Champions League
Ten-man Spurs earn first win
2010-09-29 23:47
Rafael van der Vaart (AP)
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London - Ten-man Tottenham Hotspur celebrated their first Champions League win as they beat Twente Enschede 4-1 in a frantic game of three penalties and one sending off at rainswept White Hart Lane on Tuesday.
It was a bittersweet night for Tottenham's new Dutch signing Rafael van der Vaart who missed the first penalty after 41 minutes, fired Spurs ahead after 47 and was then sent off for a second yellow card after 61 minutes.
Roman Pavlyuchenko put Spurs 2-0 ahead with his first penalty after 50 minutes, Twente pulled one back through Nacer Chadli six minutes later before Pavlyuchenko scored his second penalty of the night to make it 3-1 eight minutes later.
Gareth Bale added the fourth five minutes from time as Spurs took their tally to four points in Group A, level with European champions Inter Milan who they face in their next game.
The game began in a downpour with Twente the first to settle on the slippery surface with Bryan Ruiz, Denny Landzaat and the powerfully built Marc Janko all going close.
Spurs though began to dominate possession but the real drama unfolded between the 41st and 61st minutes.
Van der Vaart saw his penalty palmed away by Nikolay Mihaylov but redeemed himself a minute after the break with a superb strike to open the scoring.
Pavlyuchenko made it 2-0 from the spot after Bale was brought down by Roberto Rosales before Chadli smashed home for Twente.
Norwegian referee Terje Hauge sent off Van der Vaart for a clumsy challenge on Rosales before Pavlyuchenko chipped home his second penalty after a Wout Brama handball.