Defoe spares Spurs' blushes

[sportbilly]

Jermain Defoe's close-range effort deep into extra-time booked Tottenham's place in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup at the expense of Southend.

Spurs dominated throughout but were unable to beat the impressive Darryl Flahavan in the visitors' goal during the course of 90 minutes of play.

Martin Jol's men continued to bang on the door in extra-time and Defoe latched onto a cross from Mido to end Southend's fine run in the competition.

Mido was desperately unlucky to see his first-half effort strike the crossbar, although it mattered not as Defoe secured a slender win after 120 minutes of football at White Hart Lane.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto was the first to test either keeper, although the French defender's free-kick was easily saved by Flahavan.

Steed Malbranque was next to see if The Shrimpers' shot-stopper was alert with a first-time shot from Paul Stalteri's lay-off, but again it was comfortably kept out.

The visitors responded with Paul Robinson gathering Mark Gower's shot down low, while Mido was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring at the other end.

Defoe's left-footed cross was superbly guided goalwards by the Egyptian, although the woodwork came to Southend's rescue with Flahavan beaten.

Spurs continued to set the tone with Danny Murphy sending a header just wide of the far post while the impressive Flahavan kept out Defoe's header with a fine save at full stretch.

The Shrimpers almost forged ahead before the break when Freddy Eastwood's deflected shot fell to Jamal Campbell-Ryce, but Stalteri was on hand to make a superb block.

Flahavan continued to be in the firing line after the interval with Spurs consistently peppering Southend's goal.

Firstly, Malbranque connected with Murphy's through ball, Stalteri then tried his luck from distance with Defoe's lobbed effort over completing a hat-trick of shots.

Former Charlton and Liverpool man Murphy attempted a right-footer from distance, but it was not strong or accurate enough to beat the inspirational Flahavan.

Southend nearly snatched a surprise lead with Eastwood inches from connecting with Efetobore Sodje's header back across goal following a right wing corner.

Flahavan saved his best save for just before the end of normal time when he superbly tipped over Mido's goal-bound header from Huddlestone's lofted set-piece.

Substitute Dimitar Berbatov had the first effort of goal in injury-time, although Sodje's presence at the back ensured the Bulgarian import could not muster a meaningful shot on target.

Assou-Ekotto then lashed a shot across the face of goal, but Defoe failed to take the gamble at the back post that surely would have resulted in Spurs taking a deserved lead.

Mido was given a sight of goal on 112 minutes, but the Egyptian ace was unable to make the most of a rare defensive mix-up in the Southend box after seeing his shot deflect wide for a corner.

With just five minutes of extra-time remaining Spurs finally broke the deadlock when Defoe, who could have been deemed offside, was on hand to slide home from close range after Mido crossed from Berbatov's incisive through-ball.

The visitors responded and only fine positioning from Paul Robinson ensured Eastwood's stinging drive was easily blocked, while at the other end Flahavan gathered Berbatov's tame header.

Southend pushed everyone forward in search of a last-gasp goal to force penalties, but the magic of the cup was over for the side who stunned Manchester United in the previous round.

[stacey]

Think a bit of 'copy and paste' went on in the above!!