Stankovic 14

A sensational second-half hat-trick by Gareth Bale couldn’t save Spurs from defeat to Champions League holders Inter Milan after going 3-0 down and having keeper Heurelho Gomes sent-off in a disastrous opening 15 minutes.

Tottenham were behind after only 68 seconds through veteran midfielder Javier Zanetti’s right-foot shot.

And only eight minutes had elapsed when Gomes tripped Jonathan Biabiany in the penalty area as the Frenchman bore down on goal.

Gomes was dismissed, and substitute keeper Carlo Cudicini was beaten by Samuel Eto’o’s confidently-struck penalty.

Three minutes later, Cudicini was beaten again by Dejan Stankovic’s low right-foot shot from 20yards.

And Eto’o grabbed his second of the night ten minutes before half-time, lifting a right-foot shot over Cudicini after beating Spurs’ flimsy offside-trap.

Bale pulled a goal back in sensational style seven minutes after the restart with a lung-busting 70-yard run past three defenders and a terrific left-shot from 15 yards.

Inter continued to dominate and could have scored more. But Bale made it 4-2 in the last minute with a shortened version of his first goal.

And a minute later he completed his hat-trick with another low left-footer, from Aaron Lennon’s pass. But there was no time for another attack.