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Tottenham grab priceless winner in bad-tempered clash

Peter Crouch struck 10 minutes from time to earn a famous victory for Tottenham over AC Milan at the San Siro © PA Photos

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Tottenham gave themselves a huge opportunity of advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals by delivering a superb away performance to beat AC Milan 1-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the San Siro.

Playing in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time, Spurs dominated Milan for large periods in an ill-tempered affair in Italy, which arguably should have seen Mathieu Flamini and Gennaro Gattuso sent off for the home side. A goal deservedly arrived 10 minutes from time for Harry Redknapp's men, who will have a lead to defend after Peter Crouch slid home Aaron Lennon's brilliant assist.

Much attention had been paid to Redknapp's team selection ahead of kick-off, with Gareth Bale definitely ruled out, but Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric both in contention. When the team sheets were filed, Van der Vaart's name appeared alongside Crouch in the starting XI while Modric - the less likely of the pair - took his place on the bench.

By occupying the away dugout at the San Siro, Redknapp became the first English manager to reach the last-16 of the Champions League since Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle adventure back in the 2002-03 season. And the Spurs manager should have had a first-half goal to celebrate as his team dominated the opening 45 minutes. As early as the third minute Tottenham had significant claims for a penalty as the usually cultured Alessandro Nesta leant his arm towards Steven Pienaar's cross, the referee waving away justified penalty shouts.

Next it was Lennon's turn to threaten on the other flank, darting in behind his fullback to cross for Crouch, who had the ball tipped off his head by goalkeeper Christian Abbiati. Crouch was a constant menace all night, so much so that Abbiati was stretchered off with a concussion midway through the first period. However, for all the deliveries aimed at the former Liverpool man, few carried the quality that Bale so often delivers as Spurs failed to turn their dominance into goals.

That almost changed directly after half-time when Van der Vaart sent a delicious chip narrowly wide from the edge of the area, but Spurs were now facing a more attacking Milan side with Alexandre Pato supporting Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Italians forced a quite brilliant save from Heurelho Gomes five minutes into the second period, Mario Yepes sending his header arrowing towards the top corner, only for Gomes to leap full stretch to claw the ball around the post.

Joe Jordan held his ground against Gennaro Gattuso, who headbutted the Spurs assistant after the full-time whistle © PA Photos

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Former Arsenal man Flamini should then have been sent off for a clear two-footed challenge on Vedran Corluka, a tackle that resulted in Jonathan Woodgate coming on to replace the Croatian. Emotions simmered as a result, and Gattuso should surely have seen red when he shoved Spurs assistant Joe Jordan in the face. Fortunately for Spurs, Gomes kept his focus to make his second world class save, in an almost carbon copy point-blank stoppage from Yepes.

Gattuso, who could have been dismissed on at least three occasions, was eventually booked with 15 minutes remaining, ruling him out of the second leg, and if that wasn't justice enough for Spurs, they found a winner in the 80th minute. Lennon, picking the ball up on the halfway line, drove at the Milan defence before skipping past a savage attempt to bring him down, eventually releasing a square pass for Crouch to score a priceless away goal.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic rightly had a goal disallowed with the final kick of the game, pushing Michael Dawson before sending an overhead kick into the bottom corner, before Gattuso sparked ugly scenes again with Jordan at the full-time whistle.

In the night's other game, Valencia have it all to do when they travel to Germany after they drew 1-1 with Schalke at the Mestalla. The only stain on a good night for Schalke was a 90th minute red card for Lukas Schmitz, who earned two yellow cards.

Schalke wasted a superb chance to draw first blood in Spain, with the usually prolific Klaas-Jan Huntelaar taking a complete air shot from six yards. Valencia punished the miss when Roberto Soldado directed a super glancing finish past Manuel Neuer for his sixth goal in his last six games.

However, Schalke responded well with Peer Kluge seeing a header tipped onto the bar by a brilliant save from Vicente Guaita, and then they found an equaliser through the calm head of former Real Madrid man Raul. The goal was Raul's 70th in major European competition, representing a record in the modern game.

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