Bale's double leads Tottenham to 3-1 win over QPR

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Bale's double leads Tottenham to 3-1 win over QPR

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Gareth Bale scored twice to lead Tottenham to a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers.

31 October,2011 02:04 am

Bale put Spurs ahead in the 20th minute with a low shot to the far post and Rafael van der Vaart made it 2-0 13 minutes later, shooting unmarked past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.QPR pressed hard for an equalizer after substitute Jay Bothroyd got a goal back in the 62nd but 10 minutes later Bale twice swapped passes with Aaron Lennon on the edge of the area to work space for a curling shot into the top corner.Victory took Tottenham to 19 points, behind unbeaten Newcastle and the last of the Champions League places only on goal difference.Spurs remained unbeaten in 11 matches since Aug. 28 and have a game in hand on three of the four teams above them. QPR, which beat west London rival Chelsea 1-0 last weekend, is seven points further back in mid-table.With Tottenham missing a string of chances, Rangers could easily have forced at least a draw. American goalkeeper Brad Friedel saved well from QPR midfielder Alejandro Faurlin in the 65th, but Spurs midfield class showed.Tottenham dominated the first half at White Hart Lane and forced a string of chances even before Bales second Premier League goal of the season.Kenny saved one-handed from Van der Vaart, Bale had an effort blocked on the line, Benout Assou-Ekotto shot over the bar from a free kick and Emmanuel Adebayor twice missed the target from in front of goal before Van der Vaart found Aaron Lennon in a central position on the edge of the area.The winger had a chance to shoot but instead slipped the ball to Bale on the left of the box, from where the Wales international shot across Kenny and into the net.With Scott Parker and Luka Modric running central midfield, Spurs made it 2-0 after captain Ledley Kings mis-hit shot was deflected to Van der Vaart about 12 meters (yards) out. The unmarked Netherlands forward had time to pick his spot and lash the ball into the bottom right corner for his sixth Premier League goal of the season.Mackies industry helped break Parkers hold on midfield and QPR scored from a corner kick move. Heidar Helguson headed Joey Bartons corner back into the middle, where Bothroyd rose highest to nod the ball into the unguarded net.With Kenny making a stellar double save from Assou-Ekotto and Friedel saving from Faurlin, the home fans were hushed into a nervous silence until Bale settled the match.