Udinese inflicted more misery on hapless Tottenham Hotspur with a 2-0 UEFA group stage victory on Thursday over the London side who contributed to their own downfall through poor goalkeeping and ill-discipline.
In-form Udinese’s victory increased the pressure on under-fire Spurs coach Juande Ramos, whose side prop up the Premier League and failed to finish with 11 men for the second successive match.
Udinese, second in Serie A, were gifted the chance to take the lead midway through the first half when Spurs’ keeper Heurelho Gomes failed to clear a backpass and then fouled Fabio Quagliarella to stop the Italian striker gaining possession.
Fellow Italian international Antonio Di Natale swept home the penalty. Spurs, who had two players sent off in their defeat by Stoke City at the weekend, were reduced to 10 men just before the hour when Jamie O’Hara was booked twice in a minute.
A swift break secured the Group D points for Udinese four minutes from time with Simone Pepe firing home from eight metres.
DZAGOYEV DOUBLE
CSKA Moscow’s talented teenage playmaker Alan Dzagoyev scored twice as the 2005 winners opened their Group H campaign with a 3-0 win at home to Deportivo Coruna.
Dzagoyev, who made his debut for Russia in a World Cup qualifier against Germany this month, struck twice in three first half minutes for CSKA, unbeaten in the Russian league since July 20. Brazilian Vagner Love added a third on the hour.
This is the last season at the helm for coach Valery Gazzaev, who led CSKA to their first European trophy when they beat Sporting in the 2005 final. He said in July that he would step down when the Russian season finishes at the end of November.
Bundesliga leaders Hamburg and German rivals Schalke 04 recorded opening group stage victories.
Hamburg won 2-1 in Slovakia against Zilina in Group F, while 1997 UEFA Cup winners Schalke 04 brushed aside Paris St Germain 3-1 in their Group A tie in Gelsenkirchen.
PSG defender Larrys Mabiala put through his own net after 12 minutes and Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi struck just before halftime. Halil Altintop made it 3-0 before Clement Chantome hit a stoppage time consolation.
In later matches on Wednesday, competition favourites AC Milan play at Heerenveen and twice winners Sevilla host VfB Stuttgart.
The top three from each of the eight groups progress to the first knockout round where they will be joined by the eight teams finishing third in their Champions League groups.