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Spurs won their first game of the season on away turf
against the most unlikely of clubs: Manchester City,
who hadn't lost a single match at home! Hossam Ghaly
played a good first half, in which he made a nice assist
in what will be classed as one of the goals of the month.
Read also:
Manchester City looked completely lacklustre
in the first half, and with their frustration mounting,
Spurs should definitely have finished the game off before
the interval. Two goals ended up good enough, and Mido's
entrance at the end helped ensure the hosts wouldn't
end up picking up an undeserved equaliser.
With Aaron Lennon injured Hossam Ghaly kept his place
in the side and performed well enough on the right.
Though his first touches occasionally let him down,
the Egyptian made plenty of quick first-time passes
back and square which kept Spurs on the ball throughout
the encounter. He also made an assist in the match when
he spotted Huddlestone's run in the centre; the end
product is worth seeing over and over.
In the second half, City's Joey Barton took the game
into his hands and chances became few for Tottenham.
Combining with the energetic Paul Dickov, Barton was
able to give the hosts hope and keep them on the ball,
but it wasn't enough. The Sky Blues were certainly let
down by their back-line.
Spurs showed their danger with the two on-form strikers
Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov showing danger early
on. Defoe's pace tested Dunne, and Berbatov's effort
in the opening minutes had to be blocked off the line
by Sylvain Distin. It didn't take long for the opener
however, as Calum Davenport flicked a neat header into
the goal after a teasing delivery from a Tom Huddlestone
free-kick.
The young midfielder showed once more that he isn't
merely about size, but that his technique is worthy
of the top level. He smashed home a half-volley after
one small bounce, which went powerfully and beyond goalkeeper
Nicky Weaver. Ghaly had received a pass from Berbatov
towards the right, and the Egyptian put a perfect chipped
pass into the centre, into the stride of Huddlestone,
who did the rest in style.
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Ghaly became involved further, providing decent passes to
the front as well as deep crosses. One cross forced a header
out by Dunne, which returned to Steed Malbranque to volley
from close range, only for a clearance on the line.
In the second half, Ghaly could have had an opening on the
counter attack but a poor touch on his dribble gave the ball
to the defence. Man City crawled right back into the match
when Dickov did superbly to hold the ball on the left before
swinging in a perfect cross for Joey Barton to put into the
net at the far post. The pressure continued, and shortly later,
Ghaly came in hard on Claudio Reyna on the edge of the box
leading to the American's injury, and with Ghaly still on
the floor after the challenge, he accidentally blocked Spurs'
counter attack as they attempted to advance the ball forward.
For the final seven minutes or so, Mido entered for Defoe.
His impact was surprisingly good, as he held up the ball for
Tottenham, ran with it winning free-kicks and throw-ins at
the front. At the back he was a recognisable aerial presence
as City put in crosses and corners. Yet the hosts could have
won a point nonetheless in the final minutes when the active
Steed Malbranque came in naively on Barton's legs inside the
penalty area. The referee waved away the appeals though it
is fair to say that it was the linesman's view that was great,
yet he didn't flag.
Tottenham move into 7th with this win, just 3 points behind
Liverpool who are in 3rd. One can only wonder how great the
situation would have been had they started these away wins
a little earlier...
EP Ratings:
Manchester City: Weaver 6, Richards 5 (Ireland 29'
6), Dunne 4, Distin 5, Jordan 5, Reyna 6 (Dabo 69' 5), Barton
7, Vassell 5, Trabelsi 5, Dickov 7, Samaras 4 (Onuoha 46'
6).
Spurs: Robinson 6, Chimbonda 6, YP Lee 7, Davenport
7, King 7, Ghaly 6, Mabranque 7, Huddlestone 8, Tainio
5, Berbatov 6, Defoe 6 (Mido 82' ?).
More soon on EgyptianPlayers.com...
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