PAOK have reached the next round of the Europa League after
stunning Tottenham Hotspur victory with a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane.
The Thessaloniki club played most of the match with 10 men, but
surprised the London giants, taking a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes,
with goals from Dimitris Salpingidis and Stephanos Athanasiadis.
Costas Stafylidis twice cleared the ball off the line but was sent
off for handball, a decision contested by the Greeks, allowing Spurs
back in the game when Luka Modric scored from the penalty spot in the
39th minute.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp have rested Emmanuel Adebayor and
other key players and was unable to produce enough pressure in the
second half to add another goal.
"I wanted to stay in the competition but it wasn't to be," Redknapp
said, conceding that his team was close to European elimination.
In Thessaloniki, more than 2,000 fans turned out to give PAOK a
heroes' welcome. "The first 45 minutes is the best I've ever seen PAOK
play, _ I'm really proud of them" manager Laszlo Boloni said. "In the
second half I had to change the line-up and play 4-5-0 ... The
(travelling) fans were a huge help to us in keeping the result."
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