Jonathan Woodgate headed home an extra-time winner as Tottenham deservedly triumphed in the Carling Cup final against Chelsea.
Woodgate heads home extra-time Wembley winner
Jonathan Woodgate headed home an extra-time winner as Tottenham deservedly triumphed in the Carling Cup final against Chelsea.
The centre-back was first to reach a Jermaine Jenas free-kick in the 94th minute, with Petr Cech saving his initial effort before the ball rebounded straight back off the former Middlesbrough player and into the back of the net.
Spurs were much the brighter in the opening half, but fell behind when Didier Drogba deceived Paul Robinson with a low free-kick from outside the box in the 39th minute.
Juande Ramos' men continued to battle after the break and were handed the chance to level 20 minutes from time when the assistant referee ruled Wayne Bridge had handled Aaron Lennon's cross in the box under pressure from Tom Huddlestone.
Dimitar Berbatov stepped up to send Cech the wrong way and the match into extra-time, with Woodgate then securing Spurs' first trophy since they lifted the League Cup back in 1999 and a place in next season's Uefa Cup.
Supremacy
Tottenham's supremacy began from the kick-off when Chelsea full-back Juliano Belletti gave the ball straight to Robbie Keane.
The Irishman couldn't believe his luck but his shot was deflected to safety by John Terry, selected alongside Frank Lampard in the starting XI.
In the ninth minute Spurs hit the crossbar when Lennon's corner was met by the head of Pascal Chimbonda at the far post. Fortunately for Chelsea, the ball dropped onto the top of the bar and out to safety.
Seconds later it was the turn of Berbatov to squander a gilt-edged opportunity when he headed Keane's cross wide of the target from six yards.
Tottenham continued to remain in the ascendancy and in the 27th minute Steed Malbranque brought a fine diving save from Cech when he tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area.
Chelsea, in contrast, had failed to find their normal free-flowing football but Tottenham's inability to find some reward for their control eventually let Avram Grant's side seize back the initiative.
The warning signs were there for Spurs when Didier Zokora brought down Shaun Wright-Phillips on the edge of the penalty area in the 33rd minute.
Drogba's free-kick was a foot wide of the target but when Zokora fouled his Ivory Coast team-mate four minutes later, the misdemeanour had major implications for Ramos' side.
Punishment
Firstly, Zokora was booked by referee Mark Halsey but the more lethal punishment was to follow when Drogba's free-kick found the back of the net with goalkeeper Robinson completely wrong-footed.
Tottenham's response was immediate when Berbatov flicked the ball on to Keane to shoot straight at Cech.
Chelsea continued to look comfortable after the re-start and although Tottenham raised their game it took a fine stop from captain Ledley King to prevent Nicolas Anelka from increasing their lead in the 65th minute.
But Tottenham found a way back into the game when Bridge was adjudged to have handled with Bulgarian striker Berbatov stepping up to send Cech the wrong way and keep Tottenham's dreams alive.
Inspired
Spurs were now inspired and they should have gone in front in the 80th minute when Keane sent Zokora clean through with just Cech to beat, but the Chelsea 'keeper saved Zokora's first effort with his face and the Ivory Coast midfielder then blasted the follow-up high and wide.
Grant was clearly concerned by Tottenham's resurgence and he had every right to be especially when Berbatov brought another stunning save from Cech in the 84th minute.
Chelsea were now hanging on like a punch-drunk boxer in the final rounds but Spurs could not find the knockout salvo.
But Ramos clinched his first trophy as Spurs manager when Anelka fouled Lennon in the Chelsea half just four minutes into extra-time.
Woodgate, signed from Boro in the January transfer window for £8million, glanced the free-kick from Jenas onto Cech's gloves and the ball then rebounded off the Spurs defender and into the net.
Robinson justified his selection with seven minutes remaining when he saved superbly to deny Chelsea substitute Salomon Kalou.
Spurs had to withstand some more anxious moments as Chelsea threw everyone forward in an attempt to equalise but the final whistle signalled a fabulous triumph for Ramos who had won his first silverware just four months after taking over from Martin Jol.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Chelsea |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
8 |
| 5 |
Corners |
11 |
| 20 |
Fouls |
20 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 4 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 76.8 |
Passing Success |
75 |
| 25 |
Tackles |
30 |
| 84 |
Tackles Success |
73.3 |
| 46.9 |
Possession |
53.1 |
| 45.6 |
Territorial Advantage |
54.4 |
|
