Berbatov fires Spurs into last eight

Wednesday, 14, Mar 2007 10:40

Striker Dimitar Berbatov inspired Tottenham to a 3-2 win over Braga to reach the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup, 6-4 on aggregate.

Berbatov was at the heart of everything the home side did well, scoring twice and setting up the third to help his team progress to the latter stages of the competition.

Braga grabbed a shock lead after 23 minutes when Andrade Joao Amaral's free-kick was deflected past Radek Cerny in the Tottenham goal.

Tom Huddlestone got the last touch as the ball went past him, but that was enough to deceive Cerny and make it 1-0 to the visitors.

However, their lead was short-lived as Spurs struck back four minutes later through Berbatov.

The Bulgarian hit-man exchanged passes with Robbie Keane in a move which started on the half-way line and finished in the Braga goal as Berbatov swept the ball in from 12 yards out.

He claimed his second five minutes before half time when he met Huddlestone's free-kick with a majestic volley that gave Paulo Santos no chance in the Braga goal.

Spurs were made to sweat when Braga grabbed another half-way through the second half to make it 2-2 on the night.

An Amaral free-kick was again the key for the Portuguese, but this time he scored directly, smashing the ball past a crowd of players from 25 yards out.

But Steed Malbranque made sure the tie would not go to extra-time when he made it 3-2. The imperious Berbatov beat his defender to set up the Frenchman who slotted home from ten yards out with 15 minutes to go.