Spurs through despite 4-1 defeat at Inter

European champions Chelsea reached the Europa League quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Steaua Bucharest after Tottenham Hotspur survived a thrilling Inter fightback to progress on away goals yesterday. Goals from Juan Mata, John Terry and Fernando Torres, who also missed a penalty, put the west London club through 3-2 on aggregate after Steaua levelled on the stroke of half-time at Stamford Bridge. At the San Siro Inter went into the match trailing 3-0 after being outplayed in last week’s first leg in London but strikes from Antonio Cassano, Rodrigo Palacio and a William Gallas own goal brought them level on aggregate against a shell-shocked Spurs side. But Adebayor, who had spurned a glorious chance at the end of the first half when Tottenham trailed 1-0, got a vital away goal when he slid the ball past Samir Handanovic in the 96th minute after Mousa Dembele’s shot was parried by the keeper. Inter’s Ricardo Alvarez made it 4-4 on aggregate with 10 minutes of extra-time remaining st the San Siro when he headed in a Cassano cross but twice UEFA Cup winners Spurs held on. Libor Kozak scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and completed a hat-trick late on as Lazio turned on the...