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Jamie O'Hara's first Tottenham goal proved just enough to see Spurs
through to the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup in an uninspiring
performance against a sprightly Slavia Prague side, who pushed for a
goal to take the tie into extra time in the second half, without
succeeding. It wasn't for the want
of trying, as they hit the post, but then twice Spurs struck wood and
while the panic of the Czechs getting a goal back, the fact that they
would have needed two more to go through was unlikely, but one more to
take the game into extra time and then penalties was perhaps a more
likely outcome.
As it turned out, the changed Spurs side,
with the League Cup final in mind, held out, with Zokora and Woodgate
putting in good performances at the back and Paul Robinson behind them
making two very good saves to keep Slavia out.
Unfortunately, it might have been the
nature of the early goal for Spurs that made them relax and cede the
impetus to the Czech league leaders. Slavia were in the Champions
League remember, so even though they finished third in their group, they
are no mugs.
The paid back Spurs approach might have
made an important mistake in considering that they would roll over for
Tottenham. With Robinson in goal, Kaboul came back into the middle
of the defence and Darren Bent started up front. Without a great
deal of the service he thrives on, he played well. He holds the
ball well and even though he had trouble going past players, he twice
hit the frame of the goal and won a few first headers.
The game started with one of the Slavia
players making his mark ... with his studs into Tainio's thigh. It was a
message that they were after Spurs and felt that a tough start might
make the home players shrink into their shells, as they would not want
to risk injury before the final on Sunday. It didn't work out for
them, as, even with a lenient Swede reffing the game, the Tottenham team
bit back in their tackles and gave no quarter.
A throw-in out on the right wing saw
Tainio launch it into the area and although Kaboul's flick on was
cleared, Berbatov took the ball out of the air and knocked it to his
side, where Jamie O'Hara stepped inside and rifled a shot on goal that
took a touch off Latka to beat goalkeeper Variel. It was strange
that Vaniak was left out after such an outstanding goalkeeping
performance, but for O'Hara, it was a great moment and for the team, it
gave them a 3-1 advantage.
While there looked little chance of
Slavia scoring in the first half, Tottenham once more failed to take the
opportunities they created. Luckily, O'Hara's effort was driven
low on target for the goal, as a minute or so later, he tried to repeat
the shot and sliced it so badly, it didn't make it off the pitch.
With 20 minutes gone, Tom Huddlestone struck one of his fierce shot son
target and the keeper managed to beat it out, but it came back to Aaron
Lennon, running in on goal, but he was unable to get a proper connection
on the ball and scuffed it into the ground leaving no harm to the Slavia
goal. Aaron got away down the right soon after and his cross to
the far post was met by O'Hara's left foot and his volley skipped across
the face of the goal with no other Spurs player unable to get on the end
of it.
With Darren Bent recovered from injury,
but lacking confidence, he came close to adding to his goal total with a
header on O'Hara's cross that looped up over the goalie and bounced back
off the crossbar. A foul on Berbatov (one of the few awarded)
brought a free-kick 25 yards out and Jamie stepped up to hit a shot on
goal, but landed the ball on the roof of the net.
At the other end, Paul Robinson was
called upon to make his first save on 34 minutes, when he got down
quickly to his right to stop a low shot from Cerny that was in a
difficult position for keeper's to stop, just under his midriff as he
dived. There was little of note left in the remainder of the half
and Berbatov's non-appearance saw Robbie Keane take to the field and
take the captain's armband, making an immediate impact, when he got on
the end of Lennon's low cross and he volleyed the ball off target.
Then, with little warning, Slavia
levelled. Pudil got away down the left wing and played the ball in
along the line of the six yard box, leaving the defenders and keeper
nervous about getting a touch on the ball, but Krajcek had no such
qualms running in at the far post. He bulged the net as he
stretched to reach the ball and suddenly the 1-0 lead looked a bit more
fragile.
Within five minutes, a twisted knee from
a tackle on a Slavia player left Pascal Chimbonda limping and he soon
made way for Malbranque to move into midfield and O'Hara go back to
Chimbonda's slot. The changes had not yet settled when Cerny's
free-kick ended with Drizda; having an unchallenged header, but he could
only direct it at Robinson, to the Spurs fans relief. The England
Number One was called upon to clutch a header from Drizdal, getting down
to the ball well. Robinson was grateful to the upright when a 68th
minute cross was headed back by Pudil and former Norwich City loanee
David Strihavka turned to shoot from around the penalty spot and there
was a gasp as the ball struck the post and luckily for Tottenham bounce
out.
Almost immediately, Ramos brought on
Jermaine Jenas for Aaron Lennon and then Steed did so well in getting
away on the left wing to set up Bent for a shot at the near post that he
nudged just wide. Still Slavia strove to get back in it and
Ivana's 75th minute free-kick that fizzed around the wall brought a fine
diving save from Robinson, who could not have had a good view of it.
The keeper then made sure he did not make the same mistake as Cerny last
week, when the Slavia Cerny put a very high ball in to the far post, but
Robinson took no chances and knocked the ball over the top.
The ref brought out yellow cards quite
regularly, but he totally missed Volesak's elbow to Huddlestone's head
right in front of him. There were a number of odd occasions when
he allowed play to continue when it would have seemed a caution might
have been more appropriate.
With seven minutes left, Darren Bent
popped up to get on the end of a Tainio through pass and a sharply taken
shot flicked Latka's leg as it headed goalwards and it left Vareil
stranded. "Unlucky" might become Bent's nickname soon, as he
watched the ball take an age to hit the bar and drop into a replacement
keeper's arms.
And that was about the last chance,
leaving Spurs to go through to meet PSV Eindhoven, which will be a much
tougher match. This performance was just about good enough to get
Spurs through and perhaps the Cup Final might have been on their mind,
leaving them less than determined to put 100% in, although some players
did.
The result was the main thing tonight to
get closer to winning the competition and the purpose was served by the
draw. With Chelsea on Sunday, the team will change again and that
might have been a factor in the performance too.
We will just have to hope to go one
better at Wembley.
PHIL EASTCOTT |
Slavia
Prague 
