Israel Saria
Eurosport
Tottenham went out of the UEFA Cup as they lost 6-5 on penalties after a 1-0 victory on the night at PSV Eindhoven.
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Paul Robinson saved Danko Lazovic‘s effort to put the visitors ahead but Jermaine Jenas missed the chance to send his side into the quarter-finals when his effort was saved by home keeper Heurelho Gomes.
And then Pascal Chimbonda, with Tottenham’s seventh penalty, dragged his effort wide of the right post.
Brazilian Gomez was PSV’s hero, producing an incredible save in the final minute of injury-time to tip Steed Malbranque‘s superb volley, which was destined for the top corner over the crossbar.
Spurs had forced extra time with a superb volley nine minutes from the end of normal time by Dimitar Berbatov to cancel out last week’s 1-0 home reverse.
A soporific opening 45 minutes did not promise the entertainment that was to follow.
Malbranque had a decent sight at goal but his shot from the right channel was blazed wide while Ledley King‘s near post header from a corner was flicked just wide of the far post.
Tom Huddlestone had a free-kick flicked over the top for a corner and his low drive struck Carlos Salcido‘s left ankle and went just past the far post.
PSV were extremely cautious and that prompted an attacking change by Spurs boss Juande Ramos, searching for a third consecutive UEFA Cup final appearance, with Darren Bent coming on for Lee Young-Pyo.
And the sub should have scored with his first touch but after Robbie Keane squared into his path, he scuffed his shot which Gomez claimed at the second attempt.
Danny Koevermans then missed a superb chance which would have left the Londoners needing to score three
A superbly worked free-kick by PSV saw the ball chipped by their star performer Jason Culina into the striker, unmarked and alone six yards out, but he merely flicked the ball into the arms of Robinson.
Spurs brought on Aaron Lennon for King as they pressed for the equaliser and started to leave gaps at the back with Ibrahim Afellay‘s low drive parried by Robinson, full stretch to his right, and first leg scorer Jefferson Farfan‘s free-kick beating Robinson but just floating wide of the near post.
However Tottenham continued to press and Berbatov flicked a header past the post after a neat clipped free-kick from Huddlestone who fired a fierce shot just wide from 20 yards.
Another glorious chance for Tottenham was wasted when Bent opted to square rather than shoot and he failed to pick out Keane.
While Keane’s flicked header from Huddlestone’s free-kick landed on the roof of the net and Berbatov’s snap shot from 20 yards was held by Gomez.
But Spurs were finally on level terms when Pascal Chimbonda’s driven cross was superbly volleyed home by Berbatov from 15 yards.
Bent had a chance to win it in normal time but his header was tipped over by Gomez and that saw a cautious extra 30 minutes before Gomez’ heroics which leaves Tottenham with very little to play for until May.
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