Tottenham 2-2 Lazio

	Richards: Scored early goal (BenRadford/Allsport)

But from two goals ahead in the first 20 minutes, Spurs ran out of steam and ideas in their final warm-up before the Premiership kick-off.

Former England midfielder Redknapp, who hopes his free transfer to White Hart Lane from Liverpool at the age of 29 will revive a career cruelly inhibited by a series of injuries at Anfield, certainly looked the part before an early exit in the 77th minute.

And when he measured home a superb volley in the 19th minute to put Spurs two up after Dean Richards had struck with just 74 seconds on the clock it looked like being another embarrassing afternoon for star studded Serie A sided Lazio.

But £8million defender Richards' error allowed the Rome team an unexpected route back into the match when Claudio Lopez scored just before the half hour.

And an impressive second half revival earned them equality via Hernan Crespo's nimble header.

The match - Tottenham's 10th pre-season test - kicked off five minutes late but Spurs soon grabbed the lead when Richards was allowed all the space he needed in the Lazio area to dive and head in Sergei Rebrov's cross.

Spurs had almost gone ahead even earlier when a menacing run by new Slovenian star Milenko Acimovic only just broke down in the six yard box.

And sleepy Lazio, who fielded tar names like Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta and Argentinian front line duo Crespo and Claudio Lopez, had several other escapes before Spurs deservedly doubled their advantage in the 19th minute with a cracking volley by Redknapp.

He followed up to net in spectacular style after Acimovic's shot was hacked away.

Although Spurs continued to dominate - much to the fury of Lazio coach Roberto Mancini who paced the touchline cursing his side having seen them concede three goals in the first 20 minutes of their 3-2 defeat at Blackburn on Friday - the visitors pulled one back 10 minutes later.

An unconvincing header by Richards allowed Cesar Rodriguez to set up Lopez who comfortably beat Kasey Keller from 10 yards.

And even though Keller made fine saves to delay Lazio's comeback bid after the break he could do little about the glancing header by Crespo - the striker who once cost Lazio a then world record £32million - which converted Lopez's run and cross in the 58th minute.

Redknapp twice went close from distance and substitute Steffen Iversen bungled a glorious opportunity to regain the lead for Tottenham when he ballooned over in the 72nd minute after a long ball confounded the Lazio defence.