10-man Tottenham sent crashing once again

(CNN) -- Tottenham's miserable start to the season continued as a blunder from goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes helped hand Udinese a 2-0 victory in their opening UEFA Cup Group D match in Italy on Thursday.

Coach Juande Ramos watched helplessly as Antonio Di Natale and Simone Pepe gave the Serie A side a comfortable win, with midfielder Jamie O'Hara collecting two bookings in a minute to end any hopes of a Spurs fightback.

The home side took the lead with a 24th minute penalty -- thanks to an error from Gomes. The Brazilian international made a total mess of Benoit Assou-Ekotto's backpass, allowing Fabio Quagliarella to get between himself and the ball.

Gomes ended up hauling the Italian striker to the ground and Di Natale made the most of the gift, firing home the penalty.

The Premier League's bottom side then suffered a further blow when O'Hara received his marching orders for two quick fouls on Alexis Sanchez.

Di Natale almost added a delightful second, latching on to Marco Motta's long pass and lobbing Gomes -- but the goalkeeper made it back to claw the ball away.

However, Udinese always looked like adding to their tally and substitute Pepe wrapped up the points, firing home off the post after Di Natale cut in from the left and Quagliarella helped the ball on.

There were mixed fortunes for the other two English clubs in action, with Aston Villa beating Ajax 2-1 in Group F, while Portsmouth crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Braga in Group E.

Captain Martin Laursen gave Villa the lead in the eighth minute, powerfully heading home Ashley Young's corner for his fourth goal of the season.

However, the Dutch side, who are struggling in their domestic league, levelled 14 minutes later in similar circumstances. This time, Villa's marking was poor as Urby Emanuelson whipped an incisive corner to the edge of the six-yard box where Thomas Vermaelen thundered a header into the roof of the net.

Villa scored the decisive goal on the stroke of half-time when Young burst clear down the left and his cross was superbly tucked away by Gareth Barry.

Portsmouth's Group E rivals AC Milan got their UEFA Cup adventure off to a bright start with a 3-1 win over Dutch side Heerenveen.

An own goal from midfielder Calvin Jong-a-Pin after 19 minutes set them on their way, before goals from Gennaro Gattuso and Filippo Inzaghi completed the tally. Danijel Pranjic added a late consolation goal for the hosts from the penalty spot four minutes from time.

Former Liverpool winger Harry Kewell's header earned Galatasaray a 1-0 victory over Olympiakos in Group B, while FC Twente made a winning start to their Group A campaign, beating Racing Santander 1-0 thanks to a fifth minute header from Romano Denneboom.

Elsewhere, Bundesliga leaders Hamburg, coached by Martin Jol, who was replaced by Ramos at White Hart Lane, won 2-1 at Slovakian side MSK Zilina in Group F.

Mladen Petric, back in the side afterr a virus, scored the opener on 15 minutes and fellow-Croatian international Ivica Olic bagged a second just before the break before Emil Rilke netted a consolation.

Schalke, the 1997 winners, made it another success for Germany on the night with a 3-1 Group A success over Paris St Germain 3-1 in one of the evening's glamor ties.

Kevin Kuranyi, discarded by Germany coach Joachim Loew for walking out on the squad following their World Cup qualifier against Russia, was smiling again as he scored one and made one.

The hosts went ahead on 13 minutes after Larrys Mabiala put through his own net and Kuranyi then smashed home six minutes before the break.

Schalke ended the contest with Turkish international Halil Altintop's third on 69 minutes before Clement Chantome notched a consolation.

Also off to a flier were Russian side CSKA Moscow, who swamped Group H rivals Deportivo La Coruna 3-0 with Alan Dzagoev netting twice inside three first half minutes before Brazilian Vagner Love made the three points safe with a third on the hour mark.