West Ham 1 Tottenham 1
Goalkeeper Robert Green saved an injury-time penalty from Jermain Defoe to ensure West Ham earned a point in a thrilling 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Upton Park.
Tottenham centre-half Michael Dawson had hauled Spurs level with a header in the 66th minute after a first-half blunder by Younes Kaboul had allowed Carlton Cole to open the scoring for the Hammers.
But former West Ham striker Defoe earned a controversial penalty when he was brought down by Lucas Neill in stoppage time but the Spurs striker's spot-kick was kept out by Green.
Tottenham began the game brightly and had a goal ruled out for offside as early as the fourth minute after goalkeeper Robert Green could only parry a shot from Jermaine Jenas into the path of Aaron Lennon.
The England winger tucked the ball away from eight yards but was immediately flagged offside.
Tottenham had a penalty appeal rejected in the seventh minute when Dimitar Berbatov appeared to be tripped inside the penalty area but referee Mike Riley was unimpressed.
In the 12th minute West Ham striker Carlton Cole found himself in the book for leading with his arm when challenging Gareth Bale.
Three minutes later West Ham defender George McCartney almost scored an own goal when he connected with a free-kick from Jenas but, much to his relief, the ball went inches wide.
But West Ham went in front in the 19th minute then they took full advantage of a dreadful defensive lapse by Tottenham's Younes Kaboul.
The Spurs centre-half tried to pass the ball upfield but his clearance hit Luis Boa Morte who burst into the penalty area before finding Nolberto Solano with a clever reverse pass.
Solano shaped to shoot home from an acute angle but instead cleverly laid the ball across the six-yard-box for the unmarked Carlton Cole to place into an empty net.
In the 23rd minute Hayden Mullens tested goalkeeper Paul Robinson with an 18-yard drive which the England stopper had to collect at the second attempt.
West Ham were prevented from increasing their advantage in the 26th minute by a stunning save by Robinson.
The England international, controversially axed by former boss Steve McClaren for the 3-2 Euro 2008 qualifying defeat by Croatia that cost him his job, saved at point-blank range from Boa Morte.
Moments later Berbatov should have done better for Spurs when a cross from Bale was misjudged by Mullins, but the Bulgarian failed to the hit the target from the edge of the six-yard-box.
West Ham carved open Tottenham again in the 38th minute when Solano burst into space inside the penalty area. He allowed Boa Morte to cross the ball for Matthew Etherington to try his luck with a header from six yards.
However, the former Tottenham winger's effort was dealt with comfortably by Robinson.
Referee Riley was at the centre of controversy five minutes before the break when he refused to award Spurs a penalty.
Tottenham midfielder Zokora had found the unmarked Robbie Keane with a delightful through ball and the Irishman only had Green to beat in order to level the scores.
The Spurs striker chipped the ball over the head of the West ham goalkeeper who then appeared to trip him. The ball flashed wide of the post and Riley waved away furious appeals for a penalty from Keane and a host of other Tottenham players.
Tottenham wasted a glorious chance to level the scores in the 49th minute when an unchecked run by Jenas caused problems for the West Ham defence.
Jenas eventually played the ball to the unmarked Steed Malbranque who curled his short around Green's left-hand upright.
In the 62nd minute West Ham replaced Mark Noble with Scott Parker - making his first appearance since September after injury.
But Spurs hauled themselves level in the 66th minute when a free-kick from Jenas was headed into the net off the underside of the crossbar by defender Michael Dawson.
In the 77th minute a break down the left flank by Bale almost brought Tottenham further reward.
Bale's cross was met by Malbranque who hit a rising drive straight at Green. Moments later Spurs replaced Keane with former West Ham favourite Defoe to the expected howls of abuse from the home fans.
West Ham were still dangerous on the counter though and Cole sent a 20-yard drive flashing inches wide of the target in the 79th minute while Parker forced Robinson into a stunning save moments later. Jenas then had to clear a header from McCartney off the line in the final minute.
But Spurs should have won it in stoppage time when Defoe was brought down by Lucas Neill. But the Spurs striker's spot-kick was saved by Green.
Neill: Pick Green for England
Lucas Neill believes West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green deserves a call-up to the England side following his stoppage-time penalty save against Tottenham.
Green's brilliant stop from Jermain Defoe ensured the game ended 1-1 and Neill was particularly relieved as it was his foul on Defoe that led to the spot-kick being awarded.
'Thankfully Green's pulled out the save at the death, we deserved a draw, it was an entertaining game,' he told Sky Sports 1.
'He's staking a claim for a spot in the national team, especially as there's a bit of a crisis. It's about time he got a chance.'
Carlton Cole, who put the Hammers ahead in the first-half before Michael Dawson's equaliser, added: 'I felt if we could have taken some of our chances then we could have won the game. But we'll take a point.'
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley also hailed Robert Green.
'It would have been harsh if we had been done in the last minute like that,' he said.
'Green redeemed himself for their goal. I am delighted for him because he has been fantastic all season.
'He's come out the game a lot happier. He's been playing well all season and that's all he can do.
'He's been very consistent but I thought Robinson made some good saves today and a draw was a fair result.
'The night before the game we looked at Tottenham's last two penalties which Keane had taken and he had put them in two different places.
'But obviously Defoe took this one and he put it in the same place he did last year, so perhaps that's why Green decided to go that way.
'Green said sorry for the first goal because when you come for the ball you've got to come and get it but what he did at the end of the game made up for it.'
Referee Mike Riley had earlier incurred the wrath of Tottenham for failing to award them a penalty in the first half when Keane flicked the ball over the head of Green and was then tripped by the keeper.
But Curbishley questioned whether Keane made a meal of the contact when he saw that his lobbed effort was going wide.
Curbishley added: 'You live and die sometimes by the referee's decisions - he's had two big ones to make and some would say he got one wrong and one right.
'I thought Keane was offside and I was waiting for the flag to go up. I have seen it again and I still think he was offside.
'Once he's flicked it over Green, I think there may have been a bit of contact but I think Robbie realised there was contact when the ball was going wide.
'The other penalty I can see him giving because of the angle but I thought he had given a goal-kick.'
Spurs remain unbeaten under new coach Juande Ramos but he was left with much to reflect on after Kaboul's blunder and Defoe's penalty miss.
But he refused to criticise either player and was also reticent to vent his true feelings about Riley's performance, even though it was clear that he felt the foul on Keane should have been punished with a penalty and a red card for Green.
Ramos said: 'We had the possibility to score a second goal which we didn't do and we have to be happy with the draw. But we have lost vital points we think we deserved.
'The decisions are ones that the referee has to make very quickly. I have got my opinion but the referee has to make a decision and we have to accept his ruling.
'My opinion is different to the referee but he blew the whistle. It would have been a decision which would have changed the game.
'It was an unfortunate action and a mistake by Younes. It gave an advantage to West Ham and when you let in unnecessary goals, it is difficult to win the match.
'Logically, Jermain is a little bit upset but these things happen in football and you just have to accept it as part of the job.'
Tottenham centre-half Michael Dawson had hauled Spurs level with a header in the 66th minute after a first-half blunder by Younes Kaboul had allowed Carlton Cole to open the scoring for the Hammers.
But former West Ham striker Defoe earned a controversial penalty when he was brought down by Lucas Neill in stoppage time but the Spurs striker's spot-kick was kept out by Green.
Tottenham began the game brightly and had a goal ruled out for offside as early as the fourth minute after goalkeeper Robert Green could only parry a shot from Jermaine Jenas into the path of Aaron Lennon.
The England winger tucked the ball away from eight yards but was immediately flagged offside.
Tottenham had a penalty appeal rejected in the seventh minute when Dimitar Berbatov appeared to be tripped inside the penalty area but referee Mike Riley was unimpressed.
In the 12th minute West Ham striker Carlton Cole found himself in the book for leading with his arm when challenging Gareth Bale.
Three minutes later West Ham defender George McCartney almost scored an own goal when he connected with a free-kick from Jenas but, much to his relief, the ball went inches wide.
But West Ham went in front in the 19th minute then they took full advantage of a dreadful defensive lapse by Tottenham's Younes Kaboul.
The Spurs centre-half tried to pass the ball upfield but his clearance hit Luis Boa Morte who burst into the penalty area before finding Nolberto Solano with a clever reverse pass.
Solano shaped to shoot home from an acute angle but instead cleverly laid the ball across the six-yard-box for the unmarked Carlton Cole to place into an empty net.
In the 23rd minute Hayden Mullens tested goalkeeper Paul Robinson with an 18-yard drive which the England stopper had to collect at the second attempt.
West Ham were prevented from increasing their advantage in the 26th minute by a stunning save by Robinson.
The England international, controversially axed by former boss Steve McClaren for the 3-2 Euro 2008 qualifying defeat by Croatia that cost him his job, saved at point-blank range from Boa Morte.
Moments later Berbatov should have done better for Spurs when a cross from Bale was misjudged by Mullins, but the Bulgarian failed to the hit the target from the edge of the six-yard-box.
West Ham carved open Tottenham again in the 38th minute when Solano burst into space inside the penalty area. He allowed Boa Morte to cross the ball for Matthew Etherington to try his luck with a header from six yards.
However, the former Tottenham winger's effort was dealt with comfortably by Robinson.
Referee Riley was at the centre of controversy five minutes before the break when he refused to award Spurs a penalty.
Tottenham midfielder Zokora had found the unmarked Robbie Keane with a delightful through ball and the Irishman only had Green to beat in order to level the scores.
The Spurs striker chipped the ball over the head of the West ham goalkeeper who then appeared to trip him. The ball flashed wide of the post and Riley waved away furious appeals for a penalty from Keane and a host of other Tottenham players.
Tottenham wasted a glorious chance to level the scores in the 49th minute when an unchecked run by Jenas caused problems for the West Ham defence.
Jenas eventually played the ball to the unmarked Steed Malbranque who curled his short around Green's left-hand upright.
In the 62nd minute West Ham replaced Mark Noble with Scott Parker - making his first appearance since September after injury.
But Spurs hauled themselves level in the 66th minute when a free-kick from Jenas was headed into the net off the underside of the crossbar by defender Michael Dawson.
In the 77th minute a break down the left flank by Bale almost brought Tottenham further reward.
Bale's cross was met by Malbranque who hit a rising drive straight at Green. Moments later Spurs replaced Keane with former West Ham favourite Defoe to the expected howls of abuse from the home fans.
West Ham were still dangerous on the counter though and Cole sent a 20-yard drive flashing inches wide of the target in the 79th minute while Parker forced Robinson into a stunning save moments later. Jenas then had to clear a header from McCartney off the line in the final minute.
But Spurs should have won it in stoppage time when Defoe was brought down by Lucas Neill. But the Spurs striker's spot-kick was saved by Green.
Neill: Pick Green for England
Lucas Neill believes West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green deserves a call-up to the England side following his stoppage-time penalty save against Tottenham.
Green's brilliant stop from Jermain Defoe ensured the game ended 1-1 and Neill was particularly relieved as it was his foul on Defoe that led to the spot-kick being awarded.
'Thankfully Green's pulled out the save at the death, we deserved a draw, it was an entertaining game,' he told Sky Sports 1.
'He's staking a claim for a spot in the national team, especially as there's a bit of a crisis. It's about time he got a chance.'
Carlton Cole, who put the Hammers ahead in the first-half before Michael Dawson's equaliser, added: 'I felt if we could have taken some of our chances then we could have won the game. But we'll take a point.'
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley also hailed Robert Green.
'It would have been harsh if we had been done in the last minute like that,' he said.
'Green redeemed himself for their goal. I am delighted for him because he has been fantastic all season.
'He's come out the game a lot happier. He's been playing well all season and that's all he can do.
'He's been very consistent but I thought Robinson made some good saves today and a draw was a fair result.
'The night before the game we looked at Tottenham's last two penalties which Keane had taken and he had put them in two different places.
'But obviously Defoe took this one and he put it in the same place he did last year, so perhaps that's why Green decided to go that way.
'Green said sorry for the first goal because when you come for the ball you've got to come and get it but what he did at the end of the game made up for it.'
Referee Mike Riley had earlier incurred the wrath of Tottenham for failing to award them a penalty in the first half when Keane flicked the ball over the head of Green and was then tripped by the keeper.
But Curbishley questioned whether Keane made a meal of the contact when he saw that his lobbed effort was going wide.
Curbishley added: 'You live and die sometimes by the referee's decisions - he's had two big ones to make and some would say he got one wrong and one right.
'I thought Keane was offside and I was waiting for the flag to go up. I have seen it again and I still think he was offside.
'Once he's flicked it over Green, I think there may have been a bit of contact but I think Robbie realised there was contact when the ball was going wide.
'The other penalty I can see him giving because of the angle but I thought he had given a goal-kick.'
Spurs remain unbeaten under new coach Juande Ramos but he was left with much to reflect on after Kaboul's blunder and Defoe's penalty miss.
But he refused to criticise either player and was also reticent to vent his true feelings about Riley's performance, even though it was clear that he felt the foul on Keane should have been punished with a penalty and a red card for Green.
Ramos said: 'We had the possibility to score a second goal which we didn't do and we have to be happy with the draw. But we have lost vital points we think we deserved.
'The decisions are ones that the referee has to make very quickly. I have got my opinion but the referee has to make a decision and we have to accept his ruling.
'My opinion is different to the referee but he blew the whistle. It would have been a decision which would have changed the game.
'It was an unfortunate action and a mistake by Younes. It gave an advantage to West Ham and when you let in unnecessary goals, it is difficult to win the match.
'Logically, Jermain is a little bit upset but these things happen in football and you just have to accept it as part of the job.'
posted by dgarden at 2:06 pm
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