Four down, two to go. So far the hectic fixture list has not taken an undue toll on Tottenham Hotspur, still able to produce exciting games for their fans – most of whom presumably will need pacemakers by the end of the month. Despite conceding two goals, however, this evening Spurs never looked like losing and now cruise on in the UEFA-cup, having won all their eight games.
Martin Jol, faced with an intricate selection situation over the week, started with what was arguably his strongest available side in an effort to secure a victory in the competition which still looks like the team’s best hope for a trophy. Pascal Chimbonda filled in at central defence, due to Anthony Gardner’s fractured leg and Ricardo Rocha being cup-tied, a role he played quite well – albeit in a game which saw most of the action happening elsewhere. Aaron Lennon started on the right and Steed Malbranque on the left with a central midfield pair consisting of Didier Zokora and Tom Huddlestone. Robbie Keane, back from injury, started up front together with Dimitar Berbatov, apparently sufficiently recovered from the emerging groin injury which forced him off ahead of time against Chelsea.
Set pieces have been the main problem for the Tottenham defence and proved to be just that again, first when Tom Huddlestone’s head connected with Luis Filipe's free kick and the ball found its way into the corner of the goal, putting Braga ahead at 25 minutes, and then later again when Andrade smashed a free kick through the defensive wall from 20 yards. By that time, however, Spurs had equalised through some stunning cooperation between Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, the former beautifully holding the ball away from three defenders while the latter ran to the left hand side of the area, awaiting the pass. When it came Berbatov elegantly and with uncanny precision slid it past Santos, making it look so easy.
Spurs continued to dominate possession and closed off the first half with another stunning effort by Berbatov who remained neatly onside when Tom Huddlestone took his free kick, then met the ball, took it down with his chest and kicked in the volley with his right foot from 18 yards. Perfect control in one movement. Santos could just watch, the fans could just cheer and Martin Jol and Chris Hughton hugged, presumably as moved as the rest of us.
The second half started better for Braga, and the equalising free kick goal came on the hour mark. But Tottenham never slowed down and continued to push forward, with Defoe replacing the newly recovered Keane. The winning goal came on 75 minutes; nice flank movement by Lee, who passed in to Malbranque. The Frenchman nipped it across to Berbatov who stylishly lifted the ball over the bemused defenders, allowing the advancing Malbranque to shoot it past Santos with his right foot.
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