London: Peter Crouch scored a hat trick in a 4-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys on Wednesday to lead Tottenham into the Champions League group stage for the first time.
Crouch's first goal — a header from Gareth Bale's cross in the fifth minute — canceled out the visitors' 3-2 advantage from the first leg. Jermain Defoe scored a contentious second in the 32nd after controlling Bale's pass with his left hand.
Bale provided again for Crouch, who headed in a corner from the Wales midfielder in the 61st. Crouch completed his hat trick from the penalty spot in the 78th after Bale was fouled by Senad Lulic, who received a second yellow card.
"This is massive, we played extremely well and we deserved the bonus of Champions League football," Crouch said.
Tottenham's 6-3 aggregate victory ensures there will be four Premier League sides in the group stage. Manchester United and London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea qualified automatically.
In the first leg in Berne, Young Boys scored three goals inside 30 minutes to nearly end Tottenham's Champions League bid at the first hurdle. But after reducing the deficit by two goals last week, Spurs responded with an electric start of their own at White Hart Lane.
The opener came when Crouch was left unmarked as Bale floated in a cross, and Spurs were rarely troubled again amid a heavy downpour in north London.
Despite furious protests from Young Boys' players, Defoe's handball was missed by the extra official behind the goal, which is part of a UEFA refereeing experiment. The England striker then beat goalkeeper Marco Wolfli with a 20-yard shot that went in off a post.
"It was handball for my goal, yes," Defoe said. "The linesman didn't see it, though, and sometimes it goes your way. It was a great performance. The hard work was put in last season and it has paid off now. Everyone played their part."
Defoe was playing ahead of planned groin surgery that could rule him out for a month, but Redknapp now believes "he might not need it."
"We are in the hands of the medical people, but he said he did not feel anything tonight," Redknapp said. "I would rather he get it done, I don't want it dragging on all year for him."
Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes went off at halftime with an apparent groin injury from a 15th-minute incident, allowing Carlo Cudicini to make his first competitive appearance since a motorbike accident last November.
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