Spurs ride on 3-star Crouch
Source: Agencies |
August 27, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PETER Crouch struck a hat-trick to help Tottenham Hotspur complete a great comeback against Young Boys and reach the Champions League for the first time while Luis Suarez led Ajax Amsterdam back to the elite in a 2-1 win over Dynamo Kiev.
Tottenham's 4-0 win at White Hart Lane on Wednesday took it through 6-3 on aggregate - a prospect that had looked highly unlikely when it trailed 0-3 after less than half an hour of last week's first match, which it eventually lost 2-3.
The Londoners were however given a helping hand in a playoff second leg played in pouring rain when Jermain Defoe clearly used his arm to control the ball before firing a second goal that effectively put the game out of the Swiss team's reach.
Uruguay World Cup striker Suarez got the first goal as four-time European champion Ajax overcame Dynamo 3-2 on aggregate to reach the group stage for the first time since 2005-06 - the last occasion their Ukrainian opponent failed to qualify.
Slovakian champion Zilina reached the group stage for the first time, beating Sparta Prague 1-0 thanks to a spectacular bicycle kick from Gambian Momodou Ceesay to complete a 3-0 aggregate win.
FC Copenhagen went through on away goals, beating Rosenborg Trondheim 1-0 for a 2-2 aggregate draw, and Auxerre beat nine-man Russian side Zenit St Petersburg 2-0 to qualify for the first time since 2002-03 with a 2-1 aggregate win.
Tottenham, which last appeared in Europe's top club competition in 1962, was ahead in the tie for the first time by the fifth minute as Crouch was left unmarked to head home.
The Defoe incident then killed off Young Boys as the England striker clearly used his upper arm before turning to score with a low shot off the post.
The officials' failure to spot the offense will raise questions over the effectiveness of the two extra linesmen behind the goals who are being used in the Champions League this season.
Crouch headed another from a corner just past the hour mark and completed his hat-trick with a 78th minute penalty.
"I always felt it was possible to get Spurs into the Champions League," said Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.
"The club had underachieved for a long time.
"It was important we didn't waste the opportunity. We nearly did in Switzerland but we finished the job tonight."
Young Boys coach Vladimir Petkovic said: "It was difficult after the first goal and the second for me was the decisive moment."
Tottenham's 4-0 win at White Hart Lane on Wednesday took it through 6-3 on aggregate - a prospect that had looked highly unlikely when it trailed 0-3 after less than half an hour of last week's first match, which it eventually lost 2-3.
The Londoners were however given a helping hand in a playoff second leg played in pouring rain when Jermain Defoe clearly used his arm to control the ball before firing a second goal that effectively put the game out of the Swiss team's reach.
Uruguay World Cup striker Suarez got the first goal as four-time European champion Ajax overcame Dynamo 3-2 on aggregate to reach the group stage for the first time since 2005-06 - the last occasion their Ukrainian opponent failed to qualify.
Slovakian champion Zilina reached the group stage for the first time, beating Sparta Prague 1-0 thanks to a spectacular bicycle kick from Gambian Momodou Ceesay to complete a 3-0 aggregate win.
FC Copenhagen went through on away goals, beating Rosenborg Trondheim 1-0 for a 2-2 aggregate draw, and Auxerre beat nine-man Russian side Zenit St Petersburg 2-0 to qualify for the first time since 2002-03 with a 2-1 aggregate win.
Tottenham, which last appeared in Europe's top club competition in 1962, was ahead in the tie for the first time by the fifth minute as Crouch was left unmarked to head home.
The Defoe incident then killed off Young Boys as the England striker clearly used his upper arm before turning to score with a low shot off the post.
The officials' failure to spot the offense will raise questions over the effectiveness of the two extra linesmen behind the goals who are being used in the Champions League this season.
Crouch headed another from a corner just past the hour mark and completed his hat-trick with a 78th minute penalty.
"I always felt it was possible to get Spurs into the Champions League," said Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.
"The club had underachieved for a long time.
"It was important we didn't waste the opportunity. We nearly did in Switzerland but we finished the job tonight."
Young Boys coach Vladimir Petkovic said: "It was difficult after the first goal and the second for me was the decisive moment."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
