Spurs hammer Fama

Summer signing Younes Kaboul scored his second goal of the season to set Martin Jol's men on their way, and though they were perhaps guilty of over-elaborating throughout much of the first half, goals from Michael Dawson, Robbie Keane and Darren Bent lifted spirits among the crowd again.

Jermain Defoe came on for Robbie Keane to a huge ovation on 65 minutes, and within 90 seconds had scored the goal of the night, seeing Arian Beqaj off his line and executing a delicate chip to perfection.

Anorthosis grabbed a consolation goal through Anton Zlogar late on, though another superb strike from Defoe ensured the night ended on a high for Tottenham.

The gulf in class and experience at this level between the two sides became clear in the opening few minutes, with Spurs immediately setting up camp in the Anorthosis half.

They found the net with their first real attempt on goal, as Younes Kaboul lost his marker at the near post to meet Aaron Lennon's corner, and sent a firm header across Beqaj and in at the far corner.

Bent then had a reasonable penalty appeal turned down after a trip by Konstantinos Loumpoutis, and then narrowly failed to double the lead after being fed by Keane and Benoit Assou-Ekotto twice in quick succession.

If the White Hart Lane faithful were becoming irritated by their side's failure to rack up the goals early on, they were soon celebrating as their side blitzed Famagusta with three goals inside four minutes before half-time.

First Pascal Chimbonda met Tom Huddlestone's corner with a massive leap at the far post, nodding down for Dawson to tap home, before Keane slammed home a left-foot volley from the edge of the area.

Bent then added another, taking advantage of a failed clearance by Lambros Lambrou, surging ahead of Nicos Katsavakis and sidefooting home from a tight angle.

Defoe, whose future has been the subject of fevered speculation since the arrival of Bent in the summer, gave manager Martin Jol a reminder of his goal-scoring talents with a wonderful finish just after the hour mark, while Didier Zokora and Adel Taarabt almost got themselves on the scoresheet too.

Zlogar took advantage of a dormant Tottenham defence to lift his side's spirits with a goal ten minutes from time, though the last laugh was to be had by Defoe, who collected the ball in injury time from Huddlestone and lashed home a right foot drive from 25 yards.