Spurs trounce Inter, Chelsea humbled

Big-spending Russian pairZenit St PetersburgandAnzhi Makhachkalafailed to manage a goal between them. Zenit lost 2-0 to late goals atFC Baseland Anzhi were held 0-0 byNewcastle United.

Former European championsBenficabeatGirondins Bordeaux1-0 thanks to an unlucky own goal andLaziowon 2-0 atVfB Stuttgartin other last 16 first leg ties.

Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson added the second from close range in the 18th minute after Jermaine Defoe’s shot on the turn was parried by keeper Samir Handanovic.

“It was a very good performance and a great night of European football for us. At half-time we thought we could have gone further, they had a couple of chances but we had so many opportunities we played really well and deserved to win,” said Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas.

“They are going through their best phase of the season and to conceded two goals at the start of the game penalised my team,” said his opposite number Andrea Stramaccioni.

“We did not want that to happen. Gareth Bale is a great player, but tonight was a great night for their team and Tottenham deserved what they got as a team.”

Chelsea, who ended up in the competition after becoming the first titleholders to be eliminated in the Champions League group stage, are in danger of a second European exit of the season after losing in front of a full house at Bucharest’s National Stadium.

Despite the setback, Chelsea’s interim manager Rafa Benitez was confident his team will overcome the setback in the second leg.

“In these kind of games and this kind of competition, if you don’t score away it’s always