Late in extra-time with the tie at 4-4 the Italians pressed for a winner and they will perhaps feel they deserved more after mounting a superb comeback to move to the brink of qualification.But somehow Spurs sneaked through after a tie where the importance of the suspended Gareth Bale was obvious.The result was Tottenham's first defeat in the Europa League during their 2012-13 campaign, but Andre Villas-Boas' side became the first English team to reach a European quarter-final this season. The Italian side overturned a three-goal deficit from the first leg as Antonio Cassano headed in before Rodrigo Palacio's finish and a William Gallas own goal drew the tie level.But after 96 minutes, Adebayor stabbed in following Mousa Dembele's shot.Although Ricardo Alvarez made it 4-4 on aggregate, Spurs' away goal was vital.Adebayor, who scored his fourth goal of the season, made the telling finish for the Premier League side after an otherwise mixed night for the striker, although it was Dembele who was the architect. The result was Tottenham's first defeat in the Europa League during their 2012-13 campaign, but Andre Villas-Boas' side became the first English team to reach a European quarter-final this season.
Yet for periods during the game Spurs were outnumbered in midfield and in the first half they paid for committing men forward as gaps opened up behind a reshuffled defence.Gylfi Sigurdsson filled in for Bale on the left of midfield and provided an early threat for Spurs with some accurate set-pieces but left-back Kyle Naughton was caught out twice by long through-balls down the Inter right before Cassano finally scored. Yet for periods during the game Spurs were outnumbered in midfield and in the first half they paid for committing men forward as gaps opened up behind a reshuffled defence.
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