Panathinaikos v Tottenham

Panathinaikos 1

FT 90 +4
HT 0-1

Clint Dempsey tangles with the Panathinaikos defence

By Jimmy Smallwood BBC Sport

Panathinaikos scored an unlikely late equaliser to leave Tottenham still seeking their first Europa League win in Group J.

A first-half header from captain Michael Dawson had Spurs in a commanding position, but they failed to build on the momentum.

And Panathinaikos drew level with 13 minutes to go, Spanish striker Toche sliding in to finish past Hugo Lloris.

Spurs, who had seemed in total control, then had to hold on to take the point.

Group J - Europa League

	Pld	GD	Pts

Lazio	2	1	4
Maribor	2	2	3
Tottenham	2	0	2
Panathinaikos	2	-3	1

Table correct as of 04/10/12

Tottenham dominated long periods of the match, justifying manager Andre Villas-Boas's decision to select a strong starting XI.

However, veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel was left at home, handing only the second start of his Spurs career to deadline-day signing and France number one Lloris.

There was a change in defence too, with 35-year-old William Gallas dropped to the bench and Dawson preferred at centre-back.

And it was skipper for the night Dawson, 28, who broke the deadlock on 34 minutes.

Lazaros Christodoulopoulos upended Jan Vertonghen near the box, and Panathinaikos's players protested against the decision when they could have been organising their defence.

Dawson had seemingly the freedom of the area to run, rise and glance Tom Huddlestone's cross past Greek keeper Orestis Karnezis.

Much of the game was stolid and stifled in muggy Athens conditions, but Spurs still fashioned openings.

Red Hot Olympic Stadium

Panathinaikos's home ground is the Olympic Stadium in Athens, with a capacity of nearly 70,000. It was not full for the visit of Spurs, but it was sold out exactly a month ago when the US band Red Hot Chili Peppers filled the arena.

Inside three minutes they had a penalty appeal. A Steven Caulker header back across the box from a Gareth Bale corner struck the arm of defender Andre Pinto, but the referee was unmoved.

Powerful attempts either side of half-time from Bale, Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe came to nought, and Karnezis had few challenging saves to make.

On the half hour, Lennon surged forward unchallenged and unleashed a fierce drive, but it was straight at the Panathinaikos stopper. A swerving Bale attempt 10 minutes before half-time was tipped wide, and with 15 minutes remaining a Defoe effort bound for the bottom corner was unwittingly blocked behind by Panathinaikos captain Loukas Vyntra.

The hosts, who are in turmoil domestically - sitting fourth from bottom in the Greek Super League - posed little threat to Spurs for most of the 90 minutes, but took the one clear-cut chance they created.

Midfielder Giourkas Seitaridis collected the ball on the right flank, then slid in a pass which dissected the Tottenham centre-back pairing of Dawson and Caulker.

Former Atletico Madrid youth player Toche slid in to divert the ball expertly beyond the prostrate Lloris.

From that moment on Tottenham had to weather a storm of Panathinaikos shots, crosses and long throws into the box. They succeeded, but will look back on the match as a series of missed opportunities.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas:

"I don't think we were complacent. We have to give credit to Panathinaikos, they pressed much more and started to gain belief from that and that led to the goal.

"I think the whole team felt a bit disappointed because the first half was so positive and we were in control of situation.

"We were a bit sloppy in the second half. I understand the disappointment at not putting the game to bed, but in the end we congratulated the players because if it had been other way round, the whole perspective would have been different.

"In the end it leaves us with two points. Maribor have three and Lazio have four so everything is open as we go into the double-headers."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Panathinaikos

27 Karnezis
05 Andre Pinto
16 Seitaridis
22 Marinos (Sissoko - 46' )
24 Vyntra Booked
45 Triantafyllopoulos
06 Vitolo
10 Christodoulopoulos (Mavrias - 85' )
17 Zeca
09 Toche
61 Owusu-Abeyie (Chouchoumis - 90' )

Substitutes

25 Kotsolis
41 Chouchoumis
07 Mavrias
23 Lagos
03 Sissoko
14 Fornaroli
21 Barbarouses

Tottenham Hotspur

25 Lloris
05 Vertonghen
20 Dawson
28 Walker Booked
33 Caulker
02 Dempsey (Sigurdsson - 66' )
06 Huddlestone (Sandro - 81' )
07 Lennon (Townsend - 75' )
11 Bale Booked
18 Defoe
19 Dembele

Substitutes

23 Cudicini
13 Gallas
22 Sigurdsson
27 Falque
30 Sandro
31 Townsend
38 Mason

Ref: Meyer

Att: 23,000

Match Stats

Possession 47 53

Shots

7 11

On target

4 7

Corners

4 6

Fouls

12 19

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:28 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +2:54 Substitution

Substitution Quincy Owusu-Abeyie leaves the field to be replaced by Diamantis Chouchoumis.

89:43

Jose Toche crosses the ball in from the free kick, Michael Dawson manages to make a clearance. Charis Mavrias takes a shot. Blocked by Raniere Sandro.

89:43 Booking

Booking Kyle Walker goes into the book.

89:33

Foul by Michael Dawson on Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, free kick awarded.

86:12

Gareth Bale takes the inswinging corner, Steven Caulker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Orestis Karnezis. Free kick taken by Orestis Karnezis.

85:15

Jose Toche gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Dawson. Direct free kick taken by Michael Dawson.

84:25

Orestis Karnezis takes the direct free kick.

84:25 Substitution

Substitution Lazaros Christodoulopoulos leaves the field to be replaced by Charis Mavrias.

84:25

Loukas Vyntra fouled by Raniere Sandro, the ref awards a free kick.

83:28

Konstantinos Triantafyllopoulos challenges Gareth Bale unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Gareth Bale.

81:09

Kyle Walker challenges Quincy Owusu-Abeyie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lazaros Christodoulopoulos.

80:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andros Townsend on Ibrahim Sissoko. Direct free kick taken by Giorgos Seitaridis.

80:01 Substitution

Substitution Raniere Sandro is brought on as a substitute for Tom Huddlestone.

79:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lazaros Christodoulopoulos by Kyle Walker. Lazaros Christodoulopoulos has an effort direct from the free kick.

78:38

Mousa Dembele challenges Victor Vitolo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Victor Vitolo.

76:38

Giorgos Seitaridis provided the assist for the goal.

76:38 Goal scored

Goal - Jose Toche - Panath'kos 1 - 1 Tottenham Jose Toche scores a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Panathinaikos 1-1 Tottenham.

75:47

Free kick taken by Gareth Bale.

75:47 Booking

Booking Loukas Vyntra booked for unsporting behaviour.

74:07 Substitution

Substitution Andros Townsend replaces Aaron Lennon.