone played their part in the victory,” adding that “Aaron Lennon was brilliant tonight”.

Emmanuel Adebayor says himself and Defoe are “trying to know each other better”.

Here is the beautiful third Defoe goal:

YouTube credit:

Right, that’s all from me for tonight.

Thanks for reading.

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