Post by kzmoks on Apr 19, 2009 22:07:08 GMT 7
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur were largely comfortable as Darren Bent's first half goal decided a decent game at White Hart Lane. Newcastle put in a spirited performance but left London without any points for their troubles.
Spurs looked confident in the early stages, moving the ball about freely and trying to exploit the flanks of Newcastle's 3-5-2 formation. Luka Modric attacked well down the left and won his side a free-kick, the Croat got up to swing the ball into the box but it was easily cleared by Sebastien Bassong.
Newcastle were sharp on the break with Jonas Gutierrez roaming freely from a role in central midfield. The Argentinian showed good skill on the left wing to win his side a free-kick but the opportunity was also wasted.
Gutierrez was involved again as Michael Owen brought the ball down from a poor defensive header. The Englishman played in the marauding South American but he was crowded out of it by Michael Dawson, making his 200th career appearance, who blocked his shot.
The Lilywhites had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring in the 10th minute. Tom Huddlestone played a wonderful sliding ball through to Robbie Keane, who entered the box from the right. The Irishman attacked the byline and cut the ball back towards Darren Bent at the far post, but Stephen Taylor was there to clear the danger to deny Bent a tap in.
Ryan Taylor swung in a free-kick from the left that was flicked on by Huddlestone and went out for a corner. The resultant set piece was wasted by Duff but thrown back in by Gutierrez, it fell to Kevin Nolan in the left of the box who struck at goal, it was saved by Heurelho Gomez.
Gomez was sharp and immediately released Benoit Assou-Ekotto on the left who passed infield to Modric. The Croat spotted Keane making a run and attempted a difficult pass forward that was cut out by Bassong.
The ball sprang towards Bent on the left of the box and his shot was saved at close range by Stephen Harper, the rebound fell kindly to Bent who slotted home from an acute angle on the left, 1-0 to Tottenham with 23 minutes played.
Tottenham nearly extended their lead in the 36th minute, Keane, in the left hand side of the box, cut the ball back to Modric in the centre. The Croat struck a low shot that deflected off two Newcastle boots and luckily ended up in the hands of Harper.
Huddlestone, enjoying an excellent game, let fly with one of several long range efforts in the 40th minute. It was a powerful strike and was tipped over by Harper in the Newcastle goal.
Towards the end of the half Bent had a good chance to put the game beyond Newcastle. The ball was crossed in from the right and the English forward headed goal wards from near the back post, it was slightly misdirected and went wide of the left hand post.
The second half started with another chance for Tottenham, substitute Alan Hutton was released on the right by Aaron Lennon, the Scottish fullback drilled the ball across the box from the byline and it was well cleared by Habib Beye.
Spurs were in control of the game, dominating possession, but were struggling to penetrate the Newcastle defence decisively. The away side had chances from set pieces but the delivery was generally poor and most were wasted.
With half an hour remaining Newcastle manager Alan Shearer threw on Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka hoping they would change their fortunes. They had an immediate impact, Martin attacked from the right flank playing a one-two with Viduka and released a powerful strike that went over the crossbar. The ball was caught under the Nigerian's feet a little.
Newcastle won a corner and as it was swung in Gomez came to collect and was left stranded, the ball was headed down and a Spurs defender kicked the ball up of the arm of Martins at point blank range. Martins was on to the loose ball with his back to goal, and hitting the ball on the turn, rifled the ball into the net via the inside of the right hand post. The referee blew for the hand ball offence, still 1-0 to Tottenham.
At the other end Lennon cut in from the right and headed towards goal. The England international unleashed a left footed strike that curled inches wide of the keeper's right hand post
Martins was making a big impact on the game, the striker turned cutely 30 yards from goal, spinning his defender. As he went to unleash his shot Jonathan Woodgate blocked bravely and the ball looped upwards, Martins was alive and chased down the ball as it came down, challenging Vedran Corluka and winning the header. As the ball fell Martins struck an instinctive half volley that Gomez did well to save.
Tottenham sprang on the counter attack and the ball came to Lennon on the right, attacking the edge of the box he was scythed down by Ryan Taylor and won his side a free-kick, it was struck by Assou-Ekotto and deflected off the wall for a corner. Woodgate powered an unchallenged header straight at the keeper who palmed away awkwardly.
In the 84th minute Huddlestone unleashed a peach of a strike from distance, the technically beautiful effort zipped beyond Harper's right hand post.
Ryan Taylor played the ball over the top from the right and Martins stole in behind the defence, controlling the ball on his chest the Nigerian smashed a first time strike over the crossbar under pressure from the defence.
Tottenham held out for a victory that keeps them in touch with West Ham in the chase for the Europa League. Newcastle remain in 19th position and 4 points from safety.
Tottenham Hotspur were largely comfortable as Darren Bent's first half goal decided a decent game at White Hart Lane. Newcastle put in a spirited performance but left London without any points for their troubles.
Spurs looked confident in the early stages, moving the ball about freely and trying to exploit the flanks of Newcastle's 3-5-2 formation. Luka Modric attacked well down the left and won his side a free-kick, the Croat got up to swing the ball into the box but it was easily cleared by Sebastien Bassong.
Newcastle were sharp on the break with Jonas Gutierrez roaming freely from a role in central midfield. The Argentinian showed good skill on the left wing to win his side a free-kick but the opportunity was also wasted.
Gutierrez was involved again as Michael Owen brought the ball down from a poor defensive header. The Englishman played in the marauding South American but he was crowded out of it by Michael Dawson, making his 200th career appearance, who blocked his shot.
The Lilywhites had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring in the 10th minute. Tom Huddlestone played a wonderful sliding ball through to Robbie Keane, who entered the box from the right. The Irishman attacked the byline and cut the ball back towards Darren Bent at the far post, but Stephen Taylor was there to clear the danger to deny Bent a tap in.
Ryan Taylor swung in a free-kick from the left that was flicked on by Huddlestone and went out for a corner. The resultant set piece was wasted by Duff but thrown back in by Gutierrez, it fell to Kevin Nolan in the left of the box who struck at goal, it was saved by Heurelho Gomez.
Gomez was sharp and immediately released Benoit Assou-Ekotto on the left who passed infield to Modric. The Croat spotted Keane making a run and attempted a difficult pass forward that was cut out by Bassong.
The ball sprang towards Bent on the left of the box and his shot was saved at close range by Stephen Harper, the rebound fell kindly to Bent who slotted home from an acute angle on the left, 1-0 to Tottenham with 23 minutes played.
Tottenham nearly extended their lead in the 36th minute, Keane, in the left hand side of the box, cut the ball back to Modric in the centre. The Croat struck a low shot that deflected off two Newcastle boots and luckily ended up in the hands of Harper.
Huddlestone, enjoying an excellent game, let fly with one of several long range efforts in the 40th minute. It was a powerful strike and was tipped over by Harper in the Newcastle goal.
Towards the end of the half Bent had a good chance to put the game beyond Newcastle. The ball was crossed in from the right and the English forward headed goal wards from near the back post, it was slightly misdirected and went wide of the left hand post.
The second half started with another chance for Tottenham, substitute Alan Hutton was released on the right by Aaron Lennon, the Scottish fullback drilled the ball across the box from the byline and it was well cleared by Habib Beye.
Spurs were in control of the game, dominating possession, but were struggling to penetrate the Newcastle defence decisively. The away side had chances from set pieces but the delivery was generally poor and most were wasted.
With half an hour remaining Newcastle manager Alan Shearer threw on Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka hoping they would change their fortunes. They had an immediate impact, Martin attacked from the right flank playing a one-two with Viduka and released a powerful strike that went over the crossbar. The ball was caught under the Nigerian's feet a little.
Newcastle won a corner and as it was swung in Gomez came to collect and was left stranded, the ball was headed down and a Spurs defender kicked the ball up of the arm of Martins at point blank range. Martins was on to the loose ball with his back to goal, and hitting the ball on the turn, rifled the ball into the net via the inside of the right hand post. The referee blew for the hand ball offence, still 1-0 to Tottenham.
At the other end Lennon cut in from the right and headed towards goal. The England international unleashed a left footed strike that curled inches wide of the keeper's right hand post
Martins was making a big impact on the game, the striker turned cutely 30 yards from goal, spinning his defender. As he went to unleash his shot Jonathan Woodgate blocked bravely and the ball looped upwards, Martins was alive and chased down the ball as it came down, challenging Vedran Corluka and winning the header. As the ball fell Martins struck an instinctive half volley that Gomez did well to save.
Tottenham sprang on the counter attack and the ball came to Lennon on the right, attacking the edge of the box he was scythed down by Ryan Taylor and won his side a free-kick, it was struck by Assou-Ekotto and deflected off the wall for a corner. Woodgate powered an unchallenged header straight at the keeper who palmed away awkwardly.
In the 84th minute Huddlestone unleashed a peach of a strike from distance, the technically beautiful effort zipped beyond Harper's right hand post.
Ryan Taylor played the ball over the top from the right and Martins stole in behind the defence, controlling the ball on his chest the Nigerian smashed a first time strike over the crossbar under pressure from the defence.
Tottenham held out for a victory that keeps them in touch with West Ham in the chase for the Europa League. Newcastle remain in 19th position and 4 points from safety.
