Tottenham's coaster ride in the Europa League found a dramatic end because they were overwhelmed 4-1 in a shoot-out against Basle. Clint Dempsey put Spurs ahead before Mohamed Salah and Aleksandr Dragovic scored to put Basle on course for success. Dempsey took the link to extra-time with only ten minutes of standard time remaining - but Tottenham's activity was then made much tougher by the injury-time dismissal of Jan Vertonghen. The Swiss area failed to make their numerical advantage count, but Tom Huddlestone and Emmanuel Adebayor both missed from the position in the shoot-out and Basle scored all four of their fines to progess to the semi-finials. It had all started therefore well for Spurs as in the 23rd minute Vertonghen sliced open the Basle defense with a pass that left Dragovic flat on his butt and Dempsey rounded the goalkeeper before slotting directly into an empty net. Villas-Boas jumped for joy - but he was shortly cursing his luck after Mousa Dembele's mistake allowed Basle to level. Mohamed El-Nenny intercepted a sloppy move from the midfielder and worked the ball out wide to Marco Streller, who cut open the Spurs support to get Salah - who poked the ball past Brad Friedel. Basel were in from after 49 minutes when Friedel palmed Fabian Schar's header right to Dragovic, who killed in from close range. But Spurs were not finished yet and substitute Huddlestone delivered a well-crafted processor that Dempsey drilled under Yann Sommer. Vertonghen made life tougher for his staff when he tripped Streller as he ran through in the 90th minute and received a straight red card. Basle dominated the very first half extra-time, with El-Nenny rattling the woodwork from 30 yards and Marcelo Diaz styling broad. Spurs kept on for penalties - but Huddlestone missed Tottenham's first spot-kick to provide Basle the advantage and Adebayor then skied Spurs' third while Schar, Streller and Fabian Frei all scored. Diaz was left with the chance to clinch victory and he made no mistake, firing home to Friedel's left.
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