Tottenham stuns Madrid to reach knockout phase

By Rob Harris LONDON » Tottenham stunned Champions League holder Real Madrid 3-1 on Wednesday to qualify for the knockout phase for only the second time and increase the pressure on coach Zinedine Zidane.

The European champions in three of the last four seasons hadn’t been beaten in the group stage for five years, and the humbling in London came straight after Madrid’s Spanish league defense was hit by a surprise loss at Girona.

Madrid was torn apart too easily by Tottenham, a club that hasn’t won the English league since 1961. Dele Alli, suspended for the opening three games in Group H, made an explosive return to the Champions League with two goals.

Christian Eriksen also netted for Tottenham in the 65th minute to build a commanding lead that ensured Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike in the 80th was a mere consolation.

The victory took Tottenham three points clear of Madrid at the top of the group, ensuring passage into the last 16 with two games to spare. Tottenham, which was eliminated in the group stage last season, has only competed in the knockout phase once before in the 2010-11 season when it was eliminated by Madrid in the quarterfinals. SYRACUSE, N.Y. » Jim Boeheim finds himself in an uncustomary place — his Syracuse Orange are an afterthought as the season opener nears.

It’s understandable. Syracuse is facing a major rebuild after a lackluster season.

The Orange lost their best player when forward Tyler Lydon left for the NBA after two seasons and there is just one returning starter along with one redshirt freshman and four freshmen on the roster.

Although Boeheim also lost his top assistant — Mike Hopkins left in March to become head coach at Washington after more than two decades under his mentor — it’s simply business as usual as he prepares for season No. 42 at his alma mater.

“It’s the same every year.