Dinamo Bucharest home, 14.12.06

Last updated : 15 December 2006 By SpursMAD

Pat Sheehan, The Sun: Jermain Defoe showed that given a run he has lost none of his goalscoring guile.

And it looked as if his patience is beginning to pay off.

Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring then Defoe made the most of dreadful defending after 39 minutes.

And five minutes into the second half, he started and finished the move that gave the scoreline a true reflection of how much Spurs had dominated.

Despite launching some bright attacks, Bucharest lacked enough quality to break down a resolute Tottenham backline. The visitors were let down time and again by lapses in concentration when doing the simple things.

The only blemish for Spurs was a defensive lapse that allowed Jean-Philippe Mendy to slot home a consolation in the last minute.

Darren Lewis, Daily Mirror: Jermain Defoe and strike partner Dimitar Berbatov both struck early to put Martin Jol's men into cruise control by half-time.

Defoe then hit a third against awful Dinamo.

Tottenham tore them apart at will and they only really managed to score a last minute consolation through sub Jean-Phillippe Mendy because the Spurs back four took pity on them and dropped off.

Tom Dart, The Times: Early in the first half Tottenham Hotspur assumed an air of overweening power, caressing passes against a supine Dynamo Bucharest.

Martin Jol, anxious to avoid the drop-outs from the Champions League, picked perhaps his strongest available side.

Jermain Defoe started, despite only just recovering from a hamstring problem, and a front line of the England striker and Dimitar Berbatov was altogether too much for the visiting team.

Defoe's first goal with almost 39 minutes gone was typical of the striker at his best, outsmarting a defender, sprinting towards goal and scoring with confidence and precision.

Defoe found the net again five minutes after the break and this was easier, a simple finish capping a fine counterattack.

Tottenham continued to press in this game, looking entirely capable of reaching half a dozen. They would not appreciate the comparison, but their dominance allowed them to develop an indulgent interest in building flair-filled attacks reminiscent of Arsenal.

Jean-Philippe Mendi, a substitute, pulled one back in stoppage time.

John Ley, Daily Telegraph: Dimitar Berbatov gave Spurs an early lead but then it was left to Jermain Defoe to score one in either half.

Spurs may have had already qualified, but they signalled their intentions by naming their strongest available starting line-up.

Spurs' determination to do well in this competition was evident from the start.

When they scored a third soon after the restart, there was no doubting their hunger for more success.

With the result beyond doubt, Spurs sat back and Dinamo stole a goal.

David Ornstein, The Guardian: The champions-elect produced their finest European display of the season.

Martin Jol had clearly done his homework, but the home side still made this look very easy. From the outset there was little doubt as to which team was the hungrier.

Tottenham, the first winners of the competition in 1972, squandered a flurry of early chances but it was not long before their pressure told.

With Dinamo offering little attacking invention, Spurs began to advance with zest.

In what was turning into a training exercise Jermain Defoe enjoyed a licence to roam from deep.

A Jean Philippe Mendi strike in stoppage time did little to dim the euphoria engulfing White Hart Lane.

Conrad Leach, The Independent: Dinamo Bucharest were out-thought and outplayed at White Hart Lane last night, the final scoreline doing scant justice to Tottenham's dominance. Two strikes from Jermain Defoe and another from Dimitar Berbatov meant Spurs qualified as group winners.

Jol picked a full-strength side and his two strikers duly made hay. The Romanians were also obliging in the extreme in an engaging game played at high speed by both teams.

Although Berbatov's goal was easy, Defoe's first was anything but.

Five minutes after the interval, Spurs made sure of victory, not that it had ever been in much doubt.