Tottenham take comfortable lead

Tottenham Hotspur FC look on course to compete in the UEFA Cup group stage after a comfortable first round first-leg defeat of Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta FC.

Quickfire goals
Younes Kaboul headed in early for Spurs but it was three goals in a four-minute spell late in the first half from Michael Dawson, Robbie Keane and Darren Bent that put the two-time UEFA Cup winners in full control. Substitute Jermain Defoe added two more but in between the large contingent of London-based Cypriots were cheered when Anton Žlogar scored with ten minutes left.

Early header
There was also a pre-match boost for 2006/07 quarter-finalists Tottenham as winger Aaron Lennon made his first appearance this season after knee surgery and within five minutes they were celebrating a goal as Kaboul turned in Tom Huddlestone's corner. Anorthosis performed impressively to keep the score at 1-0 until the 39th minute when Keane's cross was headed down by Pascal Chimbonda and forced in by Dawson.

Swift strikes
Keane was soon on the scoresheet as he turned to fire in following Benoît Assou-Ekotto's clever ball and within seconds Huddlestone's long pass was deflected into the path of Bent, who struck in from a narrow angle. Defoe replaced Keane just past the hour and swiftly increased the lead with a smart swerving chip from the edge of the area. Žlogar secured a consolation for the visitors with a strong shot after a good Anorthosis move though it was Defoe who had the last word from distance.