Spurs break goal duck with win over Pompey
Defoe's goal is a welcome boost ahead of England's Euro 2008 qualifiers
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Sunday, 01, Oct 2006 06:06
Tottenham have broken their goal duck after a 2-1 win over Portsmouth at White Hart Lane.
Spurs, who had gone 433 minutes without scoring, took the lead after 39 seconds through Danny Murphy followed by a controversial Jermain Defoe penalty.
Portsmouth got back in the game through Nwankwo Kanu just before half time but it was not enough to prevent Harry Redknapp from suffering his second straight defeat.
In their first attack, Martin Jol's side took advantage of a fumble by David James from striker Dmitar Berbatov's header with Murphy poking home the rebound for his first goal in a Spurs shirt.
Murphy, clearly enjoying a rare starting opportunity, nearly grabbed his second on 17 minutes with a trademark free-kick which was well saved by James.
But Spurs were awarded a debatable penalty on 37 minutes when Didier Zokora tumbled in the box from ex-Tottenham player Pedro Mendes' challenge.
Television replays showed there was no contact with Mendes but Defoe expertly drilled home the spot-kick past James into the corner.
Redknapp's side responded quickly with Kanu heading in his fifth goal of the season from Gary O'Neill's pinpoint cross.
Spurs were forced into a change in the second half when Pascal Chimbonda hobbled off and was replaced by the highly-rated Tom Huddlestone.
Portsmouth made a double change in their bid for a equaliser with Matthew Taylor and Benjani Mwaruwari coming on for Sean Davis and Dejan Stefanovic.
Taylor denied Berbatov a goal by a last-gasp challenge when the Bulgarian forward was put through by Zokora.
Paul Robinson produced a dazzling save in the closing stages to deny Pompey an equaliser when he tipped away Lomana Lua Lua's header.
At the full time whistle, Jol shook hands and hugged Sol Campbell who had received a torrent of abuse from the home supporters.