Tottenham Hotspur did what their North London rivals couldn't. Tasked with holding a one goal lead after a first leg, Spurs (like Arsenal) seemed to have adopted prevention as Plan A. But whereas Arsenal's plans went awry, Harry Redknapp's side executed despite some close calls, including a Ronaldinho shot in stoppage time that was feet away from forcing 30 more minutes of football. Instead, Spurs held the same 1-0 lead at 180' that they had after 90 minutes, eliminating AC Milan, 1-0.
Tottenham Hotspur Vs. AC Milan: Scoreless Draw Sees Spurs Through
Milan was the better side today. Aside from Aaron Lennon's advantage over Marek Jankulovski and Peter Crouch coming close early in the second half, there was little to recommend Tottenham for goal. Instead, Milan had numerous chances for an equalizer, be they Zlatan Ibrahimovic from a dead ball, Robinho being set up by his towering trequartista, or Pato threatening from the right, Milan seemed to have a cast of potential goal scorers.
Yet Spurs, having few players with Champions League experience, were able to hold their venerable opponents at bay. William Gallas, one of those Spurs with experience at this stage of the competition, made the most valuable single contribution, saving a Robinho shot off the line in the first half, after which, Spurs seemed to slowly exert more control on the affair. By the second half, the teams were playing a more even match, albeit with drastically different goals.
Milan’s last grasp came in stoppage time, when Robinho played a ball in from the right to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swede with his back to goal. The Swede laid the ball off to his left for Robinho, looping in from his wide position. His first-timed ball from 18 yards out went two feel above the crossbar. Had he got it on frame, it would be been almost impossible for Gomes to stop.
But with that miss went Milan’s last chance, with the Rossoneri again seen out of the competition at the Round of 16. Last year, they were routed in Manchester. This year, they could never craft a goal in North London. As such, Spurs’ maiden voyage in Champions League continues into the quarterfinals.
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