A late strike by Fernandinho earned FC Shakhtar Donetsk a draw on the night at Tottenham Hotspur FC, cancelling out Giovani Dos Santos's opener and lining up a last-16 meeting with PFC CSKA Moskva.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp rested several first-team players ahead of their League Cup final against Manchester United FC on Sunday, with only Wilson Palacios remaining from the side that defeated Hull City AFC on Monday. Teenage striker Jonathan Obika was given his first senior start and the 18-year-old enjoyed a promising full debut, shaving the post on the half-hour mark and then stabbing narrowly wide just before the break as Spurs chased the tie. Initially it looked like Shakhtar were going to dominate as they did in the first leg. Jadson, helped by a fortunate ricochet off the referee, flashed a drive wide before crossing for fellow Brazilian Willian, who had a shot blocked as Spurs scrambled clear.
The visitors looked dangerous when they broke forward and Fernandinho's shot in the 20th minute forced Heurelho Gomes into a low diving save. Gareth Bale was under pressure and his header needed to be cleared off the line by Gilberto, before Fernandinho was given space but nodded wide. Obika almost got on the end of Chris Gunter's cross after the restart but Giovani made no mistake in the 55th minute, surging into the penalty and unleashing a vicious drive into the top corner. He could have levelled the tie moments later but was just short of meeting Gilberto's cross. Just as Spurs pushed for a second goal, Fernandinho put the tie beyond doubt, finishing crisply with four minutes left.
