Uefa Cup Round of 32, first leg/ Slavia Prague 1 Tottenham 2: Radek Cerny offered the latest illustration of Tottenham's capacity to make life difficult for themselves when he suffered a nightmare moment in front of the supporters who once idolised him.

A series of calamities by Paul Robinson have ushered the former Slavia Prague goalkeeper into the Tottenham team, but Cerny was stricken by the curse of the individual error last night, and having looked set to coast into the last 16, Tottenham must now finish the task in next Thursday's return.

Cerny's moment came midway through the second half when a high cross from David Hubacek swirled down towards his bar. His initial impression that the ball would drop safely on to the top of his goal needed to be hurriedly revised and he dropped the ball at the feet of David Strihavka, who duly tapped home.

The temperature dipped uncomfortably below freezing point at kick-off and fell steadily; the elements were prominent among the factors massed against Tottenham. A hard pitch provided a test of balance, touch and hamstrings, and Slavia, familiar foes to the north London club, were emerging from winter hibernation, high on energy if not match sharpness.

Their league started its mid-season break in early December, and Slavia, five points clear at the top, will play their first league fixture since then on Sunday. They are unbeaten at home in the league and have conceded only two goals in eight matches.

But Juande Ramos's team were in dominant mood and succeeded in crafting the comfort of an early goal. Berbatov's languid swing of his right boot from the edge of the area concealed the menace. The shot, although lacking power, was placed low to Martin Vaniak's right and the goalkeeper could not get across in time. So Berbatov celebrated his 16th goal of the season, which came about after a driving run from Jermaine Jenas had only partially been repelled.

Ramos started with a slightly unconventional back line. The Ivory Coast midfielder Didier Zokora, out of Africa and into an icebox, filled in at centre-back and neither Teemu Tainio nor Pascal Chimbonda could claim that the right-back and left-back were their favoured positions. It did not matter.

If Ramos' selection was a kick in the teeth for Younes Kaboul, the specialist central defender, it was a act of faith in Tom Huddlestone as his central midfield partnership with Jenas has gelled.

Berbatov's partnership with Robbie Keane is similarly fluent. They dragged the Slavia defence out of shape with their intelligent running. Keane ushered in Aaron Lennon to draw a smart low save out of Vaniak but the respite was temporary.

Keane's 20th goal of the season arrived when Huddlestone sparked a quick counter and Jenas, although fouled by Mickael Tavares, did enough to guide the ball in behind Slavia's nervous defence. Keane finished with panache past Vaniak.

Slavia's half-time deficit would have been greater but for Vaniak's double save from Berbatov and another one from Huddlestone's drive.

Slavia had lost their leading scorer Stanislav Vlcek to Anderlecht during the winter break and they tried to integrate three new signings - Marek Jarolim, Jaroslav Cerny and Strihavka, who arrived from Norwich City. As they searched for cohesion, though, Tottenham threatened to overwhelm them.

Berbatov bewitched a clutch of white shirts before finding Huddlestone and, after he had skipped away from another player, his shot rattled the frame of the goal. Slavia dug in to gain a foothold of sorts, but Cerny was a virtual bystander.

• Guardian Service

SLAVIA PRAGUE: Vaniak, Drizd'al, Latka, Brabec, Hubacek, Suchy, Tavares, Jarolim, Jaroslav Cerny, Pudil, Strihavka. Subs: Vorel, Sourek, Ivana, Belaid, Volesak, Kalivoda.

TOTTENHAM: Cerny, Chimbonda, Woodgate, Huddlestone, Tainio, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane. Subs: Robinson, Lee, Kaboul, Taarabt, Bent, O'Hara, King.

Referee: Claudio Circhetta(Switzerland)