Kanoute guides holders into semis

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Frederic Kanoute returned to White Hart Lane and helped UEFA Cup holders Sevilla to reach the semifinals of this season's tournament with a 2-2 draw against Tottenham, which gave them a 4-3 aggregate victory.

After Steed Malbranque conceded a third minute own goal Kanoute made it 2-0 five minutes later, leaving the home side needing to score four times without reply to go through.

In a lackluster first-half display Tottenham were fortunate not to concede three more goals and only went close once when Dimitar Berbatov's low shot grazed a post.

Tottenham burst to life with two goals inside two minutes midway through the second period and it was their turn to squander some great opportunities before they ran out of steam and the visitors held out to earn a semifinal clash with Primera Liga rivals Osasuna, who added a 1-0 home win to their impressive 3-0 away success against Bayer Leverkusen.

Tottenham, trailing 2-1 from the first leg, needed an explosive start, but it was Sevilla who opened superbly, helped by some uncertain defending from the home team.

In the third minute the Spanish team earned a corner when Ledley King, recalled after a long injury absence, headed behind when the ball was already on its way out for a goal kick.

Christian Poulsen got his head to the cross and Malbranque's wild swing at the ball sent it into his own goal.

Tottenham were given little chance to recover from that disaster. In the eighth minute Kanoute combined well with Alexander Kerzakhov and controlled the ball brilliantly before steering it into the net.

Spurs were shellshocked and Sevilla continued to carve out chances. Kanoute, Adriano and Kerzhakov should all have piled on the agony.

The home crowd suddenly came to life when Tottenham drew level on the night in a startling two-minute spell. Sub Jermain Defoe turned in a Malbranque shot in the 65th minute and then Aaron Lennon, who had had a quiet night, prodded in a second goal when Berbatov's cross fell to him.

Sevilla were shaken and Berbatov had a shot blocked, Michael Dawson blasted over the bar when unmarked eight yards out and Berbatov wasted another opportunity by shooting tamely at David Cabeno from close in.

Tottenham might have had a penalty when Javi Navarro appeared to foul Didier Zokora but Sevilla gradually weathered the storm.

Tottenham's bad night got worse in the closing moments when Tainio was sent off for a high challenge on Puerte.

Osasuna dominate

Osasuna had always been likely semifinalists after their three-goal success in Leverkusen and midfielder Juanlu was on target as they won the second leg 1-0 in Pamplona.

He steered past Rene Adler from close range after the Leverkusen keeper had palmed a Roberto Soldado shot into his path after 62 minutes.

Despite their comfortable first-leg advantage, the Primera Liga side, who had never got this far in their previous three appearances in the competition, took nothing for granted and dominated their more experienced opponents for long periods.

The closest a toothless Leverkusen came to scoring was when defender Jan-Ingwer Callsen Bracker had a header cleared off the line early in the second half.

Osasuna claimed their biggest ever European away victory with their 3-0 win in the first leg in Germany and should have extended their lead as early as the fourth minute.

But former Real Madrid striker Soldado rushed his shot and lashed over the bar with only the keeper to beat after being put in the clear by Valdo in the fourth minute.

The Germans showed little sign of urgency and created almost no danger in the first half, although they finally managed to manufacture a chance five minutes before the break when Paul Freier had a sharp shot turned past the post after cutting into the area.

Adler produced a sharp save to beat clear a fierce goal-bound drive from Juanlu at the start of the second half, but the winger was not to be denied 15 minutes later.

This time he slotted the ball under the outstretched Adler after the keeper had got a hand to a low drive from Soldado.

With a Leverkusen comeback now out of the question, the rain-soaked crowd at the Reyno de Navarra kept their celebrations going right through until the final whistle.

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