Late collapse sees Spurs with mountain to climb in Uefa Cup
Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Spurs 0 SPURS conceded two goals in the last 11 minutes in Donetsk last night to leave their Uefa Cup hopes hanging in the balance, writes PATRICK MOONEY. Late goals from Yevgen Seleznyov and Rodrigues Jadson put Shakhtar in the drivin
Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Spurs 0
SPURS conceded two goals in the last 11 minutes in Donetsk last night to leave their Uefa Cup hopes hanging in the balance, writes PATRICK MOONEY.
Late goals from Yevgen Seleznyov and Rodrigues Jadson put Shakhtar in the driving seat for next Thursday's second leg at the Lane.
It was Tottenham's first of six matches in 17 days, including a Carling Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley, and boss Harry Redknapp fielded a patchwork team.
Only Jermaine Jenas and Michael Dawson - skipper on the night - remained from the team that drew 0-0 with Arsenal the previous week. Unsettled striker Darren Bent again found himself on the bench with rookie Fraiser Campbell playing as a long striker.There was also a senior debut for 17-year-old Dean Parrett in midfield.
Although Spurs created few chances - Giovani dos Santos fired into the side netting in the first half and Parrett was denied by the legs of keeper Andriy Pyatov in the second - their defence, with Dawson outstanding, was mainly in command.
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But just as Spurs looked as if they might escape with a goalless draw, Didier Zakora conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Up-stepped Jadson who crossed to find an unmarked Seleznyov to nod in past a flailing Heurelho Gomes to score with his first touch of the game after coming on as substitute.
An inability to deal with crosses has been a weakness of Gomes' this season and his failure to punch the ball before Seleznyov will not have helped his cause. It was an incident that saw the keeper needing extensive treatment for a knock.
Tottenham's heads dropped and Brazilian Jadson picked up the ball down the right and, after dancing around four defenders, played a one-two, before slotting in from 10 yards to secure the win.
Tottenham: Gomes, Gunter, Huddlestone, Dawson, Chimbonda, Jenas, Zokora, Parrett (Bostock 89), Bentley, Giovani (Bent 69), Campbell.
Subs Not Used: Jansson, Gilberto, Smith, Mason, Obika.
Att: 25,000
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