Marin 47        Crouch 18

Tottenham gained a highly creditable draw at Champions League veterans Werder Bremen of the Bundesliga.

But they will be desperately disappointed not to have come away with all three points from this Group A encounter having led 2-0 after only 18 minutes.

Spurs dominated the first half but conceded the initiative when defensive sloppiness allowed the hosts a route back into the game moments before the break.

And when Bremen equalised moments after the break the game looked to be going their way.

But despite dominating the second period as Spurs had dominated the first, Bremen couldn’t break down the North Londoners again.

Spurs were ahead on 12 minutes when Gareth Bale broke down the left and his cross was turned into his own net by defender Petri Pasinen, saving the lurking Peter Crouch the bother.

Crouch made it 2-0 six minutes later, powerfully heading home Rafael Van der Vaart’s cross from the left.

Full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto put Spurs defence under un-necessary pressure with a wildly-mishit clearance which quickly led to Hugo Almeida heading in Wesley’s dangerous cross from the left.

And on 47 minutes, man-of-the-match Marko Marin drilled a low 20-yard right-foot shot past Spurs keeper Carlo Cudicini’s right-hand.