Richmond Spurs: MATCH REPORT: ANDERLECHT 1, SPURS 1

Courtesy of Official Site-

Dimitar Berbatov provided the cool head needed to book our place in the last 32
of the UEFA Cup with the penalty to secure a 1-1 draw at Anderlecht on Thursday
night.
On as a second half substitute, Berba calmy slotted home the spot
kick won by Jermaine Jenas as keeper Daniel Zitka dived the other way in
the 71st minute. The point means we'll finish second place at worst in Group H
with the final round of matches to follow on December 19.
It was just what
the doctor ordered on a rain-soaked night in Belgium as the home side took the
lead two minutes earlier, Bart Goor slotting home from 16
yards.
There were a couple of changes to the starting line-up from the team
that took on Birmingham on Sunday, with Lee Young-Pyo drafted in for the injured
Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone taking the place of Younes Kaboul. It was
naturally not a straight swap as it was Didier Zokora who took up position at
centre half. Darren Bent retained his place in the side, this time in a
two-pronged attack alongside Robbie Keane - featuring in his final game before
serving a three-match suspension. There was not a huge amount of meaningful
activity in the opening 15 minutes as the teams sized each other up, as well as
attempting to get used to the new UEFA ball - which seemed to fly around a bit.
Mbo Mpenza nearly stole a march on Lee midway through the half, but his touch
was heavy and Paul Robinson was able to advance and collect before Jermaine
Jenas issued Daniel Zitka with his first assignment of the game with a low drive
that the goalkeeper foiled. Robinson denied Roland Jahasz with a similar smother
at the other end ten minutes before the break as Anderlecht increased the
intensity slightly, although it was Jermaine Jenas who received the first
caution of the evening after 41 minutes. The home side did manage to rouse their
supporters just ahead of half-time when Martin Wasilewski forced Robinson into
action and Nicolas Frutos looked set to profit from the rebound but failed to
capitalise and shot wide. In truth, it was a poor half in which both sides
displayed little creativity or, apart from late on, looked like altering the
scoreboard. Keane did test Zitka in the opening moments of the second half and
Pascal Chimbonda seized on the loose ball but could not break the deadlock.
Robinson then ensured parity remained with a smart block to deny the rampaging
threat of Frutos, who made a powerful run into the area. An Mpenza surge
followed and this time it was an excellent challenge from Zokora that quelled
the potential danger. Berbatov entered the stage in the 58th minute, taking the
place of Keane, and it was the Bulgarian who stepped up to take charge of a
free-kick 66 minutes in after the felling of Steed Malbranque. Zitko, however,
was equal to the challenge. Just two minutes later though, Anderlecht snatched
the lead when an Mpenza cross from the right was not dealt with by Michael
Dawson or Jenas and Bart Goor was able to steer past Robinson. A quick
response was called for and we didn't have to wait too long - just a couple of
minutes. Jenas was bought down in the area and the referee pointed spot-wards to
the despair of the home support and Berbatov, cool as you like, slotted his
penalty past Zitka. Jermain Defoe came on for Bent but it was Robinson who made
the next significant contribution with a superb stop to deny the substitute
Cyril Thereau.
Typically sharp off the bench, JD then tested Zitka twice, the
home keeper producing a smart save to tip the second effort over.
That was
just about that - our last moment of concern as a corner bobbled around - and
the whistle signalled further progress in the competition. The only worrying
note Young-Pyo Lee's departure on a stretcher after a clash of heads.