Tall order for Spurs in Lisbon

Sandro: Vies with Benfica’s Miralem Sulejmani

Tottenham’s Europa League hopes are all but over after a 3-1 first-leg home defeat by Benfica in their last-16 tie.

Tim Sherwood’s side will have to score at least three goals themselves in the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon next Thursday night to have any chance of progressing through to the quarter-finals.

Rodrigo netted the only goal of the first half with an excellent finish from Ruben Amorim’s pass down the right channel and Luisao headed in an Amorim corner on 58 minutes to extend their lead.

Although Christian Eriksen’s superb 20-yard free-kick reduced the arrears six minutes later, Luisao lashed home a fierce close-range effort in the 83rd minute to give Jorge Jesus’ men a comfortable advantage.

The Benfica coach angered Sherwood with his touchline antics at White Hart Lane but there could be no arguments over which team deserved to win on the night.

Sherwood made three changes to the Spurs line-up that began the 4-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last time out. Harry Kane made only his second start of the season, while Eriksen returned after two games out with a back injury. There was also a recall for Paulinho. Nabil Bentaleb dropped to the bench, while Michael Dawson (hamstring) and Gylfi Sigurdsson missed out. Danny Rose had been struggling with a knee injury but he was named among the substitutes.

More to follow…