Bale strikes to give Inter late scare

Spurs looked set to be humiliated when holders Inter raced to a 4-0 lead inside 35 minutes through goals from Javier Zanetti, a Samuel Eto'o penalty – after Heurelho Gomes had been sent off – Dejan Stankovic and Eto'o again.

But Bale almost completed a sensational comeback single-handedly, scoring one of the goals of the season before netting twice in the closing seconds to enhance his burgeoning reputation.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp admitted he feared the worst after witnessing his side's nightmare opening to the match.

"We were bang in trouble at 4-0 down. Any kind of score could have come. We could have been sitting on the end of a seven, eight, nine-goal defeat with 10 men against Inter Milan," he said.

Redknapp admitted he did not think his players would run Inter as close as they did come the final whistle, saying: "I'd be a liar if I stood here and said I saw that coming, but second half we got at them at every opportunity.

"I left the two wingers on and we had a go. It was a fantastic hat-trick from Gareth Bale, an amazing performance again from him.

"He's as good a left-sided player as there is anywhere around, possibly there wouldn't be too many in the world better than him at the moment."