Spurs 0 PSV Eindhoven 1 . . .

There may not be any mountains in Holland, but Spurs have one to climb when they travel to Eindhoven for the second leg of this UEFA Cup tie next week.

They will make the trip a goal behind, after PSV put in a superb performance at White Hart Lane this evening.

The visitors struck ten minutes before the break to earn a deserved victory.

The Lilywhites were not at their best, and could never really get going on what proved to be a disappointing night.

The first 25 minutes of the match passed without incident, Tottenham struggling to stamp their authority.

Though most of the play was in the visitors' half, the Lilywhites never had a sniff of goal in the opening exchanges, the Dutch side looking cool and composed at the back.

It was PSV who registered the first real effort on goal, Farfan seeing a free kick deflected just wide of the post.

At the other end, Gilberto had a crack from distance, but the ball was always rising.

The Brazilian was involved in the first half's crucial moment - but it was at the other end of the pitch.

On 34 minutes, Gilberto lost possession to Farfan as he tried to dribble the ball away from his own penalty area and was to pay the ultimate price, Farfan striding forward and firing into the corner from just inside the box. It was a superb finish, but a terrible mistake from the Tottenham debutant.

Spurs almost responded through Steed Malbranque, his shot deflecting just wide with ten minutes of the half to go. The same player was denied at the far post just a minute later, the visiting keeper saving with his legs.

Jonathan Woodgate then saw a glancing header finish just wide, as the hosts at last started to make their mark.

Malbranque then screwed a shot wide from the edge of the area after a fine move involving Aaron Lennon, Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov.

In the final minute of the half, Keane brilliantly brought down a Paul Robinson clearance, turned two defenders, before seeing his left foot shot pushed out by the hand of the keeper. It was the home side's best moment of the first period.

Tottenham certainly finished the half with a flourish, but it was just a shame it needed a PSV goal to spark them into action.

Gilberto, who had also picked up a yellow card, was replaced by Jamie O'Hara at the interval, as Spurs attempted to regain their stride at the start of the second half.

But it was PSV who should have added a second on the hour, Afellay slicing wide after dangerman Farfan had set him up on the edge of the area.

MIdway through the half, Berbatov flighted the ball to the far post, where Pascal Chimbonda directed a free header over the bar. He should have at least forced a save out of the keeper.

The Lilywhites were becoming more and more frustrated, Lennon next to slice well wide as he charged towards goal.

Meanwhile, Farfan was denied by the fingertips of Robinson at the other end, the home keeper pushing out a low drive at full stretch.

With five minutes to go, Berbatov just failed to reach an O'Hara volley, the ball flashing across the face of the goal. Berbatov then saw the keeper push out a long-range drive as Spurs made one last push.

Keane had the final chance, but the visiting keeper was out quickly to smother his close-range shot.