Spurs slip as Bremen fight back to earn draw

Tottenham Hotspur let a two-goal lead slip tonight as hosts Werder Bremen fought back to clinch a 2-2 draw in their Champions League opener.

Tottenham started strongly and with Wales defender Gareth Bale and Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart causing havoc in the home defence, Spurs, making their tournament debut, raced into a 2-0 lead after just 18 minutes.

But Bremen rallied and two goals in four minutes either side of half-time levelled the scores as the hosts refused to roll over with Germany winger Marko Marin a constant threat.

An own goal from Bremen defender Petri Pasanen and a Peter Crouch header put Spurs ahead before Portugal striker Hugo Almeida pulled one back just prior to the break before Marin hit the equaliser.

Both sides came into the Group A match at the Weserstadion with injuries.

Spurs were without England striker Jermain Defoe and defender Michael Dawson, who both have ligament damage.

Bremen were missing Germany centre-back Per Mertesacker, fellow defender Naldo and striker Claudio Pizarro.

Spurs took the lead when Bale ran deep on the left flank and squared only for Bremen's Pasanen to stab his shot past goalkeeper Tim Wiese on 12 minutes.

The English side were hitting Bremen constantly with fast breaks and Spurs went further ahead when a cross from van der Vaart found Crouch who leapt higher than Pasanen to head home on 18 minutes.

Tottenham kept up the pressure as Crouch went close again while a rocket shot from Bale forced Wiese into a diving save.

With 35 minutes played, Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf toughened up his midfield with Aaron Hunt on for the inexperienced Philipp Bargfrede and the move paid off.

Bremen scored just two minutes before half-time with their first real chance when Almeida latched onto a Wesley cross.

Van der Vaart made way for Robbie Keane just after the break as the hosts began the second-half with a bang.

After Hunt headed over from a corner, Marin fired in a shot from 20 metres out which gave Spurs' goalkeeper Cudicini no chance on 47 minutes.

In the next round of games, Spurs host Twente on September 29 the same night Bremen are at defending champions Inter Milan.