Gylfi Sigurdsson Helps Tottenham to Win Over Inter Milan In Europa League

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Gareth Bale combined to set Tottenham on their way to a three goal win over Inter Milan in the first leg of the Europa League, last-16 tie at White Hart Lane.

Gylfi Sigurdsson – his best Tottenham game against Inter [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]

Tottenham with a three goal advantage for next week’s second leg in the San Siro, look to have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Sigurdsson, playing on the left of midfield, had his best game since joining Tottenham last summer as he and Bale gave them a 2 – 0 interval lead. Jan Vertonghen headed a third early in the second half and ensured that Milan failed to get an away goal.

Tottenham Hotspur 3  Inter Milan 0

Scorers: Sigurdsson, Bale, Vertonghen

Team: Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon (Naughton), Parker, Dembele (Livermore), Sigurdsson (Holtby); Bale, Defoe  Subs: (unused) Lloris, Dawson, Caulker, Carroll

Andre Villas-Boas made three changes from the team which defeated Arsenal last weekend. Brad Friedel returned in goal, with William Gallas replacing Michael Dawson in central defence. Jermain Defoe started as Emmanuel Adebayor was injured.

Tottenham took the game to Inter Milan from the outset, starting at a good tempo and were ahead within six minutes. Sigurdsson delivered a cross from tight on the left to find Bale rising high in the centre of the area to glance the ball in at the far post.

After 18 minutes Tottenham doubled their lead. Inter gave the ball away in midfield but good link-up play from Spurs saw Aaron Lennon released on the right of the area. He cut the ball back to Defoe who with his back to goal, turned to fire in a shot which the goalkeeper parried but Sigurdsson was following up to knock the ball home.

Spurs were dominating a disappointing Inter team with pace and direct attacking football. Vertonghen had a header tipped over from a Sigurdsson cross and late in the half, Inter spurned an opportunity to pull a goal back but it was one of only two real threats posed by the Italian team.

In the second half Vertonghen missed an opportunity to increase Spurs’ lead from a Bale free-kick. A few minutes later, he made no mistake when heading in from a Bale corner. He ran round his marker as Bale delivered the corner to head home against the Inter defence which was displaying some very unItalian-like marking and defending.

Spurs had opportunities to increase their advantage but Bale, Defoe, Lennon and Lewis Holtby were denied while Inter created only one moment of danger as they sought an away goal to change the dynamic of next week’s match in Milan. From a quickly taken free-kick Palacio was released behind the Spurs defence but Friedel advanced and got a foot to the ball when the shot came in.

It was an excellent team performance from Spurs whose only disappointments were an early yellow card for Bale for diving which means he misses next week’s match and an injury to Lennon which saw him limp off with ten minutes to play.

What’s Next

Tottenham were the only team to secure a three goal advantage in the 1st leg matches. FC Basel  and Lazio secured two goal advantages in their games while the other matches were evenly balanced with only a goal difference or all-square.

Before the Inter match, the question was whether Tottenham could reproduce the 2010 Champions League result and performance against Inter. The team gave an emphatic reply in another glorious European night at White Hart Lane and can look forward to next week’s game in Milan in a confident mood.

Andre Villas-Boas in his post-match press conference was pleased with the result and performance but knows the tie is not over. He was reported on BBC Sport website,

"“It was a very good performance and a great night of European football for us. Unfortunately for us it doesn’t mean that we’re through yet as we still have to go there and it’s a difficult place to go. We just hope we can do enough to qualify. It was a well-deserved result for Tottenham and is still prestigious.”"