Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Tottenham Hotspur have played out a goalless first half in their Europa League clash in Ukraine this evening.
Tottenham enjoyed the majority of the possession during the early stages of the half, but had to wait until 13 minutes before carving out their first meaningful chance on goal. Nacer Chadli fired a low ball across goal from the left wing, which Roberto Soldado headed at the goalkeeper.
Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel was called into action soon after, when he had to race out of his penalty area to clear a long ball, before he kept out Ruslan Rotan's ambitious 40-yard lob.
Dnipro had a chance to open the scoring after 26 minutes when Matheus was played through on goal, but the striker took too long to shoot which allowed Friedel to make a save. The Spurs stopper then denied Matheus again two minutes later when he hit a powerful shot on the turn after being fed by Rotan on the edge of the box.
Tim Sherwood's side won a free kick just outside the penalty area when Paulinho was brought down by Ivan Strinic, but Andros Townsend's effort flew narrowly wide of the post.
The visitors almost broke the deadlock three minutes before the break when Dnipro goalkeeper Denys Boyko was challenged by Soldado, but the shot-stopper recovered to collect the ball.
Steven Toplis
