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| January 09, 2007 | Tuesday | Zilhaj 18, 1427 |
FA Cup: Tottenham forced to play it again
CARDIFF, Jan 8: Tottenham were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw by Championship side Cardiff in the FA Cup third round on Sunday. Martin Jol's side survived several scares before emerging unscathed from rain-soaked Ninian Park as Cardiff pushed their Premiership opponents all the way.
Michael Chopra was closest to winning a hard-fought tie, but he poked his first-half shot wide and the sides will meet again in a replay at White Hart Lane later this month.
Cardiff had failed to win any of their last ten matches, while Tottenham had won all nine of their cup matches this season, so Dave Jones's side can take great credit from a determined display.
Chopra had started the season in tremendous form but he has scored just once since early November and his lack of confidence was apparent in the opening stages.
He sprinted clear of the Tottenham defence to beat goalkeeper Paul Robinson to a weak back-header from Korean Lee Young-Pyo, but could only push his shot tentatively wide from the edge of the area.
Jermain Defoe had Tottenham's first effort on goal as he sent a volley inches wide from a tight angle.
Dimitar Berbatov has been Tottenham's most impressive forward this season and the Bulgarian had a sight of goal in the 23rd minute when Cardiff failed to clear, but his deflected shot was well held by Neil Alexander.
England keeper Robinson nearly gifted Cardiff the lead moments later as he allowed Steven Thompson's header to squirm under his body and just past a post.
Tottenham suffered an embarrassing FA Cup third round defeat at Leicester, another Championship outfit, last season and have struggled on their travels this term so it was little surprise that they produced a nervous display in the first half.
Cardiff always looked capable of carving open the visitors' defence and Willo Flood's fine pass to Chopra had the Tottenham back-four in trouble, but the striker's cross was just in front of Thompson.
Scotland striker Thompson was guilty of a poor finish soon after half-time as he scuffed his shot weakly wide from close range.
Defoe fared little better as he ran onto Steed Malbranque's pass, only to steer his strike well wide.
Joe Ledley gave Tottenham a scare in the 55th minute as he swiveled onto a cross from Chopra and blasted just over.
Alexander had to be quick off his line to punch clear as Defoe chased Berbatov's flick, but neither side possessed sufficient cutting edge to break the deadlock.
The last significant chance fell to Defoe after 60 minutes but Alexander was equal to the England striker's close range effort.—AFP
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