Tottenham Hotspur Nearer UEFA Cup
Draw with Blackburn Rovers keeps Spurs European Qualification Alive
Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers drew 1-1 giving Spurs hope for qualification for the UEFA Cup next season. Blackburn's hopes ended with Jermain Defoe's equaliser.
A draw was a result that neither Tottenham Hotspur nor Blackburn Rovers wanted. It means that Spurs need at least a point on Sunday against Manchester City at White Hart Lane to be assured of qualification for next season’s UEFA Cup competition. For Blackburn their slight chance of automatic entry into the competition has been extinguished, they now face an early return to football with the Inter-Toto competition as their route to Europe for next season.
In a very open and competitive game Blackburn had the better of the first half and deservedly went in at half-time with a one goal lead. However, after half-time Spurs showed much more urgency and dominated possession, pushing Blackburn back into defence and in the end Spurs could have taken all three points.
After an opening half an hour in which neither goalkeeper was troubled, Blackburn took the lead when a Pedersen cross was headed in by Benni McCarthy. Blackburn continued to dominate in the first half but into the second half Spurs increased the pressure although Blackburn hit the bar from a Christopher Samba header following a free kick. However, from this point with the introduction of Robbie Keane who had started on the bench, Spurs had greater fluency and urgency.
As Spurs pushed forward, a Keane pass to Dimitar Berbatov gave the Bulgarian striker enough space to get past the defender and shoot across goal. Brad Friedel parried the shot but Jermain Defoe reacted quickest to score and put Spurs level.
Spurs were now in the ascendancy and looked the more likely to get the goal that would assure them of UEFA Cup football and in injury time it looked as if they had got it. A lovely pass from Pascal Chimbonda to Robbie Keane in the penalty area, Keane’s shot beat Friedel but hit the post and the ball rebounded into the goalkeeper’s grateful arms.
The final drama was referee Rob Styles sending off Blackburn’s Jason Roberts for two yellow cards in quick succession. The first as he brought down Didier Zokora who was going through on goal and then followed immediately by the second for dissent.
A point keeps Spurs in sixth place in the Premiership, level on points with Everton who have a vastly superior goal difference. Bolton are two points behind whille Reading are three behind but with a better goal difference.
Sunday’s Final Fixtures:
Spurs need one point to be certain of European qualification. Bolton Wanderers are at home to Aston Villa while Reading visit Blackburn. Everton visit Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea. Portsmouth still have a chance of qualification, as long as they beat Arsenal at Fratton Park and neither Bolton nor Reading win.
There will be a few tense moments on Sunday as the European story unfolds.
