Report: Spurs 2-2 Lazio

Friendlies

Few will forget Jamie Redknapp's first game for Spurs at the Lane.

The midfielder scored one of the best goals at the stadium in recent seasons in our final pre-season friendly against Lazio.

Stephen Carr's cross was half cleared and Redknapp, 25 yards out, shaped superbly to hit a chest-high, full volley that screamed into the top corner.

The highest praise you could give him is that it was like watching his manager in his pomp.

Redknapp's stunning strike capped a great start to the game and doubled our lead after Dean Richards' opener after a minute.

However, the Italian giants grew stronger and stronger, pulled a goal back before the break, levelled just before the hour and few would deny them a share of the spoils.

The first half started at an electric pace with Matthew Etherington seemingly on a mission down the left flank.

The young winger tormented Massimo Oddo throughout the half and took just a minute to make a telling contribution.

He played a couple of one-twos with Teddy Sheringham and Mauricio Taricco in a fleet-footed burst down the left flank, cut inside Oddo and fed Milenko Acimovic who beat his man only to see his attempted pass to Rebrov hacked away.

However, Rebrov took the corner short from Acimovic and picked out a diving Richards at the far post with a pinpoint cross - Richards header gave Marchegiani no chance.

Redknapp's golden moment wasn't far behind and the scene was set for another Serie A scalp following last season's win against Fiorentina.

Etherington continue to bomb forward at every opportunity and the link-ups between Redknapp, Acimovic and Sheringham were particularly encouraging.

Most of Lazio's attacking threats had been snuffed out by another commanding display from Chris Perry until the 27th minute when they hit back through Lopez.

The Italians initially broke away from our attack, Cesar picked up the ball down the left flank and rolled it inside to the Argentinian, who finished clinically from 15 yards.

The rest of the half, unsurprisingly, dropped in pace and there was little goalmouth action to talk about.

With Diego Simeone off the bench for Cesar, Lazio looked a different side at the start of the second half and twice tested Kasey Keller in the opening five minutes.

Crespo's shot on the turn was a comfortable low save but the American had to be at his best to divert Lopez's driven from the angle.

It was no surprise when the Italians levelled after 57 minutes. Carr had cut out a dangerous Odde cross second earlier but from the throw in, Oddo crossed low again and Crespo nipped in to flick home at the near post.

With Redknapp influential in midfield, we crept back into the game. Redknapp himself drove just wide from 20 yards on the hour before picking out substitute Steffen Iversen's run, Iversen punched on Couto's mistake but blasted over from 16 yards.

The game was now more open and Lazio forced the save of the game from Keller after 74 minutes. Lopez crossed from the right and Crespo met it eight yards out - Keller somehow managed to keep it out with his feet.

Stankovic's cross deflected off Richards just over, Keller blocked the same player's close-range poke and Etherington, always bright, laid the ball back for Goran Bunjevcevic to fire at Marchegiani from 22 yards. And that was that.

Line-ups: Spurs: Keller, Carr, Taricco, Bunjevcevic, Perry (Gardner, 65), Richards, Redknapp (Bortolozzo, 75), Acimovic (Blondel, 75), Rebrov, Sheringham (Iversen, 65), Etherington. Subs: Doherty, Sullivan, Davies, Thatcher.

Lazio: Marchegiani, Oddo, Nesta, Stam (Couto, 45), Pancaro, Fiore (Inzaghi, 66), Stankovic, Liverani (Giannichedda, 76), Cesar (Simeone, 45), Crespo, Lopez. Subs: Concetti, Baggio, Gottardi, Negro.