The sides' first meeting since Germany's bruising 4-1 win in the last 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was decided by a 39th-minute header from Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker.
Spurs had just taken a 31st-minute lead through Andros Townsend at Villa Park when a canister trailing black smoke was lobbed towards the playing surface, apparently from the away supporters' section.
Roberto Soldado added a second after half-time as Spurs moved up to fifth place in the table, three points below leaders Arsenal, and began to atone for their shock 3-0 home defeat by West Ham United.
Prior to this season Townsend, who had scored three goals in 18 Spurs appearances, had had loan spells at nine different clubs.
According to the reports, England manager Roy Hodgson encouraged his players to pass the ball to in-form Tottenham Hotspur winger Townsend by telling a joke about a monkey being sent into space by US space agency NASA.
The England manager said he is dreading the prospect of picking a 23-man squad for next year's World Cup in Brazil.
The 22-year-old winger was handed his first cap by manager Roy Hodgson and the gamble paid off as he settled the hosts' nerves with a late strike after the visitors had threatened to come back into the game.
The 32-year-old was replaced by Eden Hazard in the 75th minute of Chelsea's 3-1 win at Norwich City in the Premier League and was seen holding his side in apparent discomfort.
There is still a chance David Moyes will return with one more offer and Roberto Martinez admitted he would have preferred the window to close before the start of the season.
England play Moldova and Ukraine as part of the World Cup qualifiers next month.
Moyes's successor at Goodison Park, Roberto Martinez, questioned the timing of the offer, but Moyes says he remains on good terms with the club and their chairman, Bill Kenwright.
The result in this play-off first leg tie has all but rendered next week's second leg at White Hart Lane meaningless and should see the English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur safely into the Europa League group stages.
Managers including Newcastle United's Alan Pardew, Jose Mourinho of Chelsea and Swansea City's Michael Laudrup have called for the transfer window to close earlier, and Martinez agrees. Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines continue to be linked to Manchester United.
Former Everton manager David Moyes lodged a
United had a
Martinez is reportedly close to completing moves for striker Arouna Kone and centre-back Antolin Alcaraz, with whom he worked at previous club Wigan Athletic, and he said that both players would be valuable additions to the Everton squad.
New Everton manager Roberto Martinez illustrated his determination to fend off Manchester United's interest in left-back Leighton Baines on Wednesday by describing the England international as "an icon".
Beaten semi-finalists in last season's competition, Everton were without the injured Marouane Fellaini but made a purposeful start and took the lead in the 15th minute.
