Tottenham were forced to settle for a
point at Panathinaikos as Toche's late
goal ensured a 1-1 draw in Greece.
Having been held to a goalless draw by
Lazio in their first Europa League
Group J game, Spurs looked set for a
routine victory once Michael Dawson's
header had rewarded their superiority
before half-time - only for Toche to
level late on.
The visitors were in command from
the start and had already seen
ambitious penalty claims turned down
by the time Clint Dempsey whipped a
20th-minute free-kick just off target.
At the other end, Hugo Lloris had to be
out quickly to snuff out a rare
Panathinaikos attack and the
Londoners had their goal in the 35th-
minute when Dawson soared high to
glance Tom Huddlestone's free-kick
home.
Ten minutes after the break, Defoe
scampered away from the home
defence only to blast his finish wildly
over the running track behind the goal,
and Dempsey was more accurate but
too tame when he worked Orestis
Karnezis from distance.
Gareth Bale took aim from 25 yards
and was not far off the mark as Spurs
continued to look the more likely to
snatch the game's second goal, but
they were left stunned with 13 minutes
remaining.
Greek international Giourkas Seitaridis
provided the pass of the game to send
Toche fractionally clear of Dawson, and
the Spaniard stretched out a leg to
poke past the advancing Lloris and in
off the post from 12 yards.
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