Tottenham v PAOK Salonika

Tottenham 1

Modric 39′ (pen)

PAOK Salonika 2

Salpingidis 6′ Athanasiadis 13′

FT 90 +6
HT 1-2

Spurs relinquished their unbeaten home record in this season's Europa League

By Michael Da Silva BBC Sport

Tottenham's Europa League hopes hang by a thread after a controversial defeat by 10-man PAOK Salonika.

The Greek side raced into a 2-0 lead through a Dimitris Salpingidis header and a Stefanos Athanasiadis tap in.

Luka Modric's first-half penalty gave Spurs hope after Kostas Stafylidis was sent off for handling on the line.

Jermain Defoe had a goal ruled out, leaving Spurs needing to beat Shamrock Rovers and rely on Rubin Kazan dropping points in the final group game.

Spurs, who travel to Dublin on 15 December, also need a six-goal swing in goal difference if they are to sneak into the knockout phase, while PAOK - who host Rubin in their final match - have sealed qualification.

But manager Harry Redknapp will bemoan the contentious decision to disallow Defoe's late effort, with confusion reigning over whether it was chalked off for offside or Defoe's late tackle on Pablo Contreras 10 seconds earlier.

With the injured Contreras floored on the line, Spurs played on and scored, only for it to be ruled out after a period of chaotic indecision between the officials.

Redknapp only partially maintained his policy of blooding his youngsters in the Europa League as he sprinkled Modric, Defoe and Aaron Lennon to a team that also included Harry Kane, 18, and Danny Rose, 21.

But Spurs, whose sparkling form has seen them rise to third in the Premier League, looked fragile and languid against PAOK, who carved them open with their first meaningful attack.

DID YOU KNOW?

PAOK met Tottenham's north London rivals Arsenal in the 1997 UEFA Cup first round, winning 1-0 in Salonika then drawing 1-1 in London. That was their only previous tie against an English side

William Gallas, making just his second start of the season, overran the ball in his own half and allowed Giorgos Georgiadis to exploit the vacant space down Tottenham's right.

Goergiadis coaxed an inch-perfect cross to Salpingidis, who wrong-footed home goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes with his header.

Spurs controlled possession but looked exposed every time they lost the ball - and were punished again eight minutes later.

Vedran Corluka allowed the lively Georgiadis too much space on the left again, and his low cross was steered in at the far post by Athanasiadis to give PAOK's raucous travelling support even more reason to be heard.

The sight of substitutes Kyle Walker and Gareth Bale warming up on the touchline seemed to give Spurs the jump start they needed, and Defoe and Kane each drew saves out of goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias.

With half time approaching, Spurs were handed the lifeline they needed when Kostas Stafylidis was dismissed when Kane's shot struck the defender's arm on the goalline and Modric calmly stroked in the resulting penalty.

PAOK possessed genuine attacking threats in Georgiadis and Giorgos Fotakis, but their influence diminished as Spurs ramped up the pressure in the second half.

Kane headed over from Rose's cross and Steven Pienaar slammed his shot into the advertising hoardings as Tottenham looked to make their dominance count.

Walker and Bale were introduced to add to some urgency to Tottenham's wing play, but PAOK defended heroically at times, throwing themselves in the way of the ball as Spurs maintained an extraordinary spell of pressure.

The game's defining moment came when Dutch referee Bas Nijhuis ruled out Defoe's effort, leaving Spurs needing an unlikely combination of results to progress.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Tottenham Hotspur

01 Gomes
13 Gallas
19 Bassong
22 Corluka
07 Lennon
14 Modric
25 Rose (Bale - 62' )
29 Livermore
40 Pienaar (Walker - 67' )
18 Defoe
37 Kane (Falque - 71' )

Substitutes

23 Cudicini
03 Bale
28 Walker
31 Townsend
43 Fredericks
46 Carroll
27 Falque

PAOK Salonika

01 Chalkias
13 Malezas
15 Contreras (Cirillo - 81' )
03 Stafylidis Dismissed
05 Pablo Garcia
18 Fotakis
25 Lazar (Arias - 83' )
77 Etto
07 Georgiadis (Sznaucner - 62' )
09 Salpingidis
33 Athanasiadis Booked

Substitutes

91 Kresic
08 Cirillo
27 Sznaucner
04 Balafas
21 Ivic
85 Arias
14 Papazoglou

Ref: Nijhuis

Att: 26,229

Match Stats

Possession 64 36

Shots

19 4

On target

9 4

Corners

11 1

Fouls

11 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:08 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +2:39

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Gareth Bale, save made by Kostas Chalkias.

90:00 +2:39 Booking

Booking The referee shows Stefanos Athanasiadis a yellow card for dissent.

90:00 +2:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gareth Bale by Giorgos Fotakis.

90:00 +1:39

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Luka Modric from the left by-line, Effort from deep inside the area by Jermain Defoe misses to the right of the target.

90:00 +1:20

Jermain Defoe takes a shot. Save by Kostas Chalkias.

86:53

Jake Livermore challenges Bruno Cirillo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Bruno Cirillo.

84:01

Luka Modric decides to take the corner short, Effort on goal by Gareth Bale from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

82:50 Substitution

Substitution Costin Lazar leaves the field to be replaced by Diego Arias.

82:31

Iago Falque has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

81:48

Outswinging corner taken by Luka Modric, Perez Pablo Garcia makes a clearance.

80:31

Luka Modric takes the inswinging corner, Sebastien Bassong takes a shot. Blocked by Perez Pablo Garcia.

80:10 Substitution

Substitution Bruno Cirillo replaces Pablo Contreras.

76:04

Iago Falque takes a shot. Pablo Contreras manages to make a clearance. Jermain Defoe concedes a free kick for a foul on Pablo Contreras. Kostas Chalkias restarts play with the free kick.

74:48

William Gallas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Costin Lazar. Perez Pablo Garcia crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.

71:43

Gareth Bale fouled by Giorgos Fotakis, the ref awards a free kick. Luka Modric takes the direct free kick.

70:38

Direct free kick taken by Perez Pablo Garcia.

70:38 Substitution

Substitution Harry Kane goes off and Iago Falque comes on.

70:38

Dimitris Salpingidis fouled by Harry Kane, the ref awards a free kick.

69:44

Shot on goal by Gareth Bale from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

66:19 Substitution

Substitution Kyle Walker is brought on as a substitute for Steven Pienaar.