Tottenham Hotspur

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: ARSENAL 2, SPURS 1



A 2-1 defeat was suffered at the Emirates, but it could have all been so different.

Dimitar Berbatov levelled after Emmanuel Adebayor gave Arsenal the lead shortly after the break and then the Bulgarian was felled and a penalty awarded. Robbie Keane stepped up but Manuel Almunia saved. The home side went up the other end a few minutes later and scored a winner against the run of play.

A combination between Adebayor and Mathieu Flamini nearly paid dividends for the home side in the opening few minutes, the Frenchman's hooked shot just flying the right side of Paul Robinson's left-hand upright.

Eight minutes in, after soaking up a lot of pressure at the other end, Steed Malbranque's tenacity saw to it that Aaron Lennon was put in a crossing position and his cross was a tease - Berbatov just couldn't quite propel himself forward enough to make a connection and open the scoring.

We then progressed towards half-time and nothing really happened, Arsenal had a lot of the ball without creating anything, while Almunia was untroubled at the end half occupied by Spurs people.

The regular inhabitants of the Emirates were becoming a tad touchy over their team's lack of progress, although they were roused momentarily ten minutes before the break when Adebayor turned provider for Emmanuel Eboue and it took a reaction save from Robinson to divert his snap shot.

Berbatov gave Almunia some routine activity with a free-kick before a clever interchange between Robbie Keane and Lennon cooked up half a chance, which Kevin Prince Boateng swung not too far over the cross bar.

Robinson was in athetic action in the moments before half-time when he flung himself left to deny Kolo Toure's header disturbing his net following a Cesc Fabregas corner.

Just two and a half minutes into the second period the resistance of the team was broken after a clever passage of play that began with Tomas Rosicky running crossfield and finding Fabregas, who dispatched a backheel in the direction of Adebayor, the striker proceeding to slot calmly beyond Robinson.

Tom Huddlestone was introduced in an attempt to inject some precision passing into the heart of the team and he replaced Boateng just after the hour.

Lennon then employed a spot of wizardary to send over a cross to find Keane in space in front of goal - Keane thumping first time and rattling the bar. But, on 66 minutes, it was the Spurs fans jumping in celebration. A long ball from Younes Kabouln down the right flank ended up with Keane, who backheeled and found Berbatov at a really acute angle. The striker literally ripped the ball off his boot and it flew into the net past a stranded Almunia.

Level pegging and playing with increased confidence.

There was a new purpose and with this so nearly came reward when Berbatov was chopped inside the area and referee Mr Styles pointed spotwards. Keane stepped up but Almunia saved to his right. Keane was replaced with 15 minutes to go by Jermain Defoe.

Even before Defoe had touched the ball Arsenal restored their advantage. A Fabregas corner was met by a Nicklas Bentner leap and the net was rattling.

Adel Taarabt was added to the mix with just under ten minutes left on the clock and he later had a penalty claim rejected. The boys battled in there and rallied, Arsenal were not at all having it their own way, but the points stayed in N5 come the final whistle.

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: SPURS 5, FULHAM 1



The team marked Boxing Day 2007 with a 5-1 victory over Fulham at the Lane.


Two goals each from Robbie Keane and Tom Huddlestone, plus one for Jermain Defoe provided the margin in what was a comfortable win despite Fulham halving the deficit at one point.

The game got underway on a crisp early afternoon and the early exchanges were not as crisp as the weather. It was warming, however, to see Ledley King striding across the pitch looking like he had never been away, just his presence having a calming influence on those around him.

Jamie O'Hara retained his place in the side for his full home debut, Huddlestone partnering him in the heart of midfield and it was Tom pulling the midfield strings and providing what creative spark there was in the first third of the half.

Dimitar Berbatov gave Antti Niemi his first work of the afternoon on 24 minutes when he nodded a Steed Malbranque centre goalwards and the Finn sprung to his right and saved well.

Two minutes later Malbranque came so close to marking the occasion of playing against his old club with a goal, latching onto a Pascal Chimbonda knock-down with a rasping drive that crashed off the inside of the post. Thankfully, Keane was there right on cue to steer home the rebound.

While the boys were not exactly clicking through the gears on a slick performance level, they were coping with challenge presented by Fulham with ease. Defensively it was comfortable as the visitors were not bristling with ambition in the first half and the goal did not change things much.

Another goal should probably have been added before the break but a swift break resulting from Berbatov dispossessing Danny Murphy was perhaps overplayed a little and Keane was left with too much to do in the end.

It was two in stoppage, a dash down the left by Malbranque leading to Berbatov teeing up Huddlestone for a drive. The midfielder's effort completely wrong-footed Niemi in what was a class piece of finishing.

The football remained attack-minded in the second half, Keane flashing in a shot that Niemi did well to grab and hold. There was a twist on the hour when Clint Dempsey snatched on back for Fulham from a Hameur Bouazza cross, but the response was swift - just two minutes later.

Berbatov thrust his head onto an O'Hara corner and nodded towards the post where the knees of Keane were waiting to divert past Niemi.

The chances of a Keane hat-trick were ended with 22 minutes left when he was withdrawn in favour of Jermain Defoe but, for Huddlestone, there was still time to make another big impression.

Given the ball by Aaron Lennon around 20 yards out on 70 minutes, the midfielder flicked the ball up before driving a placed shot that escaped the clutches of Niemi and had those at the Lane purring in admiration.

The was another huge ovation three minutes later when Juande Ramos decided the time was right for the skipper to make his exit. The sum up Ledley's performance best you would just say he was his usual self. Adel Taarabt replaced him and, in a defensive shuffle, Chimbonda moved centrally, Lee Young-Pyo to the right and Jamie O'Hara slotted in at left back.

Taarabt added a few party tricks to go with the festive mood, while the substitute Moritz Volz saw a second yellow then red for a barge on Malbraque.

There was still time for Defoe to add to his account -seizing on a surge from Huddlestone in the final minute to prod past Niemi.

This was a case of job done, three points in the bank and a Merry Christmas.

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: SPURS 6, READING 4



Dimitar Berbatov netted four goals as Reading were overcome by a 6-4 scoreline in the thriller at the Lane.

A fairly sterile first half was totally eclipsed by the second where, from defeat looking very much on the cards, victory was snatched in style.

There was just one change to the starting line-up from the side that began against Fulham last time out, Jermaine Jenas made his return from an ankle injury and took the place of Jamie O'Hara alongside Tom Huddlestone in the heart of midfield.

Ledley King retained his place in central defence after his successful comeback on Boxing Day, but it was another defender, Young-Pyo Lee, who pumped in the first shot in goal - one which Marcus Hahnemann sprung to his right to gather.

We didn't have to wait too long for the deadlock to be broken, just six minutes, and it was the promptings of Steed Malbranque that unlocked the Reading gate. The Frenchman prodded forward into the path of Robbie Keane who, in turn, cut the ball across the face of goal where Berbatov was waiting to apply a gleeful finish.

Unfortunately, the feelings of elation lasted only a further nine minutes as a free-kick aimed into the area by Nicky Shorey caused avoidable problems. Paul Robinson called for the ball but his path towards it was obstructed by Younes Kaboul - among others - and, as a result, not enough purchase was put on his clearance. The ball then fell kindly for Kalifa Cisse to drive back and into the net.

It was a foothold in the game that Reading had done little to merit and the visitors were lifted and began to attack with a little more conviction. They had the chance to take the lead from an inviting free-kick position ten minutes before the break after Aaron Lennon was probably wrongly adjudged to have impeded Bobby Convey, but Shorey failed to trouble Robinson.

The first half was not proving to be a great spectacle and the ball was pinging around a lot in the air and half-time was not an unwelcome break in proceedings, although Keane would have sent us in happier had he made a connection with Berbatov's low centre right in front of goal, but he appeared to attack it with the wrong foot.

Reading were the quicker out of the blocks at the start of the second period, but it was a Keane spin in the area that came closest to securing an advantage from a Berbatov flick-on. Pascal Chimbonda then made a superb sliding block after Dave Kitson had evaded both King and Kaboul.

From the resulting Shorey corner on 52 minutes, Ivar Ingimarsson climbed highest and nodded downwards past Robinson to register an unlikely lead. Moments later Robinson was forced to be particularly alert to deny Kitson.

Frustrations were growing and King made way for Defoe on the hour, just before Robinson was once again forced into action - diving to his right to thwart Stephen Hunt.

On 62 minutes fortune smiled on us when, from a Defoe low cross, Shorey passed the ball to Berbatov and the end result was the roof of the net rattling and an air of relief wafted down from the stands.

Lennon was withdrawn in favour of Kevin Prince Boateng with 23 minutes left for him to make an impression, but the next one was made by Kitson in the 69th minute when he stole to the front post from a Shorey corner and, with a decisive flick, steered the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-2.

The drama was not over, on 71 minutes a Jenas corner was headed skywards by Chimbonda and there to pluck the ball out of the sky and covert on the spin was Berbatov with a memorable hat-trick goal.

Hunt then set Kitson away and he executed an excellent finish to make it 4-3 before, on 75 minutes, a combination of Lee and Huddlestone found Malbranque inside the area, who typically scrurried and worked himself a shooting position before dispatching into the top corner.

Two minutes later Keane was chopped down in the area by Ibra Sonko and referee Mr Stroud awarded a penalty. For the second time in a week, Keane's spot-kick was saved, but this time it fell kindly for Defoe to head back into the net. If you are losing track, this made it 5-4.

It was not over, on 82 minutes Berbatov was sent galloping away by Kaboul and from around 15 yards cracked the ball right-footed towards goal and, despite Hahnemann connecting with his hand, the net was rippling again!

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: VILLA 2, SPURS 1



A Jermain Defoe strike 11 minutes from time was not enough to result in us leaving Villa Park with any reward as the New Year was seen in with a 2-1 defeat.

It looked like we were back in it and seeking maximum points when Defoe's smart finish levelled Olaf Mellberg's headed finish late in the first half. But another set piece late in the game came at a hefty cost and it was Martin Laursen who sent the home fans away happy.

Villa should have grabbed the lead in the fifth minute, a positive passage of play leading to a Stiliyan Petrov cross being struck on the turn by Luke Moore - the young striker firing wide with the goal at his mercy.

An Ashley Young free-kick later caused momentary concern when it cleared air bourne heads and required Paul Robinson to stoop and divert, with Jermaine Jenas applying the more forceful clearance. Villa were the livlier attacking outfit in the opening third of the first period, looking sprightly going forward with the pace of messrs Young, Agbonlahor and Moore the principal threat.

There was another gilt-edged opportunity for the home side on 24 minutes when a Petrov cross to the near post was sent off course by a Younes Kaboul intervention, but the ball ran loose in front of the goal and rolled into the feet of Laursen who, like Moore before him, could not hit the target and this time the effort went blazing over the crossbar.

If this was a boxing contest, Villa would have been well ahead on points approaching the half hour mark, with us a little on the ropes. They were struggling to land the decisive blow, however, while we were struggling to come up with a counter punch.

Jenas attempted to create a spark with a threaded throughball in the path of Aaron Lennon, but goalkeeper Scott Carson was quick to spot the danger before, at the other end, Robinson foiled Petrov's low drive on goal.

Villa did snatch the lead five minutes before the break when Kevin Prince Boateng needlessly gave away a free-kick near the top left corner of the penalty area. Young flighted in his set piece, Mellberg escaped the attentions of the German and rose unchallenged to head past a stranded Robinson.

Dimitar Berbatov could have levelled moments later but smashed straight at Carson when an opportunity presented itself.

Tom Huddlestone was drafted in for the second half, replacing Boateng and he was quickly in the action - drilling a headed clearance back from some 25 yards, albeit some way wide. There was further change eight minutes in when Robbie Keane took over from Lennon and then Kaboul was withdrawn for Jamie O'Hara.

Again Juande Ramos adopted a three at the back system, with Jenas and O'Hara occupying wide midfield positions.

O'Hara had a shooting chance shortly after coming on, latching onto a Jenas cross that somehow evaded the watching defenders. There was definitely a renewed purpose about the side, but it was Villa who should have scored next when Petrov's work and cross ball was squandered by Moore when a second looked on the cards.

Keane had half a penalty shout after tangling with with Curtis Davies and Laursen inside the area after Berbatov worked the ball in from the left, with Malbranque eventually shooting wide.

Parity was restored on 79 minutes when, after industry from Keane, a Dawson chip forward was headed away but Berbatov blocked the clearance and the ball was pounced on by Defoe, who athletically fired past Carson.

Joy was relatively short-lived and again it was a set piece that proved our undoing. A Barry corner swung in from the left was met by the head of the unmarked Laursen and the net at the Holte End of Villa Park was quickly shaking.

This game was a tough one to get back into in the first instance - doing it again with just ten minutes left on the clock was just too tall an order.

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: SPURS 2, READING 2



Dimitar Berbatov making it 13 for the season with two goals was not enough to defeat Reading and a third meeting is now booked for the two teams the week after next.

It was another no-holds-barred contest against the Berkshire side and it wasn't slow to come to life - continuing right until the end with Reading snatching an equaliser and substitute Huddlestone getting himself sent off.

Just a minute in and Aaron Lennon was showing his marker a clean pair of heels, speedng past Ulises de la Cruz before flighting over a cross that was just a little too far ahead of Robbie Keane. Berbatov tried his luck, but his radar was well askew in the third minute and his effort drew only derision from the Reading contingent within the Lane.

Keane will not want to see too many replays of a chance Berbatov crafted out for him on 5 minutes, the Bulgarian accepting the ball from Steed Malbranque before easing down the right and dispatching a measured pass across goal for Keane to tap in. He applied his left foot ad somehow steered wide. Not one for the Keane collection.

It was frenetic stuff, almost like a continuation of last weekend but without the goals in the first tean minutes. Ledley King and Michael Dawson were reunited at the back, while Keane was restored to the attack in place of Jermain Defoe. Pascal Chimbonda returned after a bug, allowing Didier Zokora to operate in tandem with Jermaine Jenas in the heart of midfield.

The curious events of last week certainly seemed to extend to the first goal this time around with 25 minutes on the clock. Nicky Hunt pumped a free-kick forward appearing to lack any great purpose but the flight of the ball must have foxed Paul Robinson and the assistant adjudged that the ball had been carried over the line by the goalkeeper.

The response was swift and decisive on 28 minutes, Lennon prodding through to Berbatov who took the ball down on the turn and arrowed a brilliant strike past Adam Federici and into the top corner. A Berbatov volley on the spin from a Jenas centre was then probably only a matter of inches away from creating an advantage.

Jenas should have made it 2-1 was put through on 34 minutes, but Federici stayed big and managed to divert. Malbranque was then in at the conclusion of two moves, but failed to really trouble the visiting keeper.

Just before the break Jenas was set clear by an incisive ball from Lennon and appeared to have more time to pick his spot, but Federici denied the midfielder - who was actually having a good game.
It was a gripping match and it didn't go unnoticed at half-time that the scoring pattern was following that of the last meeting between the two sides...

Just three minutes into the second half the lead was taken after Keane was chopped down by Liam Rosenior following a superb chipped ball from Dawson. Mr Clattenburg pointed straight to the spot and Berbatov took over spotkick duties. He made no mistake, fizzing the ball to Federici's right.

Keane then had the ball over the line when he pounced on the rebound from a Berbatov drive, but the flag of the assistant quashed any celebrations. The same player then failed just to make enough of a connection with a Chimbonda cross to the near post.

Keane was replaced on 63 minutes by Adel Taarabt. Strangely enough, he didn't score any of the six against Reading last week. Somehow Berbatov didn't manage to make it three in front of goal, before Taarabt bought some trickery to the occasion. The lead was no way comfortable enough to avoid the prospect of a replay - there was significant pressure being applied though, with Taarabt working Federici.

The sting in the tail came on 77 minutes when Leroy Lita cut inside and drilled a shot towards the near post. Robinson saved superbly, but Stephen Hunt stole in and rounded the goalkeeper to net the rebound. It was not a deserved leveller and Tom Huddlestone was quickly introduced in place of Malbranque.

Huddlestone was not on for long though, the midfielder getting a straight red card on 82 minutes for making contact with his head in a coming together with Bobby Convey.

Reading were sniffing an unlikely victory but 2-2 it remained and a replay it is.

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: ARSENAL 1, SPURS 1




A goal 12 minutes from time denied the team a deserved Carling Cup advantage after the 1st leg of this semi-final encounter.


Jermaine Jenas' first half goal could, and probably should, have been added to in the second half, but a swift counter-attack and Theo Walcott strike saw to it that the teams go again at level pegging at the Lane in just under two weeks time.

It was a game that enjoyed a pulsating beginning, with Ledley King providing the first meaningful burst into opposition territory with a lung-busting run that was only steered off-course when he entered the penalty area. It was a promising sign.

A Justin Hoyte cross 14 minutes in led to Radek Cerny being worked for the first time and he was up to the task, reacting superbly to foil a powerful header from Nicklas Bentner. Arsenal were establishing territory, dictating the momentum at this stage and looking the greater threat.

An Aaron Lennon dart into the box disrupted that rhythm and came close to causing home alarm, before Berbatov was illegally stopped in his tracks after rounding Abou Diaby and Jamie O'Hara bent a low free-kick about a foot wide of Lukasz Fabianski's right hand post.

The lead was so nearly snared on 32 minutes when Jenas snatched the ball back in midfield, which enabled Dimitar Berbatov to flight forward in the direction of Robbie Keane. Keane was bundled out of capitalising himself, but the ball fell to Steed Malbranque and his side-footed effort rolled just the wrong side of the upright. The same player was then off target with header from a Keane cross after Fabianski came racing out of his goal.

Moments later Berbatov stung the hands of Fabianski from distance and you could sense increased belief creeping into the side.

This was confirmed with 37 minutes on the clock when a King floated ball from the back was helped on by Berbatov and Keane was on the dash again. This time he squared the ball into the path of Jenas and the midfielder, cool as you like, slotted past Fabianski.

The Spurs thousands erupted like a blue and white volcano behind the goal. You had to witness it to really appreciate the explosion of sound.

Two minutes before the break Jenas drilled in a low effort that Fabianski did well to foil and Arsenal were well and truly rattled as half-time neared.

The second half started in much the same fashion, the early promptings coming from the team in white shirts, with both Malbranque and Keane afforded shooting chances.

A performance of considerable composure and great ambition continued past the hour mark.

The home territory of the stadium was silent, the Spurs end was humming as the team pressed and pressed but without final execution.

Michael Dawson contributed a stunning block at the other end to deny Diaby during a brief spell of Arsenal pressure and Juande Ramos made his move and replaced Malbranque with Kevin Prince Boateng with 13 minutes left.

Just moments later Arsenal were level when second half sub Eduardo set Theo Walcott on the run and, after being closed down by Young-Pyo Lee, the ball cannoned back of the arm/chest of the young striker and past Cerny into the net.

Jermain Defoe was bought on for the final six minutes in place of Keane and he should have won it when Lennon teed him up in front of goal after Berbatov sent the wide man clear.

It could perhaps have gone either way in the closing exchanges, but this two-parter will continue to be an edge-of-seat episode when played out to a conclusion at the Lane.

[100%cypriot]

CHELSEA 2, SPURS 0



A goal in each half resulted in us falling to defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

It was an encounter that just didn't take off and there was little to illuminate it. The decisive strikes came from Juliano Belletti and Shaun Wright-Phillips

There was a spot of set piece alarm in the fourth minute when Joe Cole swept in a free-kick from the left flank that fizzed over strained necks and the raised fists of Radek Cerny, with the danger eventually eliminated.

Aaron Lennon, who always seems to enjoy playing up against Ashley Cole, was giving the England full-back a torrid time early on. Chelsea opted for the muscular threat of Claudio Pizarro in attack - new signing Nicolas Anelka started on the bench - but the combination of Ledley King and Michael Dawson appeared to have their measure as the game took shape.

Perhaps with this in mind, the full-back Belletti decided to try his luck from distance and, after running unchallenged for ten yards or so, took aim and ripped his shot into the top corner in the 19th minute.

A Lennon dash just before the half-hour mark resulted in a floated cross being met by a Steed Malbranque volley at the far post that returning keeper Petr Cech did well to foil. The left was certainly looking the channel most likely to yield profit. Kevin Boateng later fired in a swerving shot that ended up only flying a yard or so high.

Michael Ballack steered the ball into the net three minutes before the break off a Florent Malouda run, but a flag was waving over the far side and the German knew it.

There were no changes at the break, although Lennon was still looking the one who might breach the Chelsea barricades. There was a lack of fluency to our game, however.

Malbranque was replaced by Adel Taarabt just before the hour as tmost of the crowd of 41,777 were getting more than a bit het up over the midfielder not being sent off following a challenge on Wright-Phillips.

Cerny produced a superb stooping stop to deny Anelka shortly after he was introduced into the action.

There was a chance of a leveller on 70 minutes after Lennon was crudely chopped down by Ballack right on the line of the penalty area. Berbatov, after a lengthy delay to organise the wall, curled over the bar.

Jermain Defoe was drafted in for Jamie O'Hara for the final 13 minutes, with Keane dropping in behind the two strikers. Boateng then swung over a teasing cross that Keane could not reach at the far post due to Alex making contact - a touch not spotted by referee Mr Wiley.

Straight away at the other end a Joe Cole foray past Young-Pyo Lee led to him prodding into the path of Wright-Phillips, who drilled past Cerny and into the bottom corner.

It was game over - even though Anelka later rattled the underside of the bar - a game that never really lived up to its billing.

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: READING 0, SPURS 1




Robbie Keane made it 99 First Team goals in our colours with the winning strike in our 1-0 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night.



Manchester United now await at Old Trafford in round four after this tie reached its conclusion in a hard fought fashion.

There were five changes to the team that started against Chelsea on Saturday, with Younes Kaboul, Jermaine Jenas, Teemu Tainio and Jermain Defoe drafted in, while Chris Gunter was called upon to make his debut following his arrival from Cardiff City at the beginning of the month.

Ledley King was awarded a rest after featuring in three games on the spin, Dimitar Berbatov was absent with flu and Paul Robinson is celebrating the birth of a baby boy!

The recent meetings between these two sides have bordered on the frenetic and the opening period of this one could be described as bright, lively and energetic. There was a lung-busting burst from Jenas nine minutes in that left Reading markers trailing in his wake, only his final ball across the area was just slightly too strong for the quickly advancing Robbie Keane.

Gunter was then a speedy arrival on the end of a Steed Malbranque ball but his centre was cut out just before clear and present danger to the home goal. Moments later Kaboul nodded into the six yard box and Defoe flicked a header narrowly over the bar. Radek Cerny did well to deny Leroy Lita at the other end.

In the 15th minute the lead was snared following a Jenas corner that resulted in a powerful header from Kaboul that was tipped onto the bar by Adam Federici. Keane proceeded to pounce onto the rebound and steered the ball high into the net for his 99th competitive goal in our colours.

Federici prevented a doubling of the advantage five minutes before the break when, off a fizzed in low cross from Kevin Prince Boateng down the right, Defoe smacked in a volley that must have numbed the palms of the Australian keeper. Defoe then wiggled through home defences and the ball just ran away from him when he was about to apply the decisive prod.

The start of the second half was a slightly more tepid affair, during which time Reading attempted to ease their way back into contention but met with solid resistance. Buoyed by the crowd though they were increasing the tempo and were very much still in contention at just a goal down.

Just after the hour Juande Ramos replaced Defoe with Aaron Lennon, perhaps in a ploy to launch speedy counter attacks. The presence of Tainio was offering teammates greater licence to break forward and express themselves, most notably Kaboul, and whenever the big defender elected to storm ahead, the Finn slotted in as cover - as well as sitting deep and protecting the back four when under pressure.

Michael Dawson and Kaboul were proving a stubborn shield and ensured that Cerny enjoyed a largely untroubled first 70 minutes.

Tainio made way for Jamie O'Hara for the final 13 minutes and it was his run that offered Boateng a shooting chance that flew a yard or so wide. Reading pressed as the minutes ticked away and Stephen Hunt struck the bar and Cerny saved at full-length from Cox.

However, we came closest to registering with what would have been a real contended - O'Hara's deep cross controlled by Keane and played back for Malbranque, whose crisp volley was tipped onto the crossbar by Federici.

That might have been a bit harsh after Reading's endeavours but it is us who will be journeying to Manchester the weekend after next.

[Crash Test Dummy]

100% do you think anybody reads these?

me and you watch the match and everybody else doesnt care

[100%cypriot]

re do you go to the games ?

i have only missed 3 games this year ,, been all over europe

[100%cypriot]

got to educate the uneducated

[Crash Test Dummy]

I gave up my ticket a few years back.
Paxton Road - N23 Seat 216

Watch most of th games at the pubs now. On the dodgey Albanian/Kurdish channels etc

[100%cypriot]

i Go HOME , AWAY , EUROPE ,
rather do that than sit arguing with donkeys about cyprus ,, i go with some very very good friends that happen to be Greek Cypriots , We ALL see ourselves as CYPRIOTS ,,, we have the laugh and banter about Turks and Greeks but it is never taken seriously ,,we are ONE BIG FAMILY , I stayed with my mate Mihali in his mum's house in the south for the Anorthosis game ,, was treated as one of the family !!!!

[100%cypriot]

MATCH REPORT: SPURS V SUNDERLAND


Robbie Keane scored his 100th goal in our colours as Sunderland were defeated 2-0 at the Lane.

Unlike the recent trend for goals aplenty at both ends, this one came very close to being a second one-nil victory of the week, but we were forced to endure a few nervous moments in this one after Sunderland took heart in the final third from not falling more than a goal behind.

It did not take long for the team to get cracking, in fact it was just the second minute when Jamie O'Hara nicked the ball from Paul McShane down the left flank and, after a little help from Young-Pyo Lee, managed to fizz across the area. Dimitar Berbatov attempted a stab at it, but ended up helping on into the path of Lennon, who prodded past Craig Gordon with the underside of his boot.

There were significant changes to the side from Tuesday night at Reading, with Paul Stalteri and Lee coming in on each side of the defence and Tom Huddlestone recalled after suspension at centre half. Lennon was back in place of the suspended Steed Malbranque, while Jermain Defoe took the place of Robbie Keane and was named captain.

A lightening Lennon break was later thwarted by the hand of Dwight Yorke, but somehow the assistant right in front of the offence failed to notice. 19 minutes in a sublime ball from Huddlestone was athletically latched onto by Jermaine Jenas and steered past Gordon, but Berbatov could not quite find the acceleration to apply a tap-in finish at the far post.

Lennon delivered another low cross that just evaded a wave of white shirts before Berbatov struck and clipped the top of the crossbar. Just over ten minutes before the break Defoe had Gordon flailing backwards in an attempt to reach his chipped shot, but the keeper did brilliantly to tip over in the end. The Scotland international then reacted sharply to turn away a Berbatov piledriver.

A rare Sunderland response with Kenwyne Jones seemingly on a path through to goal was brilliantly de-railed by Michael Dawson, leaving the big striker in a heap.

Daryl Murphy roused the travelling support just after the break with a speculative shot from the top corner of the penalty area that flashed not too far adrift of goal, before Jones did have the ball in the net but his effort off a set piece was ruled out for offside.

Jamie O'Hara made way for Teemu Tainio ten minutes into the half, leading to Kevin Boateng moving to the right and Lennon left - the Finn occupying the middle ground.
A Lennon dash down the left led to Defoe being within prodding distance of a goal, but Gordon was able to foil. Berbatov then drilled goalwards after the ball flicked up out of the feet of Defoe - a deflection taking it just wide. Huddlestone's deceptive free-kick from 25 yards then required the goalkeeper to take goal-preventing action.

Robbie Keane wa summoned from the bench in the 74th minute, with Defoe wrapping the armband around the arm of the Irishman before leaving the pitch. Radek Cerny was next in action though with a desperate block from a Danny Collins header.

Dawson was next forced into a goal-saving action in front of the posts to dey Jones an equaliser before lunging into a further challenge to ensure danger was averted. Sunderland were piling on the pressure given that our early advantage was not extended. Cerny made a double save from Murphy and Liam Miller when you were really fearing the worst.

Robbie got in on the act in stoppage time with a drive on goal that you felt Gordon would save, but the ball squirted under him and the ton-up man was off to celebrate in a familiar fashion that we haven't seen for a while.

It is on to Carling Cup business on Tuesday.

[100%cypriot]

We were a bit lucky today at the lane ,,,we destroyed sunderland for the first 45 mins and then came out at half time with a different attitude ,,TYPICAL SPURS