Emmanuel Adebayor delivers Spurs stunner in Europa League

THEY have basked in some glorious European nights at White Hart Lane and there was another entry after Spurs latest stunning revival.

THEY have basked in some glorious European nights at White Hart Lane and there was another entry last night after Emmanuel Adebayor struck twice to help Tottenham Hotspur to come from two goals down on aggregate and overcome Dnipro.

Adebayor took his tally to 11 goals in 15 games since returning to the squad and Tottenham struck three times inside 13 minutes to book a place in the Europa League round of 16, where they will meet Benfica. Tim Sherwood enjoyed a first victory in a cup tie, after three defeats, and Tottenham became the first of five Premier League sides to win a game in the knockout stage of Europe this season after Hugo Lloris palmed away a Yevhen Konoplyanka set-piece in stoppage time.

An unmarked Roman Zozulya had headed Dnipro into the lead inside two minutes of the start of the second half, but shortly after Christian Eriksen had equalised in the 56th minute the striker was dismissed for stupidly appearing to put his head into Jan Vertonghen's face in the penalty area.

His departure completely changed the game. Zozulya had to be restrained by Adebayor from confronting the Belgium defender and the Ukrainian side could not deal with the onslaught. Adebayor converted Eriksen's low cross and four minutes later the striker chested down and flicked Tottenham into the lead on aggregate for the first time.

Jermain Defoe's name was chanted sporadically in the first half and the forward emerged at the interval after a goal-less first half to pay an emotional farewell before he joins Toronto. The irony was not lost on the club's record European goalscorer — with 23 strikes — that he was standing injured on the pitch addressing the fans while the team needed a single goal to draw level.

Defoe recalled his favourite goals as the five he plundered against Wigan Athletic in 2009 and efforts against Arsenal and West Ham United. “I am speechless,” Defoe said. “I remember when I signed like it was yesterday and even before I kicked a ball the reception was fantastic. (It is) Something I will always treasure and appreciate.”

The touching reception even brought a smile from Daniel Levy, the chairman who clapped the striker off the pitch, but was completely different from the welcome for Juande Ramos. Managers often polarise opinion and provoke a reaction when they return to former clubs but no one would have imagined that Ramos led Tottenham to the club's last trophy, the Carling Cup six years ago.

The Dnipro coach entered in complete silence, did not acknowledge the crowd but shook hands with Sherwood. The Tottenham head coach was hugely animated on the touchline, asking for greater urgency, tempo, and enraged at his defenders for dropping too deep.

Sherwood was able to pick Sandro for his first appearance after the midfielder suffered a calf problem in December, one of five changes to the side that lost away to Norwich City. Kyle Walker failed to recover from a knock, leaving Kyle Naughton to try to tame Yevhen Konoplyanka. The right back got the better of their first duel, robbing the winger of the ball to loud cheers, but was caught out of position when Ivan Strinic was allowed a run on goal.

Roberto Soldado was blocked by a last-ditch tackle by Ondrej Mazuch and struck a shot that was deflected over.

Dnipro had been a threat on the break in the first half but returned from the break fired up. Michael Dawson and Vertonghen was caught at a free kick and Zozulya flicked the ball beyond Hugo Lloris to give Dnipro a precious away goal, leaving Tottenham needing three to progress.

Soldado's effort was chalked off for offside but Tottenham were thrown a lifeline when Eriksen whipped a delightful free kick into the near post to level on the night. Then Adebayor took matters into his own hands.

The Times