Spurs frustrated on Euro debut

              Werder Bremen   2 - 2   Tottenham

Crouch leaped above Petri Pasanen to head Tottenham's second goal

Tottenham marked their first Champions League appearance with an entertaining draw against Werder Bremen. The visitors took the lead when Petri Pasanen turned a Gareth Bale cross into his own net before Peter Crouch doubled the lead with a header on 18 minutes. But the hosts pulled a goal back two minutes before half-time when Hugo Almeida nodded past Carlo Cudicini. And Marko Marin levelled a minute after the interval with a 20-yard shot while Crouch went close at the end. The match ended in complete contrast to how it began as Bremen surged forward in search of the winner but Tottenham, who had dominated the first half, held on for a deserved draw. The result means all four teams in Group A are level following Inter Milan's 2-2 draw with Dutch side FC Twente. Despite Harry Redknapp stating his reluctance to play a 4-4-2 formation prior to the match, the Tottenham boss did that just that, albeit with deadline-day signing Rafael van der Vaart playing in a withdrawn role behind lone striker Crouch. Marin (centre) was a constant threat in the second half Defenders Ledley King and Benoit Assou-Ekotto returned to the starting XI while Jermaine Jenas made only his second appearance of the season, partnering Tom Huddlestone in midfield. The assurance of the central midfield duo allowed Aaron Lennon and Bale numerous opportunities to exploit Bremen's timid full-backs. And it was left-winger Bale who set up Tottenham's opener, evading the offside trap as Assou-Ekotto's enterprising ball caught Clemens Fritz flat-footed. Bale outsprinted the right-back and squared a perfect ball for the onrushing Crouch, only to see Finland international defender Pasanen slide the ball past goalkeeper Tim Wiese inside the six-yard box. And Crouch sent the travelling Spurs contingent into ecstasy when he doubled the lead six minutes later, soaring over the hapless Pasanen to power Van der Vaart's left-wing cross past Wiese. The German international keeper made a superb save to repel another Spurs chance, palming away a powerful 18-yard left-footed strike by Bale. With little invention or creativity, Bremen's chances were speculative at best, although referee Massimo Busacca waved away appeals for handball when Marin's strike rebounded off Huddlestone's arm, with the Swiss official claiming the midfielder was protecting his face rather than seeking an advantage for Tottenham. However, the hosts capitalised on a solitary moment of indecision in Spurs' defence when Almeida bisected King and Assou-Ekotto to head Wesley's curling left-wing cross past Cudicini in the 43rd minute. Although undeserved, it gave the hosts the perfect fillip before the half-time interval. And within a minute of the restart Marin levelled the scores, unleashing a powerful 20-yard left-footed strike past Cudicini as Vedran Corluka gave the 21-year-old too much space. 606: DEBATE To get a draw away from home on your Champions League debut in an intimidating stadium, without Modric, Dawson or Defoe seems a good result to me  U14347584 The Bosnian-born forward, a virtual passenger in the first half, controlled the tempo of the second half, using his exceptional dribbling skills to cause havoc in the Spurs box. Marin, who twice featured for Germany in the World Cup this summer, slammed another robust strike just wide of Cudicini's right-hand post. However, the industrious Bale carved out a rare second-half opportunity for Spurs eight minutes from time, cutting a superb left-footed cross into the box, only to see a Bremen deflection divert the ball away from Crouch's path. And the England striker spurned a glorious opportunity to seal the match three minutes from time courtesy of a superb pass from substitute Wilson Palacios, his chip over the onrushing Wiese just evading the far post. Live text and stats Tuesday, 14 September 2010 Champions League Home Team Score Away Team Time Werder Bremen 2-2 Tottenham FT (HT 1-2) Almeida 43 Marin 47 Pasanen (og) 12 Crouch 18 Hide team line-ups and match stats Werder Bremen 01 Wiese 03 Pasanen 08 Fritz 15 Prodl 16 Silvestre 10 Marin 22 Frings 44 Bargfrede (Hunt 37) 05 Wesley (Borowski 67yellow card) 07 Arnautovic 23 Almeida (Wagner 79) Substitutes 21 Sebastien Mielitz,  02 Boenisch, 06 Borowski,  17 Huseinovic, 20 Jensen,  14 Hunt,  19 Wagner Tottenham 23 Cudicini 03 Bale 04 Kaboul 22 Corluka 26 King 32 Assou-Ekotto 06 Huddlestoneyellow card 07 Lennon (Palacios 75) 08 Jenasyellow card 11 Van der Vaart (Keane 49) 15 Crouch Substitutes 37 Pletikosa,  13 Gallas,  19 Bassong, 12 Palacios,  21 Kranjcar, 09 Pavlyuchenko,  10 Keane Ref: M BusaccaAtt: 40,000 WERDER BREMEN TOTTENHAM Possession Werder Bremen51% Tottenham49% Attempts on target Werder Bremen10 Tottenham5 Attempts off target Werder Bremen10 Tottenham3 Corners Werder Bremen8 Tottenham5 Fouls Werder Bremen9 Tottenham11 Show all live text Final Result Full Time 90:00+3:07The final whistle goes and the game is over. 90:00+1:03Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Tom Huddlestone.