Spurs through to Carling semis
Jermain Defoe opened the scoring for Spurs
Tuesday, 18, Dec 2007 10:16
Tottenham became the second team to book their place in the Carling Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win away to Manchester City.
Sven Goran Eriksson's side came into the tie in the middle of a formidable run of ten consecutive home wins, but Spurs brushed aside the formbook despite playing most of the match with ten men.
Jermain Defoe strengthened his case for a regular starting spot in Juande Ramos' frontline with an expertly-taken opener after just five minutes.
A scorching run from Aaron Lennon left Javier Garrido trailing and Defoe met the winger's low cross with an assured side-foot finish.
However it seemed the visitors' bright start may have been ruined when Didier Zokora was given his marching orders with 20 minutes gone.
The Ivory Coast midfielder's sliding tackle on Elkano seemed untidy rather than malicious but Steve Bennett had no hesitation in producing a straight red card.
Immediately after the dismissal Tottenham would have pulled further clear but for a superb last-ditch block from Vedran Corluka which took a shot from Dimitar Berbatov over the bar.
But City began to make their numerical advantage tell as the half came to a close with Elano and Michael Johnson both narrowly off target.
Paul Robinson's goal came under further pressure after the interval with Darius Vassell forcing a save out of the England stopper and claims for a penalty waved away after Pascal Chimbonda tangled with Richard Dunne.
The visitors resisted well however and killed the game off with eight minutes left as a slick counter-attack was finished by Steed Malbranque.