Uefa Cup Semi-Final/ Tottenham ... 2 Sevilla ... 2:There will be no Uefa Cup for Tottenham Hotspur, just the pang of recalling a comeback that came too late. With a 2-1 defeat endured in Spain, the second-half onslaught started with the Uefa Cup quarter-final already beyond retrieval
Their improvised back four had been breached twice by the holders inside eight minutes, with Tottenham's former striker Freddie Kanoute notching one of them.
The Premiership side were to draw this match with a pair of goals in quick succession at the heart of the second half but the further two they needed could not be contrived. In stoppage time Teemu Tainio was sent off for a high challenge.
Sevilla had been frantic for a spell but their know-how and skill made them worthy winners of this quarter-final. There was a logic to the panache with which they started. Conservatism would be the norm for most clubs arriving at White Hart Lane but Sevilla were conscious of Spurs' makeshift defence and denied it even a few moments of grace.
Ledley King, making a comeback from the foot problems that had kept him out of the Spurs line-up, was not allowed any period of readjustment and after four minutes had to put a free-kick behind for a corner. Jose Luis Marti took it and Christian Poulsen's header would have gone wide had Steed Malbranque not miscued over his own line.
It was a deflating moment but Sevilla also punctured Tottenham in more orthodox ways. Though Juande Ramos's team has become jaded in recent weeks as a smallish squad competes for the La Liga title, the King's Cup and this tournament, he had taken steps to address the problem. The coach had sent out a weakened team and tolerated a mere point from last Sunday's match with Racing Santander in the expectation the footballers he had spared would be fresher here.
That worked. Sevilla had strength and frisky endeavour. As anticipated Brazilian full-back Daniel Alves was pushed into the right of midfield where he put pressure on Pascal Chimbonda.
From a throw-in on that flank in the eighth minute Sevilla doubled their lead. On his return to White Hart Lane Kanoute completed a one-two with Aleksandr Kerzhakov, employed a jink that induced Paul Robinson to commit and then switched the ball to his left-foot for a finish into the far corner of the net.
While this can be a vivacious Spurs side, it was weighed down by the knowledge four goals were required to eliminate Ramos's team. Tottenham did rally a little. Dimitar Berbatov shot wide after a Marti tackle on Didier Zokora had deflected the ball to him. The Bulgarian clipped the post with an attempt from the edge of the area after 45 minutes.
Spurs did not even have luck. When Javi Navarro seemed to grasp at Zokora's waist in the 52nd minute the referee decided there had not been enough contact to merit a penalty. Tottenham had built up pace at least and Ramos, with his decision to take off Alves, edged towards conservatism.
The crowd booed when Jol decided it should be Zokora who made way for Jermain Defoe. The substitute's first touch, however, in the 65th minute, was the arguably inadevertent backheel that redirected a Robbie Keane drive into the net. A minute later the ball broke to Aaron Lennon and he stabbed an equaliser past David Cobeno.
Sevilla were in a panic. Ramos added another defender with the introduction of Altor Ocio as he tried to forestall a remarkable comeback. Spurs strained every sinew in the effort to stop this from being a brave failure.
Tottenham ... 2 Defoe 65 Lennon 67 Sevilla ... 2 Malbranque 5 (og) Kanoute 8 Sevilla win 4-3 on aggregate Attendance: 35,284
TOTTENHAM:Robinson, Tainio, Dawson, King, Chimbonda, Lennon, Zokora (Defoe 65), Jenas, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov. Subs not used: Cerny, Murphy, Ghaly, Taarabt, Barnard, Ifil. Sent off: Tainio (90). Booked: Dawson, Malbranque, Defoe.
SEVILLA:Cobeno, Hinkel, Javi Navarro, Escude, Puerta, Daniel (Renato 55), Poulsen, Marti, Adriano Correia (Aitor Ocio 69), Kerzhakov (Maresca 82), Kanoute. Subs not used: Javi Varas, David, Luis Fabiano, Jesus Navas.
Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria).
