Braga 2 Tottenham Hotspur 3

Last updated : 11 March 2007 By SpursMAD

Martin Jol made three changes after Sunday with Didier Zokora, Steed Malbranque and Robbie Keane all returning to the starting line-up.

Several chances were wasted in a first half which should have seen Spurs heading in with a goal or two advantage, but they couldn't finish the moves off. Teemu Tainio, Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane were all denied by Paulo Santos.

Once Spurs did eventually score two goals they were pegged back to all square, but the victory was sealed right at the end with a third away goal and the lead going into the second leg at White Hart Lane next week.

We still looked like creating chances on the breaks and after a couple of good positions went by the wayside, Keane struck again in injury time, finishing one-on-one from Zokora's pass.

Martin Jol said: "I felt in the first half we had numerous chances to finish it off but we didn't. In the second half we were better but what you don't want is to concede a penalty kick when we did and then the second goal from a foul which was never a foul, so that was disappointing."

"Every break we had looked dangerous and thankfully Robbie made the difference because it would have been an injustice to finish 2-2 here. That would still have been a good score in an away leg in Europe but having seen this match, there was only one winner and that was Spurs."

"Braga are a very technical side but I felt we won the battle in midfield, we were aggressive and we were the better team overall. We should have scored three or four at least but I was never worried because we have the second leg at home so I was a happy customer that we scored the winner."

Robbie Keane said: "It was obviously nice to score but the most important thing was the result. We wanted to come here and get at least a goal or two and we managed to do that.

"We are disappointed in the way we conceded the two goals but, if I'm being honest, I thought the penalty was a little bit harsh and it bought them back into the game. It put us on the back foot for a few minutes and they managed to get another one. In the end though we can be quite happy with the result."

Paul Robinson said: "It was a good performance and we were the better team. The penalty gave them a lift and once they came back into it with another goal we showed our character and spirit again by scoring in injury time.

"Three away goals is fantastic and it gives us a great platform at home. Hopefully we can now go and put in a good performance at White Hart Lane and win.

"I have to give a mention to our fans who travelled in their thousands. It was fantastic and we rewarded them with another good game.

Source: TottenhamHotspur.com