Uefa Cup Round of 16, second leg/Tottenham Hotspur 3 Braga 2 (Spurs win 6-4 on aggregate):Tottenham last night ensured that their increasingly thrilling season might still culminate in a trip to Glasgow's Hampden Park for the Uefa Cup final.
A month ago it appeared that hopes of a trophy would be derailed by a collapse in form, but this win, inspired by two goals from the outstanding Dimitar Berbatov, confirms they are back on track.
Tottenham did, however, make life difficult for themselves and had to survive nerve-racking moments after their Portuguese opponents had first taken the lead and then drew level on the night after 61 minutes.
Tottenham will learn the identity of their quarter-final opponents tomorrow, but the draw should present few worries to a team who have scored 23 goals in their last seven matches.
Berbatov, who has a slight groin complaint, nonetheless started in attack alongside Robbie Keane, who had strong appeals for a penalty turned down as early as the the 14th minute. The Dubliner unleashed a powerful goal-bound shot and was convinced it had been blocked by Paulo Jorge's arm.
Uncertainty in defence proved costly for Spurs when Braga made their first serious excursion into the opposition's half. Andrade floated a free-kick into the penalty area and Tom Huddlestone rose only to head the ball into his own net.
Tottenham's response, though, was swift and clinical. Keane and Berbatov cut a huge hole in the Braga defence with an exchange of passes and the Bulgarian finished with the outside of his foot.
The equaliser settled Tottenham and, in the 42nd minute, they deservedly went ahead. The chance was created by Huddlestone's free-kick but the finish from Berbatov was breathtaking. He drifted into space and, in one motion, cushioned the ball on his chest and volleyed past the Braga goalkeeper Paulo Santos.
Andrade made it 2-2 on the night with a free-kick which went through the defensive wall from the edge of the area. Another Braga goal would have meant extra-time but the danger again seemed to spur on Tottenham.
They were denied another penalty on 72 minutes when Berbatov appeared to be bundled over by Nuno Frechaut. Berbatov, though, picked himself up and deftly fed Steed Malbranque who finished well to put the tie finally beyond Braga's grasp.
TOTTENHAM:Cerny, Stalteri, Dawson, Chimbonda, Young-Pyo Lee, Lennon (Ghaly 81), Huddlestone, Zokora, Malbranque, Keane (Defoe 66), Berbatov. Subs Not Used:Alnwick, Tainio, Mido, Taarabt, Charlie Lee. Booked:Berbatov, Malbranque. Goals:Berbatov 28, 42, Malbranque 76.
Braga:Paulo Santos, Luis Filipe, Paulo Jorge, Rodriguez (Nem 40), Carlos Fernandes, Frechaut, Madrid, Joao Amaral, Joao Pinto (Cesinha 74), Ze Carlos (Maciel 74), Wender. Subs Not Used:Dani Mallo, Castanheira, Ricardo Chaves, Bruno Gama. Booked:Joao Amaral, Joao Pinto, Luis Filipe. Goals:Huddlestone 24 og, Joao Amaral 61.
Referee: Laurent Duhamel(France).
