Draw puts Spurs into group stages

by RivalsDM

Updated: October 4, 2007, 4:41 PM EST 23 comments

Keane came off the bench to level on the night after the Premier League side had established a 6-1 lead from the first leg two weeks ago.

Losing the tie was never realistic and boss Jol looked as relaxed as he has been all season as Spurs created chances for Jermain Defoe in the first half.

But he was more animated in the second half when Fabinho broke the deadlock - and then brought on Gareth Bale and Keane.

After their wretched start to the season when Jol has appeared undermined by his own club, a solid victory would have been welcomed ahead of the trip to Liverpool before the international break.

After defeat to Arsenal last month it was suggested Jol would have until the international break before his future was decided.

At least Keane's strike meant they are unbeaten since their rivals defeated them.

The pitch in Larnaca was bobbly and underprepared, increasing the chances of a similar goalkeeper blunder to Paul Robinson's air-shot for England against Croatia.

Robinson, though, had no trouble putting his foot through the ball and as he looked to quickly get over his blunders against Aston Villa.

He was one of only four players to remain in the side from Monday's epic against Villa when Jol appeared to be on the brink before his side staged their comeback from 4-1 down to draw 4-4.

Kevin-Prince Boateng was given his debut following his summer move from Hertha Berlin, and the young German was quickly in the action as he flew into tackles and sent over crosses from the right.

Aside from a Fabinho shot, Famagusta were struggling to impose themselves on Spurs early on, although they had clearly targeted set-pieces as the visitors' weakness.

It was only Defoe's second start of the season. He had scored twice in the first leg and had plenty of chances to add to his tally.

Darren Bent set him up in the seventh minute after cutting inside his marker on the left and squaring, only for his strike partner to fire high and wide.

Steed Malbranque found Defoe in the six-yard box 10 minutes before the break but he stabbed straight at the goalkeeper, then just before the break the striker struck the post after the Frenchman found him again.

Bent had a frustrating first half, getting flagged incorrectly twice and seeing a dangerous cross cleared when he got behind the defence.

Malbranque also had a chance, meeting Paul Stalteri's cross with a scissor-kick just before the break, with the Frenchman's effort going over the crossbar.

Famagusta came out brightly for the second half and Fabinho fired over the bar from the edge of the area.

They took the lead in the 54th minute when Nikolaos Frousos appeared to control a hanging cross with his arm and pulled back for Fabinho to volley neatly into the bottom corner, giving Robinson no chance. Robinson was booked for his protests.

Malbranque had an immediate chance to level but Zoltan Nagy saved with his legs when the Frenchman ran through.

Temur Ketsbaia, the Famagusta coach who used to play for Newcastle, brought on former Southampton striker Marians Pahars to keep the pressure on Spurs.

Tom Huddlestone tried his luck from long range, while Vincent Laban fired just wide from the edge of the area after Michael Dawson failed to clear.

Keane came on for Young-Pyo Lee to beef up Spurs' attack and he got his goal in the 78th minute. Bale crossed from the left and Bent dummied, with Keane side-footing into the top corner.