Marches On

Tottenham Hotspurs vs Spartak Moscow (3:40 AM Msia Time)

Tottenham Hotspurs drew 2-2 with Russian side, Spartak Moscow last night and ensured qualification for the next round of the UEFA cup. Spurs needed to get at least a point or not concede 2 goals or more while Dutch side NEC Nijmegen needed 2 goals or more so Spurs had to count on their defense to hold on for a full 90 minutes. Spurs was plagued by injuries and cup ties and had to use young and inexperienced players last night. The lost Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka after the both them got cup tied while Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King, Darren Bent and Giovanni Dos Santos was out injured.

The game started out good for the Whites as they had several opportunities but Spartak Moscow managed to weather the storm. On the 23nd minute, there was a mix-up in the Spurs defense between goal keeper Heurelho Gomes and defender Gilberto which sees Spartak striker Artem Dzvuba (First Photo) pounce and grabbed the opener.

On the 33rd minute, Spurs was then caught again after another defensive error which led to Dzvuba and Spartak's second of the night. Spurs were 2 goals down at the break and everything looked bleak for the home side. Gilberto was taken off straight after the 2nd half and was replaced by Aaron Lennon. The second half started well again for the home side. Spurs saw chances fly pass again and again but it was on the 67th minute where Lennon had a moment of magic. He ran down the left side of the Spartak defense, took on the defenders and managed to pull a cross across the goal which eventually see Luka Modric (2nd Photo) slotting the ball pass the keeper.


Spurs did not make anymore substitutes as they needed one more goal and no one in the bench looked goo enough to make that happen so Spurs manager Harry Redknapp kept the team going. The comeback was complete on the 74th minute when Tom Huddlestone headed the ball goalwards from a Gareth Bale cross. This meant if Spurs do hold on for the final whistle, Spurs would qualify for the next stage, which they eventually did. The match ended 2-2 which sees Spurs through and Spartak Moscow, despite of their valiant effort, still could not sneak through the next round. NEC Nijmegen did beat Udinese 2-0 which also sees them qualify but lay 3rd in the Group stage while Spurs finished 2nd.

Huddlestone wheels off to celebrate his goal

Spurs Line-Up
Gomes, Gunter, Gilberto(Lennon), Dawson, Zokora, Bale, Bentley, Huddlestone, O'Hara, Modric, Campbell

Writer's (Cyen) view
Awesome, absolutely Awesome..I woke up 3:30 in the morning hoping for a good game and that is what i got. Of course the start was horrible. We conceded 2 weak goals and never looked strong in the offensive at all but in the 2nd half when Modric pulled one back there was hope! I was so happy when the ball went into the goal. I was on the edge of my seat for the next 30 minutes and eventually we found the equalizer and it felt GOOOOD. Haha! What a night! The game ended at around 5:45 so i went back to sleep but in my mind, it still went on.."Come on you Spurs! Come on you Spurs!" Great game!

cyen/tristan