UEFA CUP: Slavia Prague 1 Tottenham 2
Tottenham edged towards the last-16 of the UEFA Cup with a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague but Radek Cerny handed his former club a lifeline with a second-half blunder in the first-leg clash.
Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, who now have 36 goals between them this season, struck in the first half at the Strahov Stadium to provide a cushion for Juande Ramos' side as they prepare for the Carling Cup final.
In sub-zero temperatures in the Czech Republic capital, Spurs were cruising until Cerny dropped the ball under his crossbar and David Strihavka finished.
Spurs will face PSV Eindhoven or Helsingborg if they defend their lead in the second leg of the tie next week, although their eyes may be on Wembley the following Sunday if they are not already.
Ledley King was on the bench in Prague but his knee was not risked in the freezing conditions for fear of missing the showpiece against Chelsea.
Once a lead was established, Spurs did not want to risk adding to their injury list which already has Michael Dawson and Kevin-Prince Boateng on it, both with hamstring complaints.
But for Cerny's error, the plan would have worked perfectly.
If King's role as a substitute reflected Ramos protecting his skipper, Berbatov requiring treatment on his ankle in the first half would have struck fear into the Spaniard. Berbatov was fine to continue, though, after his treatment.
Losing Jermaine Jenas to injury would arguably be just as damaging to Spurs given his recent form that has earned a recall to the England squad.
Jenas set up both first-half goals, the opener coming in the fourth minute after a typical surging run.
He was stopped on the edge of the area but Berbatov pounced on the loose ball and his low volley caught goalkeeper Martin Vaniak poorly positioned. It was the Bulgaria striker's 16th of the season and his third in as many Spurs games.
The Czechs, who are top of their domestic league but have not played for two months due to their winter break, almost replied immediately.
Daniel Pudil and Jaroslav Cerny had efforts on goal but neither tested Spurs stopper Cerny, and the hosts appeared to be rusty without a rhythm of games behind them.
The visitors grabbed their second on the half-hour mark when Keane struck his 20th of the season.
Spurs worked the ball out of defence with Jenas again making the yards. His ball split the Slavia defence and Keane finished calmly past Vaniak, who got his angles wrong.
David Hubacek was cautioned for protesting, then Teemu Tainio joined him in the book for a challenge on Pudil.
Tainio was playing at right-back, with Pascal Chimbonda on the left and Didier Zokora in central defence - meaning three of Spurs' four defenders were playing out of position.
It mattered little at first though as it looked like Spurs would add to the scoring, even if they were not playing at full tilt.
Berbatov forced Vaniak into a double save just before the break when he almost finished off a flowing move with flicks from Keane and Aaron Lennon confusing the hosts.
Tom Huddlestone also forced a full-stretch save from the Slavia goalkeeper, who was atoning for his part in Spurs' goals.
Huddlestone beat Vaniak early in the second period after weaving through the Slavia defence - but his finish smashed off the woodwork.
Slavia defender Mickael Tavares did have a glimpse of goal but headed over when he met a free-kick. Up to that point it was a quiet night for Spurs goalkeeper Cerny, who was given a warm reception by home fans on his return.
Spurs fans also asked him to salute them, normally a request for Paul Robinson, reflecting how he has cemented his place in the team in the last month. But his night changed with 21 minutes remaining when he failed to deal with Hubacek's hanging cross. Strihavka, who challenged him, prodded the ball over the line.
Erich Brabec could have levelled but hit the bar from a corner with five minutes left, with Cerny left stranded.
Ramos defends Cerny
Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos refused to single out Radek Cerny for criticism after the goalkeeper handed his former club a UEFA Cup lifeline.
Spurs were cruising against Slavia Prague and Cerny had little to do at the Strahov Stadium until he dropped David Hubacek's hanging cross with 21 minutes left and David Strihavka prodded in.
It means Spurs have a slender 2-1 advantage to defend next week if they are to make it the last 16 of the competition.
'The mistakes can always happen, that is the world of football,' said Ramos.
'This time it was the turn of Cerny.
'It's quite possible that he seemed really nervous after the goal, more than normal.
'It must be very difficult for him to be at his home ground to play against his former club.'
Robbie Keane, who scored Spurs' second goal, added: 'Things happen. He made a mistake but he's big enough to accept that.'
Spurs could probably have done with wrapping up victory in the Czech Republic capital, given that they have the Carling Cup final three days after the second leg.
'Before the cup final we have the second leg of this tie and all our efforts are now concentrated on this match, and before we finish it we won't be thinking about Wembley,' said Ramos.
'I think we really controlled the play in the first hour but we became quite nervous and could have achieved a better result,' said Ramos.
'We allowed Slavia to react and find a way back and now we have a tough second leg to play.
'The match lasts 90 minutes and we have to take it like that.
'We have to accept it. We could have achieved a better result, a more definite win but we can't change it.'
Keane added on five: 'In the first half we played brilliantly, they didn't get a sniff.
'We came out in the second half and I don't know what happened, we knew they would come out and make it difficult for us. The second half performance was not good enough.
'We've won the game, that's the most important thing. But we wanted to get the job finished.
'There's still a bit left in this game, we'll get them back to White Hart Lane and there's no reason why we can't go through.'
Slavia coach Karel Jarolim felt his side relaxed after falling two goals behind.
'We knew there was nothing to lose,' he said. 'Radek Cerny helped us because he did not catch the ball but it was good from our player.'
Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, who now have 36 goals between them this season, struck in the first half at the Strahov Stadium to provide a cushion for Juande Ramos' side as they prepare for the Carling Cup final.
In sub-zero temperatures in the Czech Republic capital, Spurs were cruising until Cerny dropped the ball under his crossbar and David Strihavka finished.
Spurs will face PSV Eindhoven or Helsingborg if they defend their lead in the second leg of the tie next week, although their eyes may be on Wembley the following Sunday if they are not already.
Ledley King was on the bench in Prague but his knee was not risked in the freezing conditions for fear of missing the showpiece against Chelsea.
Once a lead was established, Spurs did not want to risk adding to their injury list which already has Michael Dawson and Kevin-Prince Boateng on it, both with hamstring complaints.
But for Cerny's error, the plan would have worked perfectly.
If King's role as a substitute reflected Ramos protecting his skipper, Berbatov requiring treatment on his ankle in the first half would have struck fear into the Spaniard. Berbatov was fine to continue, though, after his treatment.
Losing Jermaine Jenas to injury would arguably be just as damaging to Spurs given his recent form that has earned a recall to the England squad.
Jenas set up both first-half goals, the opener coming in the fourth minute after a typical surging run.
He was stopped on the edge of the area but Berbatov pounced on the loose ball and his low volley caught goalkeeper Martin Vaniak poorly positioned. It was the Bulgaria striker's 16th of the season and his third in as many Spurs games.
The Czechs, who are top of their domestic league but have not played for two months due to their winter break, almost replied immediately.
Daniel Pudil and Jaroslav Cerny had efforts on goal but neither tested Spurs stopper Cerny, and the hosts appeared to be rusty without a rhythm of games behind them.
The visitors grabbed their second on the half-hour mark when Keane struck his 20th of the season.
Spurs worked the ball out of defence with Jenas again making the yards. His ball split the Slavia defence and Keane finished calmly past Vaniak, who got his angles wrong.
David Hubacek was cautioned for protesting, then Teemu Tainio joined him in the book for a challenge on Pudil.
Tainio was playing at right-back, with Pascal Chimbonda on the left and Didier Zokora in central defence - meaning three of Spurs' four defenders were playing out of position.
It mattered little at first though as it looked like Spurs would add to the scoring, even if they were not playing at full tilt.
Berbatov forced Vaniak into a double save just before the break when he almost finished off a flowing move with flicks from Keane and Aaron Lennon confusing the hosts.
Tom Huddlestone also forced a full-stretch save from the Slavia goalkeeper, who was atoning for his part in Spurs' goals.
Huddlestone beat Vaniak early in the second period after weaving through the Slavia defence - but his finish smashed off the woodwork.
Slavia defender Mickael Tavares did have a glimpse of goal but headed over when he met a free-kick. Up to that point it was a quiet night for Spurs goalkeeper Cerny, who was given a warm reception by home fans on his return.
Spurs fans also asked him to salute them, normally a request for Paul Robinson, reflecting how he has cemented his place in the team in the last month. But his night changed with 21 minutes remaining when he failed to deal with Hubacek's hanging cross. Strihavka, who challenged him, prodded the ball over the line.
Erich Brabec could have levelled but hit the bar from a corner with five minutes left, with Cerny left stranded.
Ramos defends Cerny
Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos refused to single out Radek Cerny for criticism after the goalkeeper handed his former club a UEFA Cup lifeline.
Spurs were cruising against Slavia Prague and Cerny had little to do at the Strahov Stadium until he dropped David Hubacek's hanging cross with 21 minutes left and David Strihavka prodded in.
It means Spurs have a slender 2-1 advantage to defend next week if they are to make it the last 16 of the competition.
'The mistakes can always happen, that is the world of football,' said Ramos.
'This time it was the turn of Cerny.
'It's quite possible that he seemed really nervous after the goal, more than normal.
'It must be very difficult for him to be at his home ground to play against his former club.'
Robbie Keane, who scored Spurs' second goal, added: 'Things happen. He made a mistake but he's big enough to accept that.'
Spurs could probably have done with wrapping up victory in the Czech Republic capital, given that they have the Carling Cup final three days after the second leg.
'Before the cup final we have the second leg of this tie and all our efforts are now concentrated on this match, and before we finish it we won't be thinking about Wembley,' said Ramos.
'I think we really controlled the play in the first hour but we became quite nervous and could have achieved a better result,' said Ramos.
'We allowed Slavia to react and find a way back and now we have a tough second leg to play.
'The match lasts 90 minutes and we have to take it like that.
'We have to accept it. We could have achieved a better result, a more definite win but we can't change it.'
Keane added on five: 'In the first half we played brilliantly, they didn't get a sniff.
'We came out in the second half and I don't know what happened, we knew they would come out and make it difficult for us. The second half performance was not good enough.
'We've won the game, that's the most important thing. But we wanted to get the job finished.
'There's still a bit left in this game, we'll get them back to White Hart Lane and there's no reason why we can't go through.'
Slavia coach Karel Jarolim felt his side relaxed after falling two goals behind.
'We knew there was nothing to lose,' he said. 'Radek Cerny helped us because he did not catch the ball but it was good from our player.'
posted by dgarden at 10:31 am
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