Tottenham Hotspurs on Saturday recorded a legendary win over their city rivals Chelsea to lift their first major trophy in more than eight years. The 2-1 victory at the new Wembley meant that boss Juande Ramos further added to his remarkable record of cup titles; collecting his fifth silver-ware in a row, after an impressive spell with Spanish side Sevilla.
It was the north Londoners who began the game with more intent when Irish striker Robbie Keane broke free with less than a minute on the clock to force a defensive intervention from Chelsea captain John Terry. They should have gone in front a few moments later when, first, Pascal Chimbonda’s header rattled the wrong side of the crossbar before, within sixty seconds, lethal forward Dimitir Berbatov headed wide after a perfect Keane cross.
The Blues only needed one or two half-chances to revitalize their performance. And it wasn’t too long before they broke Tottenham hearts when Didier Drogba dusted himself from a challenge by namesake Didier Zakora before finding the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. Former England first-choice goalkeeper Paul Robinson was left stranded, although, perhaps, he could have been better positioned.
The 39th minute Drogba strike did not deter a determined Spurs. Almost immediately from the re-start, Robbie Keane shot straight at Chelsea’s Czech goalkeeper Peter Cech before Berbatov uncharacteristically slipped at the final minute, failing to connect to yet another Keane teaser.
Chelsea’s eyes were glistening with the lustrous League Cup, which they so rudely snatched from their other city rivals Arsenal a year ago. It was only until deep in the second phase when an equalizer was sought by Spurs. One of Aaron Lennon’s increasingly desperate antics ended up in a Tottenham penalty after Wayne Bridge merely handled in the box. And monumental Berbatov made no mistake in slotting home his first ever League Cup goal with twenty minutes left to go.
An era thus began; one of unrelenting pressure from Spurs, led by Zakora in the middle, Lennon down wide and the brilliant Keane-Berbatov combination upfront. This led to the frequent stinging of Cech’s hands before the referee’s intervention with the final whistle.
And it looked like the constant bombardment of the Chelsea keeper did pay off after all, when, with just a few minutes played in extra-time, Cech punched a Jermaine Jenas free-kick straight into the destructive forehead of Jonathan Woodgate, who gave Spurs their deserving lead.
Woodgate, partnerd by fellow English-man Ledley King, then went on to defend resiliently against any Chelsea attack, making sure that the trophy goes to north London.
The defeat shatters Chelsea’s hopes of an illustrious quadruple; but still leaves them in contention of the other big three. The Tottenham board will be feeling very elated as thing seem to have shaken up at White Hart Lane after their appointment of the Spanish master tactician.
It was the north Londoners who began the game with more intent when Irish striker Robbie Keane broke free with less than a minute on the clock to force a defensive intervention from Chelsea captain John Terry. They should have gone in front a few moments later when, first, Pascal Chimbonda’s header rattled the wrong side of the crossbar before, within sixty seconds, lethal forward Dimitir Berbatov headed wide after a perfect Keane cross.
The Blues only needed one or two half-chances to revitalize their performance. And it wasn’t too long before they broke Tottenham hearts when Didier Drogba dusted himself from a challenge by namesake Didier Zakora before finding the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. Former England first-choice goalkeeper Paul Robinson was left stranded, although, perhaps, he could have been better positioned.
The 39th minute Drogba strike did not deter a determined Spurs. Almost immediately from the re-start, Robbie Keane shot straight at Chelsea’s Czech goalkeeper Peter Cech before Berbatov uncharacteristically slipped at the final minute, failing to connect to yet another Keane teaser.
Chelsea’s eyes were glistening with the lustrous League Cup, which they so rudely snatched from their other city rivals Arsenal a year ago. It was only until deep in the second phase when an equalizer was sought by Spurs. One of Aaron Lennon’s increasingly desperate antics ended up in a Tottenham penalty after Wayne Bridge merely handled in the box. And monumental Berbatov made no mistake in slotting home his first ever League Cup goal with twenty minutes left to go.
An era thus began; one of unrelenting pressure from Spurs, led by Zakora in the middle, Lennon down wide and the brilliant Keane-Berbatov combination upfront. This led to the frequent stinging of Cech’s hands before the referee’s intervention with the final whistle.
And it looked like the constant bombardment of the Chelsea keeper did pay off after all, when, with just a few minutes played in extra-time, Cech punched a Jermaine Jenas free-kick straight into the destructive forehead of Jonathan Woodgate, who gave Spurs their deserving lead.
Woodgate, partnerd by fellow English-man Ledley King, then went on to defend resiliently against any Chelsea attack, making sure that the trophy goes to north London.
The defeat shatters Chelsea’s hopes of an illustrious quadruple; but still leaves them in contention of the other big three. The Tottenham board will be feeling very elated as thing seem to have shaken up at White Hart Lane after their appointment of the Spanish master tactician.
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