Carling Cup Final

  Tottenham 2 - 1 Chelsea 

                              

                              Woody Wins at Wembley!

While Jonathan Woodgate will go down in Spurs lore as the man who delivered the Cup to Tottenham this victory belongs to the team. The Spurs started out the match like the club that truly wanted the silverware as they sent wave after wave of attack at the Chelsea goal. They went down a goal in the 40th through a sublime Didier Drogba free kick that left recent returnee Paul Robinson rooted to his spot (there’s a shock). Didier Zokora had fouled Drogba to give him his second free kick at goal in just minutes and the Ivornian striker made good on the second try.

 Tottenham continued the push and had some chances created by Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov. In the 69th minute their persistence paid off when Tom Huddlestone and Aaron Lennon put pressure on Wayne Bridge in the Chelsea box and caused the Blues defender to handle the ball. Berbatov cooly let Petr Cech go right and slotted his shot to the left to knot the score at 1-1.

   

The Spurs kept up the pressure up on the final minutes with Zakora and Berbatov both having clear opportunities to win it in regulation. When the final whistle sent the match the two sides were definitely headed in opposite directions. Four minutes into extra time the defender that joined the Spurs in January paid huge dividends. Woody got his head to a Jermaine Jenas free kick. Cech got a fist to the ball and it rebounded off of Woodgate’s £8 million face and into the net. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective.

   

Chelsea put on a push at the end of extra time and Tottenham stood tall to seal the victory. Good job Tottenham a well deserved victory.

Sunday Wrap Up February 24, 2008

  Reading 1 - 2 Aston Villa 

Villans roll at the Madejski. Reading’s woes continued today as their guests gave a good demonstration of dominance. James Harper got things off to a rousing start for Reading when he created a scoring opportunity in just thirty seconds. Scott Carson smothered the chance and set the tone for the rest of the match.

The Royals’ defense could have used some extra bodies as Ibrahima Sonko and Kalifa Cisse seemed confused in the centre of the defence. Cisse gave up an iffy penalty for handling the ball. But, karma came quickly when Gareth Barry sliced his shot wide. Ashley Young broke the stalemate at halftime as Gabriel Agbonlahor gave him the ball with yards of space and he slotted it home. Marlon Harewood drove the final nail in at the 83rd minute with a curling shot into the upper corner of the goal. Nicky Shorey got a consolation goal in the 90th from his free kick, but it was too little too late as the Villans came away with all three points.

    

  Blackburn 4 - 1 Bolton 

Wanderers penalized at Ewood. It’s hard to win a match when you give up two penalties. Blackburn was gifted the first penalty and Benni McCarthy took full advantage. As he did after Gary Cahill fouled David Dunn for the second in answer to Kevin Davies’ leveler. David Bentley’s header and Morten Gamst Pedersen’s injury time goal added to Bolton’s troubles.

Bolton played well they just couldn’t take advantage of their opportunities. Brad Friedel deserves full credit for keeping Bolton at bay with some great saves from El Hadji Diouf and Ricardo Gardner. Blackburn’s victory came at a good time, they needed the points and the confidence.