Spurs frustrated by Bluebirds
Jermain Defoe wasted a golden opportunity
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Sunday, 07, Jan 2007 06:21
Tottenham were held to a 0-0 draw by Championship side Cardiff in the FA Cup at Ninian Park.
Michael Chopra had the best chance for the hosts in the first half while Jermain Defoe wasted a glorious opportunity when put through on goal after the break.
The result was the 11th game that will go to a replay from the 28 third round ties played this weekend.
Spurs boss Martin Jol rested Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon while goalkeeper Paul Robinson was made captain in the absence of Ledley King.
Bluebirds manager Dave Jones welcomed Kevin McNaughton and Stephen McPhail back into the side while former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell was on the bench.
Chopra came agonisingly close to grabbing his 13th goal of the season on 14 minutes after stabbing his shot wide after a poor headed back-pass by Young-Pyo Lee.
Eight minutes later, goalkeeper Neil Alexander kept out Dimitar Berbatov's low shot after the striker found himself in space.
Stephen Thompson came close to giving Cardiff a shock lead on 23 minutes after his header was turned round the post by Robinson.
The second half saw both sides waste glorious chances to open the scoring.
First, Defoe fired his shot wide from the edge of the box on 48 minutes when sent clear.
Then, Joe Ledley volleyed over from eight yards from Chopra's cross on 54 minutes.
Ricardo Scimeca blasted his shot over the bar from the right-side of the area from Thompson's pass on the hour mark.
Jol brought off Danny Murphy for Aaron Lennon on 66 minutes in search of a late winner.
Eighteen minutes from time, Spurs nearly grabbed the lead in spectacular fashion when Steed Malbranque's overhead kick flew wide from Pascal Chimbonda's pinpoint cross.
Keane was brought on for Defoe for the final ten minutes but the game petered out into a draw.
McPhail had the final chance of the game but blasted his shot straight into the huddle of Spurs defenders on 88 minutes.
The replay will be played at White Hart Lane on either the 16th or 17th of January.