Tottenham's hopes of winning a trophy are over for another season yet they will return from Portugal with renewed optimism after Nacer Chadli's brace ended a three-match losing streak in a compelling Europa League clash at Benfica.
An impressive 3,000 fans made the trip to Lisbon more in hope than expectation after the Portuguese giants inflicted a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie - Spurs' largest ever European loss at White Hart Lane.
Their task was made all the more difficult by the absence of 11 first-teamers, but they did not wilt under the pressure and Tim Sherwood's side secured a morale-boosting 2-2 draw in a fascinating end to the match.
Comeback: Nacer Chadli scores with a brilliant strike to pull Tottenham level at 1-1 on the night
Double: Chadli scored two goals in two minutes to give Spurs hope of forcing extra-time against Benfica
Not enough: Chadli sweeps Spurs into a 2-1 lead as the north London club looked to mount a late comeback
We can do this: Chadli (left) celebrates with Christian Eriksen as Spurs go 2-1 up against Benfica
Leap of faith: Benfica's Ezequiel Garay (second right) jumps above Sandro to head Benfica into a 1-0 lead
Opener: Garay (right) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal against Tottenham
Awkward: Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood cuts an anxious figure as he watches on from the stands
Match facts
Benfica: Oblak, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Siqueira, Salvio, Gomes, Ruben Amorim, Djuricic (Perez 71'), Cardozo (Lima 75'), Sulejmani (Markovic 90').
Subs not used: Paulo Lopes, Rodrigo, Jardel, Andre Almeida
Booked: Perez, Luisao
Goals: Garay 34', Lima 90' (p)
Spurs: Friedel, Naughton, Sandro, Fryers, Rose, Sigurdsson, Bentaleb, Lennon, Chadli, Townsend (Eriksen 76'), Soldado (Kane 71').
Subs not used: Archer, Veljkovic, Winks, Ogilvie, Ball.
Goals: Chadli 78 & 79
Referee: Damir Skomina
The manner of performance and display will have pleased the under-fire boss, especially given the fact Spurs' uphill struggle became even steeper when Ezequiel Garay powered home a first-half header.
It looked to have effectively ended the tie in which there were no repeat of the fireworks between Sherwood and Benfica counterpart Jorge Jesus, only for summer signing Chadli to turn the match on its head.
The Belgium forward netted a quickfire brace which was followed up by Aaron Lennon, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Harry Kane efforts, as well as a strong penalty claim before Lima tucked away a spot-kick for the hosts in stoppage-time.
It was an impressive display given the paucity of options at Spurs' disposal, highlighted by the fact seven of the 21 players that travelled to Portugal had not yet played for the first team.
Five of them - Jordan Archer, Milos Veljkovic, Connor Ogilvie, Dominic Ball and Harry Winks - were included on the bench at the Estadio da Luz - a 'lion's den' Sherwood did not want to throw them into if avoidable.
The main concern, though, was the lack of a recognised centre-back in the side, meaning left-back Zeki Fryers and defensive midfielder Sandro became a makeshift pairing.
Unsurprisingly Benfica attempted to get at their defence from the outset and, like in the first leg, they looked susceptible from set-pieces.
Tough task: Tottenham players stand in disappointment after conceding the first goal of the game
Down and out: Andros Townsend (right) was unable to penetrate the Benfica defence
Too much: Tottenham's under-strength team were unable to overturn the 3-1 first leg deficit
Poor: Roberto Soldado was barely involved in the game before being brought off in the 71st minute
Tricky: Andros Townsend (centre) manages to get past Andre Gomes (left) and Eduardo Salvio
Boss: Benfica's coach Jorge Jesus gestures with just one finger during his team's Europa League victory
Luisao netted a brace from dead balls in the first leg and should have put another past Spurs with the hosts' first corner, only to direct his header wide in the ninth minute.
Tottenham, though, were also threatening and had a fine chance of their own with 14 minutes on the clock when a corner was flicked onto the unmarked Roberto Soldado, who controlled well only to hit a strike into the ground and wide.
The Spaniard was soon back in action again as Spurs pushed for an opener, although a last-ditch block meant he was unable to convert Chadli's cut-back.
The resulting corner saw Chadli header tamely wide as Sherwood's men continued an impressive start in which there were surprisingly few hairy moments at the back.
Leap: Nacer Chadli (centre top) jumps above everyone else to get a header towards goal
Battle: Cardozo (left) vies for the ball with Tottenham's Rose during the Europa League clash
They continued in fine voice as the match entered the second half, which saw Sigurdsson come close to latching onto a neat Andros Townsend ball from the left.
The England winger was enjoying his duel with Maxi Pereira - someone he may again come up against at the World Cup in the match with Uruguay - and soon impressively cut past him again, only for his fierce strike to hit the side-netting after a slight deflection.
A wonderful Sandro tackle on Ruben Amorim thwarted the Benfica midfielder when the hosts returned to the attack before Guilherme Siqueira missed the goal marshalled by Brad Friedel, whose appearance saw him extend his record as the Europa League's oldest participant.
Super fan: A Benfica supporter cheers for his side while sporting some interesting face paint
Kane was brought on in a bid to grab a leveller and started a move that resulted in Chadli firing at Oblak, who the Belgium international did beat with 12 minutes remaining as he cut in from the left and lashed home a 20-yard drive.
Benfica fans continued to cheer despite the goal, although that changed when Spurs netted a quickfire second.
Kane knocked a back-post cross into the path of Chadli, who impressively turned to fire a left-footed half-volley into the far corner.
It was a remarkable turnaround and one which would have improved further was it not for Luisao denying Lennon the opportunity to roll into an empty net.
Tottenham continued to press after Salvio forced Friedel into a save, with Kane having penalty claims rejected after being upended in the box by Miralem Sulejmani.
Oblak made fine saves to deny Sigurdsson and Kane as the visitors continued to press, only to get caught by a stoppage-time sucker-punch as Lima netted after being brought to the deck by Sandro.
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