Manchester City qualified for the Champions League for the first time as Peter Crouch's own goal gave them the decisive victory over Tottenham at Eastlands.
Crouch's strike here late last season sent Spurs into Europe's elite competition at City's expense - and he was unwittingly involved at the same end again as he deflected James Milner's cross past keeper Carlo Cudicini in the first half.
It proved enough to give Roberto Mancini's side the win they required after a tension-riddled affair controlled for long spells by Spurs, who dominated possession in the second half to test the nerves of an increasingly anxious City support.
Celebrations swept around Eastlands as referee Mike Dean sounded his final whistle to send City into the Champions League, the destination desired by the club's Abu Dhabi hierarchy from the moment they started to bankroll the club in such lavish fashion.
And Carlos Tevez added to the sense of elation for City with a lively cameo as a late substitute in which he set up a chance for Patrick Vieira and was only denied a goal by a fine stop from Cudicini, who replaced the injured Heurelho Gomes
Tevez must now wait to discover if he has convinced Mancini that he has recovered sufficiently from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him for a month to play a significant part against Stoke City in Saturday's FA Cup Final at Wembley.
He was forced to wait until the closing stages before his introduction with the game so finely poised - a state of affairs that proved highly frustrating for the Argentine and he appeared to vent his feelings in Mancini's direction as he waited to enter the action.
City's win also brought joy for Stoke, who now qualify for next season's Europa League as a result of securing a place at Wembley.
Spurs, in contrast, now face a battle with Liverpool to finish fifth and they can feel unfortunate not to have earned at least a point from a spirited performance, with City keeper Joe Hart keeping them at bay with a superb save from substitute Steven Pienaar's header early in the second half.
This is a landmark moment for City, who can now mix it with Europe's biggest clubs on the pitch after proving more than a match for them with their financial firepower off it.
And Champions League qualification also provides a footballing incentive as they pursue high-profile signings in addition to the riches already on offer for their transfer targets.
Tevez returned on the bench for the first time since tearing his hamstring at Liverpool early last month in an attempt to stake his claim for a place in City's Wembley line-up.
Spurs, meanwhile, replaced Gomes with veteran Italian Cudicini - although they insisted this was because of a back injury sustained by the Brazilian in training rather than a reaction to his recent indifferent form and expensive errors against Chelsea and Blackpool.
And Cudicini showed his quality after only nine minutes with a point-blank block from Edin Dzeko after the outstanding David Silva laid the ball into his path only eight yards out.
Silva's diminutive stature and elegance brought inevitable comparisons with the gifted Modric, who also excelled in the first half and twice almost put Spurs in front.
The Croatian had a shot deflected wide and was only inches away with a side-foot finish that beat Hart and was so close to finding the target that Spurs coach Kevin Bond initially rose to his feet and punched the air in celebration.
Spurs' disappointment was doubled as City went ahead seconds later. They failed to track Milner as he worked a short corner with Adam Johnson and his low driven cross was turned into his own net at the near post by Crouch.
Showing posts with label gomes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gomes. Show all posts
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Tottenham 1-1 Blackpool
A late 25-yard strike from Jermain Defoe earned Tottenham a point against Blackpool after the hosts had conceded two second-half penalties in a minute.Charlie Adam converted a 76th-minute spot-kick after Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes had fouled Gary Taylor-Fletcher.Gomes had saved a penalty moments earlier from the same player after Michael Dawson handled in the area.But Defoe struck powerfully past Matthew Gilks in the 89th minute to level a dramatic encounter.However, Tottenham could be without inspirational winger Gareth Bale for their remaining games - at Manchester City on Tuesday, at Liverpool on 15 May and at home to Birmingham on 22 May - after the Wales international left the pitch on a stretcher with an ankle injury following a rash Adam challenge.The result will frustrate the north Londoners, whose prospects of qualifying for the fourth and final Champions League place look increasingly bleak ahead of Tuesday's trip to Eastlands - City effectively need a point to deny Spurs a second successive top-four finish.
Tottenham, who have only won once in nine Premier League matches, were once again profligate in front of goal with Rafael Van der Vaart, Bale and Luka Modric all spurning excellent chances, especially in the early stages of the second half.
However, the result gives Blackpool fresh impetus in their quest to maintain their Premier League status with games at home to Bolton next Saturday and away to Manchester United on the final day of the campaign remaining.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp made two changes to the team that controversially lost to Chelsea, with Danny Rose making his first appearance in a Tottenham shirt in over a year at left-back, while Defoe replaced Aaron Lennon, who was dropped to the bench.
A lively first half saw both sides create good chances, but neither could produce a deft finish in front of goal as opportunities were squandered.
A thumping left-footed volley by Adam was brilliantly saved by Gomes in the 24th minute, while a Van der Vaart pass dissected Blackpool's back four and found Defoe, but the striker's run was a fraction too early as he was rightly adjudged offside before rifling the ball into the back of the net.
The hosts dominated the opening exchanges of the second half as the introduction of Lennon, on for the redundant Roman Pavlyuchenko, allowed Redknapp's men to play the kind of expansive game which enthralled fans at the start of the season.
England winger Lennon's pace opened up Blackpool's defence, but numerous opportunities could not be converted as the crowd's impatience began to show.
Gomes made yet another excellent save, this time to deny DJ Campbell from eight yards after good work from David Vaughan sent the striker through.
Bale's withdrawal increased the home faithful's worries - further exacerbated when Dawson was adjudged to have handled an Adam corner in the 75th minute.
But the Scotland midfielder's low strike was brilliantly saved by Gomes, diving to his left - only for the Brazilian keeper to concede a thoroughly needless penalty less than 60 seconds later when he chased a bobbling ball through a throng of players inside his own box.
Referee Lee Probert deemed that Gomes had obstructed Taylor-Fletcher and Adam stepped up and hammered his second penalty into the top-left corner.
But Defoe grabbed a late equaliser for Spurs when he collected the ball 30 yards out before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the bottom right corner for only his fourth goal of the Premier League campaign.
Tottenham, who have only won once in nine Premier League matches, were once again profligate in front of goal with Rafael Van der Vaart, Bale and Luka Modric all spurning excellent chances, especially in the early stages of the second half.
However, the result gives Blackpool fresh impetus in their quest to maintain their Premier League status with games at home to Bolton next Saturday and away to Manchester United on the final day of the campaign remaining.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp made two changes to the team that controversially lost to Chelsea, with Danny Rose making his first appearance in a Tottenham shirt in over a year at left-back, while Defoe replaced Aaron Lennon, who was dropped to the bench.
A lively first half saw both sides create good chances, but neither could produce a deft finish in front of goal as opportunities were squandered.
A thumping left-footed volley by Adam was brilliantly saved by Gomes in the 24th minute, while a Van der Vaart pass dissected Blackpool's back four and found Defoe, but the striker's run was a fraction too early as he was rightly adjudged offside before rifling the ball into the back of the net.
The hosts dominated the opening exchanges of the second half as the introduction of Lennon, on for the redundant Roman Pavlyuchenko, allowed Redknapp's men to play the kind of expansive game which enthralled fans at the start of the season.
England winger Lennon's pace opened up Blackpool's defence, but numerous opportunities could not be converted as the crowd's impatience began to show.
Gomes made yet another excellent save, this time to deny DJ Campbell from eight yards after good work from David Vaughan sent the striker through.
Bale's withdrawal increased the home faithful's worries - further exacerbated when Dawson was adjudged to have handled an Adam corner in the 75th minute.
But the Scotland midfielder's low strike was brilliantly saved by Gomes, diving to his left - only for the Brazilian keeper to concede a thoroughly needless penalty less than 60 seconds later when he chased a bobbling ball through a throng of players inside his own box.
Referee Lee Probert deemed that Gomes had obstructed Taylor-Fletcher and Adam stepped up and hammered his second penalty into the top-left corner.
But Defoe grabbed a late equaliser for Spurs when he collected the ball 30 yards out before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the bottom right corner for only his fourth goal of the Premier League campaign.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Tottenham 0 - 1 Real Madrid (agg 0 - 5)
Tottenham's hopes of performing a Champions League miracle came to an inevitable conclusion as Real Madrid rounded off an emphatic quarter-final triumph with victory at White Hart Lane.Spurs boss Harry Redknapp made predictably defiant noises about the possibility of overturning Real's 4-0 lead from the first meeting at the Bernabeu - but in reality this was never a serious option against Jose Mourinho's side.
And so it proved as Real were helped on their way towards an 'El Clasico' confrontation with La Liga rivals Barcelona in the last four by a nightmare moment from Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes.Spurs had failed to make any inroads into Real's lead when Gomes fumbled a routine effort from Cristiano Ronaldo into the net five minutes after the break to complete the formalities and take Mourinho a step closer to a Champions League final with a third club.Redknapp's players did everything in their power to clear the huge obstacle in front of them and were unfortunate not to be awarded an early penalty when Luka Modric looked to be brought down by Xabi Alonso.
It was a rare moment of discomfort for Real as Spurs' Champions League campaign fizzled out in low-key fashion in front of their own supporters, who showed their appreciation for the efforts of their players in Europe with warm applause, even in disappointment, at the final whistle.
Spurs must now turn their attentions towards overhauling Manchester City in the race for a top-four place to ensure they return to this stage next season - but they can take great credit from the manner in which they have acquitted themselves in Europe's elite competition.
The night Inter Milan were soundly beaten at White Hart Lane and the victory against AC Milan in the San Siro will live long in the memory. They were undone, however, by Real's superior quality as well as the self-destruct button Peter Crouch pressed so spectacularly with his early red card in Madrid.
Spurs knew only an early goal would provide them with the faintest hope of somehow turning around Real's advantage from the first leg, but Mourinho's men were resolute and their only moments of serious anxiety came from three penalty claims.
Gareth Bale went down far too easily with Alonso in close attendance and Italian referee Nicola Rizzi was right to ignore the appeals.
A second incident involving the former Liverpool midfield man, this time as he challenged Modric, was a much closer call and Real were fortunate to get the benefit of the official's doubt.
The frustration continued as Roman Pavlyuchenko was involved in another collision in the box with Real defender Raul Albiol but once again there was no response from Rizzi.
Pavlyuchenko had Spurs' best opportunity of the first half when Aaron Lennon found himself unmarked 12 yards out, only for the Russian to sky his attempt well over the top. He also tested Iker Casillas with a long-range effort that was held comfortably by the Real keeper.
The Spanish side's responses were fleeting but their main business was closing out the tie with no alarms.
They did suffer one setback, however, when Ricardo Carvalho was booked for a foul on Tom Huddlestone that means the influential former Chelsea defender misses the first leg of the semi-final against Barcelona.
Spurs were threatened when Sergio Ramos met Mesut Ozil's corner, only to see his header turned away by Gomes.
The brutal truth was that the game was up after those 90 harrowing minutes in Madrid but any lingering hope Spurs had of provoking an unlikely collapse from Real was snuffed out in one dreadful moment for Gomes.
Ronaldo's effort from 25 yards travelled more in hope than expectation but the Brazilian fumbled hopelessly and even botched his attempt to recover the situation as the ball crept over the line.
It was then all about limiting the damage and clawing back a measure of respectability for Spurs and Pavlyuchenko had a chance to at least draw them level on the night but he headed Lennon's cross over the top when unmarked.
Lennon was then withdrawn by Spurs and replaced by Jermain Defoe, who wasted no time in testing Casillas with a low 20-yard effort that he turned away.
Spurs, to their credit, continued to battle and almost scored when Casillas misjudged Rafael van der Vaart's corner and Defoe almost smuggled home the loose ball.
Tottenham left themselves with an insurmountable task after the first leg and now must focus their attention fully on the Premier League.
And so it proved as Real were helped on their way towards an 'El Clasico' confrontation with La Liga rivals Barcelona in the last four by a nightmare moment from Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes.Spurs had failed to make any inroads into Real's lead when Gomes fumbled a routine effort from Cristiano Ronaldo into the net five minutes after the break to complete the formalities and take Mourinho a step closer to a Champions League final with a third club.Redknapp's players did everything in their power to clear the huge obstacle in front of them and were unfortunate not to be awarded an early penalty when Luka Modric looked to be brought down by Xabi Alonso.
It was a rare moment of discomfort for Real as Spurs' Champions League campaign fizzled out in low-key fashion in front of their own supporters, who showed their appreciation for the efforts of their players in Europe with warm applause, even in disappointment, at the final whistle.
Spurs must now turn their attentions towards overhauling Manchester City in the race for a top-four place to ensure they return to this stage next season - but they can take great credit from the manner in which they have acquitted themselves in Europe's elite competition.
The night Inter Milan were soundly beaten at White Hart Lane and the victory against AC Milan in the San Siro will live long in the memory. They were undone, however, by Real's superior quality as well as the self-destruct button Peter Crouch pressed so spectacularly with his early red card in Madrid.
Spurs knew only an early goal would provide them with the faintest hope of somehow turning around Real's advantage from the first leg, but Mourinho's men were resolute and their only moments of serious anxiety came from three penalty claims.
Gareth Bale went down far too easily with Alonso in close attendance and Italian referee Nicola Rizzi was right to ignore the appeals.
A second incident involving the former Liverpool midfield man, this time as he challenged Modric, was a much closer call and Real were fortunate to get the benefit of the official's doubt.
The frustration continued as Roman Pavlyuchenko was involved in another collision in the box with Real defender Raul Albiol but once again there was no response from Rizzi.
Pavlyuchenko had Spurs' best opportunity of the first half when Aaron Lennon found himself unmarked 12 yards out, only for the Russian to sky his attempt well over the top. He also tested Iker Casillas with a long-range effort that was held comfortably by the Real keeper.
The Spanish side's responses were fleeting but their main business was closing out the tie with no alarms.
They did suffer one setback, however, when Ricardo Carvalho was booked for a foul on Tom Huddlestone that means the influential former Chelsea defender misses the first leg of the semi-final against Barcelona.
Spurs were threatened when Sergio Ramos met Mesut Ozil's corner, only to see his header turned away by Gomes.
The brutal truth was that the game was up after those 90 harrowing minutes in Madrid but any lingering hope Spurs had of provoking an unlikely collapse from Real was snuffed out in one dreadful moment for Gomes.
Ronaldo's effort from 25 yards travelled more in hope than expectation but the Brazilian fumbled hopelessly and even botched his attempt to recover the situation as the ball crept over the line.
It was then all about limiting the damage and clawing back a measure of respectability for Spurs and Pavlyuchenko had a chance to at least draw them level on the night but he headed Lennon's cross over the top when unmarked.
Lennon was then withdrawn by Spurs and replaced by Jermain Defoe, who wasted no time in testing Casillas with a low 20-yard effort that he turned away.
Spurs, to their credit, continued to battle and almost scored when Casillas misjudged Rafael van der Vaart's corner and Defoe almost smuggled home the loose ball.
Tottenham left themselves with an insurmountable task after the first leg and now must focus their attention fully on the Premier League.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)

