Pre-season 2010: Sporting Lisbon 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur – Robbie Keane and Jonathan Obika on target as Portuguese side secure Barclays New York Challenge trophy

Entertaining match ends in draw...

25 Jul 2010 19:54:00

By Richard Parry

More On :  Sporting CP, Tottenham, Sporting CP vs Tottenham
Vedran Corluka - Vitor Golas, Tottenham - Sporting Lisbon (Getty Images)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey, USA
Kick off: 18:00 BST

Sporting Lisbon
 2-2
Tottenham Hotspur
Matias 24
Jaime Valdes 48
Keane 23
Obika 69


Tottenham drew their final match in the USA 2-2 against Sporting Lisbon , as the Portuguese side secured the Barclays New York Challenge trophy.

The match started in explosive fashion, with Alan Hutton going close for Spurs in the opening minute. Robbie Keane showed quick feet before finding Niko Kranjcar, who in turn split the Lisbon defence with a through pass that found the onrushing Hutton who blasted wide from 16 yards.

But within minutes, the Portuguese side spurned a host of opportunities, in what can only be described as a goal-mouth scramble.

Kyle Walker was caught in possession by Liedsen, and after the forward span in the box, Carlo Cudicini managed to block his shot. But the ball went straight to Sousa, but his shot halted by Gareth Bale on the line. Valdes was then on hand for the rebound, but the Italian ‘keeper managed to somehow claw the ball away, but only to the feet of Matias, who, with the goal gaping, struck the crossbar with a thunderous shot. Amazing scenes.

But it was Spurs who would break the deadlock on 23 minutes. After being played through on goal by another fantastic Kranjcar pass, Keane sped into the box before calmly slotting the ball past Patricio to put Tottenham ahead.

However, Sporting found their equaliser a minute later, after a fantastic move. Salomao played a delightful ball into the box with the outside of his left foot, and Matias was there to apply the finish with a superb diving header into top corner.

The game began to settle down as it approached the half-time whistle, with the players clearly feeling the effects of the lunchtime sun, with the match kicking-off at 13:00 local time.

And Harry Redknapp received a scare on 38 minutes, when Vedran Corluka went down after a heaving challenge from Liedson left the Croatian clutching his leg, a tackle which would see the Lisbon man pick-up a booking.

But Spurs should have been ahead on 44 minutes. Once again Tottenham looked dangerous down the right flank, and after good work from Keane, he whip the ball across the box to the onrushing Bale, but the Welshman was unable to make contact, and the ball sped out for a throw-in.

HALF-TIME: Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

The Portuguese side went in front within three minutes of the restart, with Jaime Valdes slotting the ball past substitute goalkeeper David Button with a composed finished on 48 minutes.

And if the knock to Corluka wasn’t enough to torment Redknapp, went Bale went down on 58 minutes after a strong, but exceptional, challenge by Leandro Grimi. Nevertheless, after some treatment on the sidelines, the Welshman returned to the field.

Spurs went close to levelling the proceedings on 67 minutes. Hutton did well on the right flank, before pulling the ball back to Kranjcar, but the Croatian dragged his effort just wide of the upright.

Two minutes later, Spurs found their goal, and it was substitute Jonathan Obika who powered the ball past the Sporting ‘keeper, after the 19-year-old latched onto Keane’s through-pass.

On 76 minutes, Liedson was replaced by former Spurs midfielder Pedro Mendes, who in turn given the captain’s armband. 

Tom Huddlestone almost produced a moment of magic to seal the victory for Spurs in the final minute of the match. After Keane sped through toward the Sporting goal, ‘keeper Patricio was first to him to clear the ball to the halfway line, but straight to the feet of Huddlestone, whose hit a power drive that just flew wide.

Watch highlights of the match courtesy of 101greatgoals.com here

Tottenham: Cudicini (Button 46); Hutton, Corluka, Walker, Naughton (Rose 63); Kranjcar (Townsend 67), Jenas, Huddlestone, Bale; Taarabt (Obika 59); Keane.


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