Robbie Keane has last word for Spurs in classic
By Henry Winter
Sport.Telegraph, 20th March 2008
Avram Grant continues to fluff his lines on the big stage. The Chelsea
coach's negative substitution of an attacker, Salomon Kalou, for a
centre-half, Alex, invited Spurs on, setting up a thrilling climax in
which Robbie Keane struck a marvellous equaliser which will have been
celebrated as wildly by followers of Arsenal and Manchester United as
by the Tottenham faithful.
As well as showing the weakness in the dugout, Chelsea also showed their
studs, and Ashley Cole should have been banished for a horrific lunge at
Alan Hutton deemed worthy of only a yellow card by Mike Riley. Spurs
were livid. The Riley report could be interesting. The Hutton report
would be more damning.
The first half had contained enough drama for a whole game, conjuring
up three goals in a frantic first 20 minutes and concluding with
Ashley Cole's horrific lunge. It was breathless stuff, with no quarter
asked or granted, particularly not from a visiting corps clearly in
merciless mood.
Drogba had shown Chelsea's ruthless intent early on, although his
headed goal was cloaked in controversy. Essien, allowed to roam through
Claude Makelele's assiduous anchoring, charged upfield, eventually
losing possession as Pascal Chimbonda slid in. Riley bizarrely deemed
the challenge illegal.
Almost 30 yards out, the free-kick appeared perfectly placed for a
Frank Lampard special but Drogba claimed responsibility, taking two
steps and bending the ball into the leaping bodies in the wall. It
cannoned clear, Drogba screaming for a handling offence before realising
Chelsea still had the initiative.
The ball was in the domain of John Terry, who rolled back the years
to when he was a more creative player on the park pitches of east
London. The Chelsea captain elegantly lifted the ball across from
the left towards the far post. Drogba had read Terry's intentions,
darting in ahead of the slow-reacting Jermaine Jenas to nod Chelsea
in front.
Jenas swiftly made amends. When Claude Makelele was penalised for
climbing over Aaron Lennon, probably the one person in the Premier
League the Frenchman could tower over, Jenas took charge of the
free-kick on the right. The England international's delivery was
magnificent, the ball hoisted to the far post.
As Terry clutched a handful of Dimitar Berbatov's shirt to prevent
the Bulgarian reaching the ball, Jenas' free-kick continued to
Jonathan Woodgate. One of the most uplifting sights for Spurs fans
this year has been Woodgate rising high, having eluded his marker -
in this case Drogba - to headed powerfully in.
Tottenham were triumphant, their fans taunting Chelsea relentlessly
over the Carling Cup final outcome. Chelsea responded with ditties
about Spurs' bruising encounter with the Old Bill in Seville last year.
Largely unimpressive since that Wembley success, Spurs now played
with greater conviction. The determination flooding through Juande
Ramos' men was evident, painfully so for Essien as Didier Zokora
hit him with a meaty man-and-ball challenge.
Essien is made of strong stuff, though, and shortly after climbing
to his feet he swept Chelsea ahead. Joe Cole made the telling break,
dribbling through the middle. With Essien and Drogba lurking on the
edge of the area, Cole released the ball, which rebounded from Drogba
to Essien. His response was magnificent, the ball lifted unerringly
over Robinson for his first of the season.
The goal simply reflected Chelsea's superiority, particularly in a
midfield dominated by Essien, Makelele and Frank Lampard. Spurs
strove to find an equaliser and when Jenas wriggled in from the
left, Drogba threw himself in to try to block. Inevitably, Drogba
stayed down, nursing another seemingly terminal injury, stirring
unrest among the home fans. A plastic bottle was thrown on to the
pitch as Drogba miraculously recovered.
A good game then turned nasty, Derby-day fireworks erupting.
Chimbonda fouled Joe Cole, who gave the linesman some choice London
invective for ignoring the offence. Cole was booked, Lampard should
have followed him for catching Jenas, and then came Ashley Cole's
assault on Hutton, an offence that deserved more than yellow and
triggered a near brawl.
Adding insult to iniquity, Ashley Cole set the scene for Chelsea's
third, delivering a quick throw-in to Makelele, who swiftly found
Kalou. Chelsea's No 21 cleverly worked the ball across the edge
of the area to Joe Cole, who darted around Chimbonda.
Still the angle was tight. Still Robinson had to be negotiated.
Cole's shot sped through Robinson's legs, clipped the keeper's
heel and looped up and in, to Robinson's deep anguish. "England's
No 4," the Chelsea hordes chanted.
Even before Robinson regained some pride with an outstanding save
from Drogba, Spurs had pulled a goal back. When Tom Huddlestone curled
over a corner, Berbatov leaned gently into Terry, opening up a yard
of space. As the ball dropped in, Berbatov flicked a header, almost
languidly, high into the net.
Still the tempo never ebbed in a classic match. Cudicini saved
superbly from Keane. Essien hit a post. Huddlestone dived
disgracefully and was deservedly booked.
As the spell-binding entertainment continued, Huddlestone displayed his
more positive side. Keane clipped over a corner from the left and
Berbatov's presence caused chaos in the box, allowing the ball to fly
through to Huddlestone. What a response! The midfielder drilled the
ball unerringly in past Cudicini: 3-3.
But there was more, remarkably so. When Spurs foolishly conceded
possession on the right, Chelsea leapt into life, Drogba finding Joe
Cole. The England international again ghosted around Chimbonda and
found the net with a brilliant finish, the ball placed at speed past
the exposed Robinson.
But then came Keane. What a finish! What a game!
|
|
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 2008.
Telegraph Group Limited endeavours to ensure that the
information is correct but does not accept any liability
for error or omission.
Users are permitted to copy some material for their
personal use as private individuals only. Users must not
republish any part of the data either on another website,
or in any other medium, print, electronic or otherwise,
or as part of any commercial service without the prior
written permission of Telegraph Group Limited.
|
| 
