Olympiakos holds Tottenham 2-2 in Champions League

Posted September 18, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Olympiakos' players celebrate their side's second goal, scored by Mathieu Valbuena during the Champions League group B soccer match between Olympiakos and Tottenham, at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Tottenham gave up a two-goal lead and had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Olympiakos in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Harry Kane scored a clinical penalty in the 26th minute after being carelessly brought down by Yassine Meriah, and Lucas Moura made it 2-0 four minutes later with a strike from 20 meters (yards).

But Olympiakos was rewarded for its persistence and Daniel Podence found the net before the break after exchanging passes with Mathieu Valbuena.

The French international leveled from the penalty spot in the 54th minute.

"We got ourselves in a great position but obviously, the goal before the first half changed the momentum," Kane said. (Getting) two goals away from home that's not bad, but overall we're disappointed because this is the kind of game we'd want to be winning."

Tottenham, a Champions League finalist last season, brought on Son Heung-min for the last 17 minutes but the South Korean produced little threat on the left.

Olympiakos returned to the Champions League after a year's absence but sorely missed striker Kostas Fortounis, out with a knee injury, and defender Pape Abou Cisse who has influenza.

But Ruben Semedo returned to fitness and paid tribute to his teammates.

"Every player wants to be in the Champions League, and so do I. So we spare no effort and that worked for us," he said. "I think the result was fair for us and it came from very hard work."

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Tottenham's Harry Kane, right, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League group B soccer match between Olympiakos and Tottenham, at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press

Tottenham's Son Heung-min, right, challenges for the ball with Olympiakos' Omar Elabdellaoui during the Champions League group B soccer match between Olympiakos and Tottenham, at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press

Tottenham's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris catches the ball during the Champions League group B soccer match between Olympiakos and Tottenham, at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, in Piraeus port, near Athens, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The Associated Press

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