Tottenham exits Europa League despite 2-2 draw with Benfica

Tottenham Hotspur has crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday following a 2-2 draw with Portuguese giants Benfica, who scored 5-3 on aggregate, at the White Hart Lane.

Tottenham, which is fifth on the Premier League, failed to become the first side to beat Benfica in 23 games in all competitions since Olympiakos' Champions League victory on 5 November 2013, although they are still on course to qualify for next season's Europa League.

According to the BBC, the hosts, who were outclassed in the first leg of the last-16 tie, were put up 4-1 up on aggregate with Nacer Chadli scoring twice in a minute, although the visitors made it 2-2 on the night and 5-3 overall with Ezequiel Garay's opener and when Lima scored from the penalty spot.

However, the fact they salvaged a draw with an injury-hit squad against last season's runners-up will be pleasing for Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood, who saw his team end a run of three successive defeats, the report added.