Richmond Spurs: Match Report: League Cup Arse 1 Spurs 1

Courtesy of Official Site-

A goal 12 minutes from time denied the team a deserved Carling Cup advantage
after the 1st leg of this semi-final encounter.
Jermaine Jenas' first half
goal could, and probably should, have been added to in the second half, but a
swift counter-attack and Theo Walcott strike saw to it that the teams go again
at level pegging at the Lane in just under two weeks time.It was a game that
enjoyed a pulsating beginning, with Ledley King providing the first meaningful
burst into opposition territory with a lung-busting run that was only steered
off-course when he entered the penalty area. It was a promising sign. A Justin
Hoyte cross 14 minutes in led to Radek Cerny being worked for the first time and
he was up to the task, reacting superbly to foil a powerful header from Nicklas
Bentner. Arsenal were establishing territory, dictating the momentum at this
stage and looking the greater threat. An Aaron Lennon dart into the box
disrupted that rhythm and came close to causing home alarm, before Berbatov was
illegally stopped in his tracks after rounding Abou Diaby and Jamie O'Hara bent
a low free-kick about a foot wide of Lukasz Fabianski's right hand post. The
lead was so nearly snared on 32 minutes when Jenas snatched the ball back in
midfield, which enabled Dimitar Berbatov to flight forward in the direction of
Robbie Keane. Keane was bundled out of capitalising himself, but the ball fell
to Steed Malbranque and his side-footed effort rolled just the wrong side of the
upright. The same player was then off target with header from a Keane cross
after Fabianski came racing out of his goal. Moments later Berbatov stung the
hands of Fabianski from distance and you could sense increased belief creeping
into the side. This was confirmed with 37 minutes on the clock when a King
floated ball from the back was helped on by Berbatov and Keane was on the dash
again. This time he squared the ball into the path of Jenas and the midfielder,
cool as you like, slotted past Fabianski. The Spurs thousands erupted like a
blue and white volcano behind the goal. You had to witness it to really
appreciate the explosion of sound. Two minutes before the break Jenas drilled in
a low effort that Fabianski did well to foil and Arsenal were well and truly
rattled as half-time neared. The second half started in much the same fashion,
the early promptings coming from the team in white shirts, with both Malbranque
and Keane afforded shooting chances. A performance of considerable composure and
great ambition continued past the hour mark. The home territory of the stadium
was silent, the Spurs end was humming as the team pressed and pressed but
without final execution. Michael Dawson contributed a stunning block at the
other end to deny Diaby during a brief spell of Arsenal pressure and Juande
Ramos made his move and replaced Malbranque with Kevin Prince Boateng with 13
minutes left. Just moments later Arsenal were level when second half sub Eduardo
set Theo Walcott on the run and, after being closed down by Young-Pyo Lee, the
ball cannoned back of the arm/chest of the young striker and past Cerny into the
net. Jermain Defoe was bought on for the final six minutes in place of Keane and
he should have won it when Lennon teed him up in front of goal after Berbatov
sent the wide man clear.It could perhaps have gone either way in the closing
exchanges, but this two-parter will continue to be an edge-of-seat episode when
played out to a conclusion at the Lane.