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Braga 2-3 Tottenham
By Chris Bevan <DIV>
<DIV class=cap>Spurs skipper Keane takes the acclaim after scoring in Portugal </DIV><DIV class=cap>
Robbie Keane's late goal gave Tottenham a vital away victory after Braga had fought back from two goals down in the first leg of their Uefa Cup tie. </DIV></DIV>
Aaron Lennon fed Keane to smash Spurs in front from the edge of the area and Steed Malbranque followed up another Lennon shot to make it 2-0.
Paulo Jorge pulled one back after Paul Robinson saved his penalty and Ze Carlos headed home a late leveller.
But Keane had the final word, running clear to score an injury-time winner.
It was a dramatic finale to a game that Tottenham should have had wrapped up by half-time.
Dimitar Berbatov has scored five goals in four Uefa Cup games for Spurs and his side's early dominance meant he had plenty of chances to add to that tally here.
The Bulgarian international did all the hard work in the sixth minute when he evaded Pinto on the right wing and danced past Jorge inside the area - but his poked shot found the side rather than the back of the net with only Paulo Santos to beat.
Teemu Tainio tested Santos from the edge of the area with the visitors' next chance after Berbatov had played him in and, as Braga continued to sit back, more openings followed.
Berbatov should have done better when Malbranque put him clear but he again failed to find the target.
More chances came and went when Santos saved Keane's shot with his forearm then kept out a powerful Berbatov shot after good work from Young-Pyo Lee down the left.
Braga came out with more purpose after the interval but they were still short of ideas in the final third.
It took Tottenham a while to get going again themselves but - thanks to Keane's precision - they scored with their first attack of the half on 57 minutes.
Lennon took advantage of some weak challenges to feed the Republic of Ireland international on the edge of the box and Keane made no mistake, firing into the top corner.
Braga failed to respond to going behind and Spurs were soon further ahead.
Lennon cut inside and, when his shot was only parried by Santos, Malbranque was on hand to fire into the roof of the net.
That should have been game over but a controversial penalty handed Braga a way back into the game.
Diego was adjudged to have been fouled by Anthony Gardner and Jorge followed up to slot home after Robinson dived to his left to save his initial spot-kick.
And with 10 minutes the home side grabbed an unlikely equaliser when Ze Carlos got on the end of Castanheira's curling free-kick.
Tottenham were faced with the prospect of seeing all their earlier good work going to waste but Keane had other ideas.
He escaped the Braga defence and fired past Santos to put his side back in control of the tie ahead of the second leg at White Hart Lane on 14 March.
Braga: Paulo Santos, Luis Filipe, Paulo Jorge, Rodriguez, Carlos Fernandes, Joao Amaral, Joao Pinto (Maciel 80), Castanheira, Bruno Gama (Cesinha 69), Ze Carlos, Wender (Diego 69).
Subs Not Used: Dani Mallo, Nem, Paito, Ricardo Chaves.
Goals: Paulo Jorge 76, Ze Carlos 81.
Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Gardner, Young-Pyo Lee, Lennon, Tainio (Huddlestone 74), Zokora, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri, Ghaly, Defoe, Taarabt, Charlie Lee.
Booked: Berbatov, Chimbonda.
Goals: Keane 57, Malbranque 72, Keane 90.
Att: 15,000
Ref: Yuri Baskakov (Russia).
By Chris Bevan <DIV>
<DIV class=cap>Spurs skipper Keane takes the acclaim after scoring in Portugal </DIV><DIV class=cap>Robbie Keane's late goal gave Tottenham a vital away victory after Braga had fought back from two goals down in the first leg of their Uefa Cup tie. </DIV></DIV>
Aaron Lennon fed Keane to smash Spurs in front from the edge of the area and Steed Malbranque followed up another Lennon shot to make it 2-0.
Paulo Jorge pulled one back after Paul Robinson saved his penalty and Ze Carlos headed home a late leveller.
But Keane had the final word, running clear to score an injury-time winner.
It was a dramatic finale to a game that Tottenham should have had wrapped up by half-time.
Dimitar Berbatov has scored five goals in four Uefa Cup games for Spurs and his side's early dominance meant he had plenty of chances to add to that tally here.
The Bulgarian international did all the hard work in the sixth minute when he evaded Pinto on the right wing and danced past Jorge inside the area - but his poked shot found the side rather than the back of the net with only Paulo Santos to beat.
Teemu Tainio tested Santos from the edge of the area with the visitors' next chance after Berbatov had played him in and, as Braga continued to sit back, more openings followed.
Berbatov should have done better when Malbranque put him clear but he again failed to find the target.
More chances came and went when Santos saved Keane's shot with his forearm then kept out a powerful Berbatov shot after good work from Young-Pyo Lee down the left.
Braga came out with more purpose after the interval but they were still short of ideas in the final third.
It took Tottenham a while to get going again themselves but - thanks to Keane's precision - they scored with their first attack of the half on 57 minutes.
Lennon took advantage of some weak challenges to feed the Republic of Ireland international on the edge of the box and Keane made no mistake, firing into the top corner.
Braga failed to respond to going behind and Spurs were soon further ahead.
Lennon cut inside and, when his shot was only parried by Santos, Malbranque was on hand to fire into the roof of the net.
That should have been game over but a controversial penalty handed Braga a way back into the game.
Diego was adjudged to have been fouled by Anthony Gardner and Jorge followed up to slot home after Robinson dived to his left to save his initial spot-kick.
And with 10 minutes the home side grabbed an unlikely equaliser when Ze Carlos got on the end of Castanheira's curling free-kick.
Tottenham were faced with the prospect of seeing all their earlier good work going to waste but Keane had other ideas.
He escaped the Braga defence and fired past Santos to put his side back in control of the tie ahead of the second leg at White Hart Lane on 14 March.
Braga: Paulo Santos, Luis Filipe, Paulo Jorge, Rodriguez, Carlos Fernandes, Joao Amaral, Joao Pinto (Maciel 80), Castanheira, Bruno Gama (Cesinha 69), Ze Carlos, Wender (Diego 69).
Subs Not Used: Dani Mallo, Nem, Paito, Ricardo Chaves.
Goals: Paulo Jorge 76, Ze Carlos 81.
Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Gardner, Young-Pyo Lee, Lennon, Tainio (Huddlestone 74), Zokora, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri, Ghaly, Defoe, Taarabt, Charlie Lee.
Booked: Berbatov, Chimbonda.
Goals: Keane 57, Malbranque 72, Keane 90.
Att: 15,000
Ref: Yuri Baskakov (Russia).
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