Spurs crash out to Shakhtar

A second-string Tottenham crashed out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk.

Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Shakhtar only briefly looked in danger of relinquishing control of the tie after Mexican midfielder Giovani dos Santos opened the scoring with a stunning strike for Spurs, ten minutes into the second half.

One more goal would have been enough to force extra-time but it was to be the visitors who found the net, Fernandinho grabbing a late goal to seal Shakhtar’s place in the last 16.

With Sunday’s League Cup final meeting with Manchester United looming, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp had made his priorities crystal clear by naming only one member of the side that defeated Hull on Monday night in his starting XI.

That meant a rare starting chance for Giovani and the midfielder may have done enough to force his way into Redknapp’s plans for Sunday.

His goal was his first since he arrived from Barcelona in a deal worth 8.6 million pounds and it was certainly worth waiting for.

Picking the ball up 40 yards out, the Mexican drove into the penalty area and found the net with a fierce drive.

He did blot his copybook somewhat by failing to connect with an inviting Gilberto cross when he could have levelled the tie.

But any doubt about the outcome was removed with four minutes left when Fernandinho finished crisply from the edge of the area.