HT PAOK 0-0 Tottenham: Missed penalty spares Spurs

A penalty miss from PAOK Salonika's Lino meant Tottenham's young side made it through to half-time without conceding in tonight's Europa League Group A game in Greece.

Amid a white-hot atmosphere at the Toumba Stadium, Lino missed from 12 yards after he was asked to re-take a successful spot kick following Carlo Cudicini's foul on Stefanos Athanasiadis.

Harry Kane was brought down in the PAOK box but was booked for diving instead of being awarded a penalty and debutant Yago Falque saw his shot cleared off the line.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp made 10 changes to his starting XI.

In addition to Falque, youngsters Kane, Andros Townsend and Tom Carroll started and Redknapp sprung a surprise by naming Cudicini in goal instead of Heurelho Gomes, who was on the bench.

Giovani dos Santos made his first start for Tottenham in 12 months and there were three youngsters awaiting their debuts among the substitutes.

The Spurs XI, with an average of 23, entered the pitch to a deafening roar after being taunted constantly by the home fans during the warm-up.

PAOK's supporters, known as some of the most passionate in Europe, did not relent once the match started, but Spurs settled easily, keeping the ball well.

Neither side threatened for the first 10 minutes before Giorgos Fotakis found space in the box but could only fire weakly at Cudicini.

Spurs then almost took the lead when Livermore broke into the box, dodged the on-rushing goalkeeper to square to Falque, but his shot was cleared off the line by PAOK skipper Pablo Contreras.

The loud, bare-chested fanatical support behind the home goal urged PAOK on and they came close to scoring twice within a couple of minutes.

Vedran Corluka deflected Vieirinha's shot just over the bar before the winger whipped in a dangerous cross that beat Cudicini but no one was at the far post to tap in.

Tottenham might have been awarded a penalty in the 28th minute when Contreras brought down Kane in the box with a late sliding tackle, but referee Milorad Mazic booked the 18-year-old for diving instead.

Maazic then gave a penalty at the other end on the half hour when Cudicini rushed out to bring down Stefanos Athanasiadis in the box.

Maazic booked Cudicini and Lino beat the Italian by firing home down the middle.

The referee made the defender take the penalty again though after he decided that at least one home player had entered the box and Lino put his second spot-kick wide, much to the frustration of the home support.

Diego Arias entered the book for a foul on Dos Santos and Pablo Garcia joined him for a cynical body check on Livermore.

Roman Pavlyuchenko's fierce 20-yard free-kick went just over in the 41st minute before he blazed over from the edge of the box while trying a spectacular volley a minute later.