Tottenham through despite Uefa Cup draw
Martin Jol will be happy with Tottenham's progression
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Thursday, 04, Oct 2007 09:47
A late goal from Robbie Keane saw Tottenham draw 1-1 with Anorthosis Famagusta in the Uefa Cup this evening and seal an easy 7-2 aggregate win over their opponents from Cyprus.
Having won 6-1 in the first-leg at White Hart Lane, Tottenham boss Martin Jol decided to rest some of his key players and started with Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent up-front, as well as handing a debut to midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Defoe, who was only making his second start of the season, failed convince Jol that he deserved a first team place as the England man wasted several good chances.
His first chance came from a Darren Bent cross into the box, but Defoe could only fire wide when he should have hit the target. Defoe created a chance for himself after 20 minutes when he found space outside the penalty area but again failed to test the keeper with his shot.
Tottenham were a constant attacking threat in the first half, but their best chances fell to the misfiring Defoe. The striker got on the end of a Steed Malbranque chip but he fired his shot straight into the arms of the Famagusta keeper. Defoe had another chance just before half-time but this time his effort came back of the post.
The home side made Tottenham pay for all their missed chances and took a surprise lead in the 54th minute. Nikolaos Frousos seem to control a high ball with his hand, but the referee didn’t spot it and he setup Fabinho who volleyed the ball past Paul Robinson.
Famagusta's goal seem to make it harder for Tottenham to breakdown the home side's defence and it was only after the introduction of substitutes Keane and Gareth Bale that Tottenham managed to grab the equaliser.
Welshman Bale crossed from the left wing and Bent's dummy allowed Keane to side foot the ball into the top corner.