Spurs rein in effervescent Basel to keep tie level

Tottenham Hotspur FC came from two goals down to earn a first-leg draw against an outstanding FC Basel 1893 side who will be hopeful of securing the club's first European semi-final participation in a week's time.

It became clear to Spurs early on that it would be no easy task to reach the last four as Valentin Stocker and Fabian Frei stunned White Hart Lane with first-half away goals. Emmanuel Adebayor pulled the hosts back into it, and Gylfi Sigurdsson's deflected effort after the restart put André Villas-Boas' men on level terms before their trip to Switzerland.

Murat Yakin's men were quick to show they are not in the last eight to make up the numbers with a rapid flurry of attacks. Fabian Schär and Marco Streller both had powerful efforts saved, and Markus Steinhöfer volleyed a fraction over.

The visitors' industry eventually reaped its reward, however, when two goals in four minutes silenced the home fans. Stocker was able to pounce after Streller's effort had come back off a post on the half-hour, before a corner was flicked on to Frei, who buried a low header past Brad Freidel.

Stocker wriggled clear but his dinked finish slipped just wide as Basel attacked at will. Spurs were nevertheless able to respond before the break, Adebayor halving the deficit when he prodded in a deflected effort from Scott Parker, who then shot wide with the goal gaping.

The crowd urged the Premier League side forward after the break, but there was no backward step from Basel, for whom the lightning Mohamed Salah was denied by Friedel when clear on goal. Yann Sommer then kept out a wicked Kyle Naughton half-volley, yet he could do nothing when Sigurdsson cut in from the left and unleashed a shot that flicked in off Schär.

The action did not let up, with Salah and substitute Jacques Zoua firing narrowly wide for the Swiss champions. Spurs, meanwhile, finished with nine men as William Gallas and Gareth Bale went off injured before full time.