Besiktas 0 Tottenham 2: Dimitar Berbatov began repaying some of his £10.9 million transfer fee with an inspirational display as Tottenham made a perfect start to their Group B campaign.
Berbatov showed vision to set up the opening goal for Hossam Ghaly but saved the best for himself with a stunning 63rd-minute strike. The Bulgarian marksman, a summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, rounded two Besiktas defenders on a marauding run and then beat goalkeeper Vedran Runje before finishing coolly.
It was a breathtaking goal which helped make a mockery of predictions Spurs would be lucky to leave Istanbul with a point. Fears of the effect Besiktas' partisan home support would have on Martin Jol's side proved unfounded as although deafeningly noisy at times, the atmosphere at the Inonu Stadium was never hostile.
The visitors appeared to have got the breakthrough they were after in the 12th minute when some slick passing found Danny Murphy. The former Liverpool and Charlton midfielder forced Vedran Runje to save, only for Berbatov to smash home the rebound. But the flag had gone up for offside.
However, the home crowd were stunned into silence in the 32nd minute when Spurs took the lead with Berbatov setting up the goal. The Bulgarian found Ghaly with a beautifully weighted pass and the Egyptian midfielder pulled the trigger only for Runje to save. But once again the Besiktas goalkeeper had failed to keep hold of the ball and it squirted back out and rebounded off Ghaly into the goal.
Robinson showed fine reflexes to keep out a free kick from Burak Yilmaz which he clipped high in the air, making a second save as the ball descended with several Besiktas players lurking.
Spurs hardly had a sniff in the second half but magnificent skills from Berbatov sent them 2-0 ahead in the 63rd minute. Robbie Keane released the Bulgarian who beat Baki Mercimek and Fahri Tatan before finally outwitting Runje and finding the net.
Spurs nearly got a third shortly after when Berbatov centred to Keane - only for the Republic of Ireland captain to be denied by the crossbar.
BESIKTAS: Runje, Kurtulus, Sedef (Bobo 46), Zan, Yilmaz, Mercimek, Marcio Nobre, Ricardinho, Uzulmez, Tatan (Akin 66), Toraman. Subs not used: Sahin, Dogan, Gulec, Tandogan, Gunes. Booked: Tatan, Toraman.
TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Ghaly (Lennon 83), Huddlestone, Jenas, Murphy (Ziegler 80), Berbatov (Defoe 90), Keane. Subs not used: Cerny, Davids, Stalteri, Gardner. Booked: Chimbonda, Ghaly. Goals: Ghaly 32, Berbatov 63.
Referee: N Vollquartz (Denmark).
