PARIS: Tottenham, Swansea and Wigan, with a first ever European victory, all registered Europa League wins on Thursday to stay on course for the knockout rounds.
Spurs shrugged off hostile weather conditions in Russia to deny Anzhi Makhachkala 2-0 and tighten their grip on Group K, going four points clear.
Jermain Defoe celebrated his call-up to the England squad earlier in the day for this month’s final batch of World Cup qualifiers with the first goal.
Set up by Lewis Holtby he struck from inside the box after the half hour mark, rifling the ball into the roof of the net.
That left the striker one goal shy of Martin Chivers’ European club record tally of 24.
Nacer Chadli doubled up five minutes later for his second goal since arriving from Dutch side FC Twente.
Again Holtby was involved, playing the ball out to Kyle Walker, with the right-back slipping the ball across to Chadli to sweep home.
The game, played on the Ramenskoye pitch in the Moscow suburbs 1,100 miles away from Anzhi’s home stadium due to the conflict in Dagestan, turned more in Anzhi’s favour after the break, but they were unable to find a way back.
Swansea made it two wins in two Group A games with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over St Gallen in south Wales.
Wayne Routledge netted his third goal of the season in the 52nd minute to settle the tie at the Liberty Stadium.
Wigan marked their first ever home match in Europe with a 3-1 win over Maribor of
Slovenia. AFP
