<Bz52>Berbatov double puts Spurs through to quarter-finals
LONDON (Reuters) — Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur booked a UEFA Cup quarter-final place with a 3-2 (6-4 aggregate) win over Braga last night.Spurs, who enjoyed a bye through to the last 16 after Feyenoord were kicked out of the competition, have now won all eight of their UEFA Cup matches this season.
Midfielder Tom Huddlestone’s 24th-minute own goal gave Braga hope at White Hart Lane but it was quickly cancelled out by Berbatov after he was played in by Robbie Keane.
Berbatov, fit enough to start after shaking off a groin injury, made it 2-1 just before the break, netting his seventh goal in this season’s competition with another fine finish — controlling a Huddlestone free kick on his chest before despatching a fierce volley past keeper Paulo Santos.
Braga never gave up and made it 2-2 just past the hour when Brazilian Andrade hit a venomous free kick that rocketed past Radek Cerny but Spurs wrapped up the tie when Berbatov’s clever flick played in Steed Malbranque to score 14 minutes from time.
In other ties, Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen both advanced into the quarter-finals, giving Germany two clubs in the final eight.
Leverkusen, the 2002 European Champions League runner up, reached their first UEFA quarter-final in 12 years with a 3-0 win over France’s Lens, overcoming a 2-1 loss in the first leg. Bremen beat Spain’s Celta Vigo 2-0 for a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Osasuna carried Spain’s honour, beating Glasgow Rangers 1-0 for a 2-1 overall score and its first ever European quarter-final.
Today, defending champions Sevilla face Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine after a 2-2 draw in Spain.
Bayer Leverkusen scored through Andriy Voronin in the first half and Sergej Barbarez and Juan in the second to advance on 4-2 aggregate.
Voronin pounced on a half clearance and sent a right-foot volley inside the left post from the edge of area in the 36th.
Babarez made it 2-0 in the 55th, finishing with a tap-in after Voronin’s powerful header bounced off the post.
Juan added to the score in the 70th off a corner, heading in unchallenged from close range.
For Bremen, 18-year-old substitute Kevin Schindler — playing in his first game for the German powerhouse — provided the cross that Hugo Almeida headed into the net in the 48th. Almeida had also scored the only goal in Vigo.
Jesus Perera had a strike for Vigo disallowed because of offside, before Clemens Fritz doubled the lead after winning possession at midfield and driving solo to beat Esteban in the 61st minute.
In Spain, Achille Webo’s 71st-minute goal gave Osasuna the win over Rangers. The drive from the Cameroon striker bounced off diving Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor before entering the net. The home side had much the better of play in the first half although it was unable to create any clear opportunities. Osasuna had a strong penalty claim turned down in the 48th minute after the ball hit leftback Ian Murray on the arm.
Three minutes after Webo’s goal, Rangers midfielder Charles Adam narrowly missed with a 74th-minute drive from near the halfway line, sending the ball just over the Osasuna crossbar.
Today, AZ Alkmaar need to a make up two goals against Newcastle after a 4-2 defeat in England. Paris Saint-Germain go to Benfica with a 2-1 lead. Espanyol and Maccabi Haifa are goalless going into today’s decider.