Redknapp rests stars as Spurs go out
Giovani Dos Santos on the scoresheet this evening
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Thursday, 26, Feb 2009 10:26
A second-string Tottenham side have been knocked out of the Uefa Cup after suffering a 3-1 aggregate defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Spurs had a mountain to climb after they fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Shakhtar last week and with the Carling Cup final coming up, manager Harry Redknapp decided to rest a number of his first-team regulars.
Players like Giovani Dos Santos, Gilberto and Frazier Campbell, who have been frozen out by Redknapp, were given a chance to impress. Mexican youngster Dos Santos gave Spurs hope with a second-half goal, but Shakhtar won the tie with a late Fernandinho strike.
Of all the changes Redknapp made, it was 18-year-old Enfield-born striker Jon Obika who caught the eye. It was his long-range strike, which went just wide, that caused the Tottenham players to lift their game and the fans to lift their voices.
Spurs had a huge penalty shout turned down after Cambpell was hacked down in the penalty area through a waist high tackle from Fernandinho.
Tom Huddlestone controlled the game for Spurs in midfield and it was his raking 70-yard pass which found Gareth Bale in space, but the winger could only hit his shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Spurs finally got their reward after 54 minutes as Dos Santos scored a superb goal. The former Barcelona star showed a glimpse of his huge potential as he thumped in a half-volley from 18 yards out.
The home fans urged their reserve players forward, but they were silenced after Fernandinho cut in from the right wing and fired a low shot past Heurelho Gomes.