FA Cup, Quarter Final replay
A Tottenham Hotspur fan stormed onto the pitch at the end of the FA Cup Quarter Final replay (after the first game finished 3-3) between Tottenham and Chelsea and attacked Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard after his team were beaten 2-1.
A sublime goal from Andriy Shevchenko and a bullet from Shaun Wright-Phillips secured Chelsea's place in the Semi-Final.
Also last night, Manchester United beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in their Quarter Final replay, the goal coming from a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.......
FA to launch investigation after fan attacks Lampard
20th March 2007
The Football Association have confirmed they will investigate incidents at the end of Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final win at Tottenham Hotspur when two fans ran onto the pitch, one of whom threw a punch at England midfielder Frank Lampard.
Spurs officials will be contacted by the FA today after the supporters ran on to the pitch after the final whistle of the replay at White Hart Lane following the visitors' 2-1 victory.
Flashpoint: the invader is bundled to the ground as stunned players from both sides look on
An FA spokesman said: "These scenes were totally unacceptable and we will be contacting Spurs as a matter of priority.
"We want to establish what safety and security provisions were in place for the game and to confirm what action was taken against the fans who ran onto the pitch.
"We understand that both individuals were arrested and we would expect them to be given football banning orders."
Chelsea's win, courtesy of stunning goals by Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips, sets up a semi-final with Blackburn but the result was overshadowed by the ugly scenes afterwards.
"I saw the guy coming and wanted to keep my eye on him because if I turn my back, I thought I might get one on me," Lampard said.
"I just ducked and the stewards got to him. The way he ran at me I think he'd had a few drinks.
"I don't think he should have been on the pitch in the first place, but you can understand there's a lot of emotion in a match like this."
*******************************************************
FA Cup, Quarter Final replay
Spurs rocked by Sheva gem as fracas mars finale
Tottenham 1 Chelsea 2
..................Shevchenko 54
Keane 79 (pen).........Wright-Phillips 61
By MATT LAWTON
20th March 2007
Glory run: Chelsea’s Andriy Shevchenko (right) celebrates his stunning strike with Diarra
More than 90 minutes of fiercely contested football might not have harmed England’s players at White Hart Lane on Monday night.
But a fan very nearly did, almost landing a punch on Frank Lampard and almost certainly landing Tottenham in serious trouble.
Steve McClaren had no doubt left by then, content in the knowledge that his six internationals who had played their part in this tense, at times entertaining, replay would be available for this weekend’s crucial European Championship clash in Israel. But England’s coach will take nothing for granted now.
It was an extraordinary end to an extraordinary quarter-final tie. Nine goals, 180 minutes of relentless attacking football and a remarkable burst of speed from Jose Mourinho.
He was not much of a player in his youth but Chelsea’s manager was no slouch when he raced to the rescue of a bare-chested Lampard.
Just as quick in the opposite direction last night was Martin Jol. Just as angry, too. Tottenham’s manager was not impressed by the antics of the Chelsea bench towards the end of this game and responded to the final whistle by disappearing immediately down the tunnel.
It was left to Chris Hughton to communicate the feelings of a manager who was incensed by the sight of Chelsea assistant Baltemar Brito trying to hang on to the ball in the closing minutes.
Brito’s actions sparked a brief spat between the two benches and set the tone for what followed.
Hughton appeared to use the foulest of vulgarities towards Brito and certain supporters saw that as an excuse to run on to the pitch.
Jol’s rage must have been accompanied by regret on Monday night. Regret for failing to hang on to that 3-1 lead at Stamford Bridge nine days ago and for failing to beat the English champions at White Hart Lane for the second time this season.
They never really got close to denying Chelsea a semi-final date with Blackburn. They had their moments, starting brightly and then threatening with shots from Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque shortly after the interval.
But they lacked the finishing touch of those previous encounters and their inability to turn possession into the precious currency of goals proved costly.
What must have really got to Jol was the confidence Mourinho had displayed before this game. Jol had revealed how irritating he found his opposite number whenever he refers to himself as the "Special One" and Mourinho’s pre-match prediction would also have galled.
Mourinho said he "expected" to be in this season’s FA Cup Final and, while he may not have expected last night’s goals to come from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright- Phillips, they are indeed now within touching distance of the new Wembley. Not only that but a showcase meeting with Manchester United.
The goals were stunning, Shevchenko following his strike against Sheffield United last weekend with another piece of magic that suggests he is coming into form at exactly the right time.
For those who were starting to wonder why he was once among the most revered forwards in Europe, who could not understand how he cost Roman Abramovich £31million, there was a demonstration in the 55th minute.
After a drop of the shoulder that took him past Malbranque came a wonderful left-foot finish that curled beyond the reach of a stunned Paul Robinson.
One unsettled forward followed another on to the scoresheet six minutes later, Wright-Phillips beating Robinson with a super volley after Didier Drogba had controlled Ashley Cole’s long ball on his chest.
Jol felt the best team had lost and while that was slightly stretching the truth, Tottenham deserved credit for the way they fought to the very end.
They had not lost since February 10 and simply refused to give up, their efforts earning them a penalty in the 78th minute when Ricardo Carvalho hacked down Dimitar Berbatov.
Robbie Keane scored from the spot to ensure another thrilling FA Cup finale and give McClaren nightmares. Extra time was not what the England coach would have wanted, not least because of the commitment both sides had already shown.
The deployment of Aaron Lennon in the hole behind two strikers was a system that worked well for Jol at Stamford Bridge and the Tottenham manager returned to it again.
It made for another entertaining game that immediately came to life when Keane played a quick one-two with Berbatov and might well have scored had it not been for a fine interception by Cole.
Another Tottenham attack ended with Berbatov squandering an excellent cross from Malbranque. The Bulgarian’s header was on target but it was easy for Petr Cech to save.
But Chelsea responded with urgency and determination. Much of their attacking football came as a result of John Obi Mikel’s effectiveness as a defensive midfielder. The youngster was not as efficient as the absent Claude Makelele but full of energy and enthusiasm.
If there were no first half goals, it was only because the quality of the defending was so high. John Terry excelled at the back for Chelsea, while Michael Dawson did a convincing impersonation of the England and Chelsea captain at the opposite end of the pitch.
Until, that is, Shevchenko reminded us why he was once the darling of the San Siro.
TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Robinson; Chimbonda, Dawson, Rocha (Stalteri 84min), Lee; Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque (Defoe 64); Lennon; Berbatov, Keane.
Scorer: Keane 79 pen.
Booked: Chimbonda.
CHELSEA (4-4-2): Cech; Diarra (Ferreira 90), Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Mikel; Lampard, Ballack, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 86); Shevchenko (Robben 81), Drogba.
Scorers: Shevchenko 54, Wright-Phillips 61.
Booked: Diarra, Drogba, Cech.
Man of the match: Andriy Shevchenko.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (Yorks).
-------------------------------------------
Last night's other FA Cup Quarter Final Replay
Manchester United 1-0 Middlesbrough
--------------------
FA Cup Semi Finals -
Chelsea VS Blackburn Rovers
Manchester United VS Watford
dailymail.co.uk
A Tottenham Hotspur fan stormed onto the pitch at the end of the FA Cup Quarter Final replay (after the first game finished 3-3) between Tottenham and Chelsea and attacked Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard after his team were beaten 2-1.
A sublime goal from Andriy Shevchenko and a bullet from Shaun Wright-Phillips secured Chelsea's place in the Semi-Final.
Also last night, Manchester United beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in their Quarter Final replay, the goal coming from a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.......
FA to launch investigation after fan attacks Lampard
20th March 2007
The Football Association have confirmed they will investigate incidents at the end of Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final win at Tottenham Hotspur when two fans ran onto the pitch, one of whom threw a punch at England midfielder Frank Lampard.
Spurs officials will be contacted by the FA today after the supporters ran on to the pitch after the final whistle of the replay at White Hart Lane following the visitors' 2-1 victory.
Flashpoint: the invader is bundled to the ground as stunned players from both sides look on
An FA spokesman said: "These scenes were totally unacceptable and we will be contacting Spurs as a matter of priority.
"We want to establish what safety and security provisions were in place for the game and to confirm what action was taken against the fans who ran onto the pitch.
"We understand that both individuals were arrested and we would expect them to be given football banning orders."
Chelsea's win, courtesy of stunning goals by Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips, sets up a semi-final with Blackburn but the result was overshadowed by the ugly scenes afterwards.
"I saw the guy coming and wanted to keep my eye on him because if I turn my back, I thought I might get one on me," Lampard said.
"I just ducked and the stewards got to him. The way he ran at me I think he'd had a few drinks.
"I don't think he should have been on the pitch in the first place, but you can understand there's a lot of emotion in a match like this."
*******************************************************
FA Cup, Quarter Final replay
Spurs rocked by Sheva gem as fracas mars finale
Tottenham 1 Chelsea 2
..................Shevchenko 54
Keane 79 (pen).........Wright-Phillips 61
By MATT LAWTON
20th March 2007
Glory run: Chelsea’s Andriy Shevchenko (right) celebrates his stunning strike with Diarra
More than 90 minutes of fiercely contested football might not have harmed England’s players at White Hart Lane on Monday night.
But a fan very nearly did, almost landing a punch on Frank Lampard and almost certainly landing Tottenham in serious trouble.
Steve McClaren had no doubt left by then, content in the knowledge that his six internationals who had played their part in this tense, at times entertaining, replay would be available for this weekend’s crucial European Championship clash in Israel. But England’s coach will take nothing for granted now.
It was an extraordinary end to an extraordinary quarter-final tie. Nine goals, 180 minutes of relentless attacking football and a remarkable burst of speed from Jose Mourinho.
He was not much of a player in his youth but Chelsea’s manager was no slouch when he raced to the rescue of a bare-chested Lampard.
Just as quick in the opposite direction last night was Martin Jol. Just as angry, too. Tottenham’s manager was not impressed by the antics of the Chelsea bench towards the end of this game and responded to the final whistle by disappearing immediately down the tunnel.
It was left to Chris Hughton to communicate the feelings of a manager who was incensed by the sight of Chelsea assistant Baltemar Brito trying to hang on to the ball in the closing minutes.
Brito’s actions sparked a brief spat between the two benches and set the tone for what followed.
Hughton appeared to use the foulest of vulgarities towards Brito and certain supporters saw that as an excuse to run on to the pitch.
Jol’s rage must have been accompanied by regret on Monday night. Regret for failing to hang on to that 3-1 lead at Stamford Bridge nine days ago and for failing to beat the English champions at White Hart Lane for the second time this season.
They never really got close to denying Chelsea a semi-final date with Blackburn. They had their moments, starting brightly and then threatening with shots from Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque shortly after the interval.
But they lacked the finishing touch of those previous encounters and their inability to turn possession into the precious currency of goals proved costly.
What must have really got to Jol was the confidence Mourinho had displayed before this game. Jol had revealed how irritating he found his opposite number whenever he refers to himself as the "Special One" and Mourinho’s pre-match prediction would also have galled.
Mourinho said he "expected" to be in this season’s FA Cup Final and, while he may not have expected last night’s goals to come from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright- Phillips, they are indeed now within touching distance of the new Wembley. Not only that but a showcase meeting with Manchester United.
The goals were stunning, Shevchenko following his strike against Sheffield United last weekend with another piece of magic that suggests he is coming into form at exactly the right time.
For those who were starting to wonder why he was once among the most revered forwards in Europe, who could not understand how he cost Roman Abramovich £31million, there was a demonstration in the 55th minute.
After a drop of the shoulder that took him past Malbranque came a wonderful left-foot finish that curled beyond the reach of a stunned Paul Robinson.
One unsettled forward followed another on to the scoresheet six minutes later, Wright-Phillips beating Robinson with a super volley after Didier Drogba had controlled Ashley Cole’s long ball on his chest.
Jol felt the best team had lost and while that was slightly stretching the truth, Tottenham deserved credit for the way they fought to the very end.
They had not lost since February 10 and simply refused to give up, their efforts earning them a penalty in the 78th minute when Ricardo Carvalho hacked down Dimitar Berbatov.
Robbie Keane scored from the spot to ensure another thrilling FA Cup finale and give McClaren nightmares. Extra time was not what the England coach would have wanted, not least because of the commitment both sides had already shown.
The deployment of Aaron Lennon in the hole behind two strikers was a system that worked well for Jol at Stamford Bridge and the Tottenham manager returned to it again.
It made for another entertaining game that immediately came to life when Keane played a quick one-two with Berbatov and might well have scored had it not been for a fine interception by Cole.
Another Tottenham attack ended with Berbatov squandering an excellent cross from Malbranque. The Bulgarian’s header was on target but it was easy for Petr Cech to save.
But Chelsea responded with urgency and determination. Much of their attacking football came as a result of John Obi Mikel’s effectiveness as a defensive midfielder. The youngster was not as efficient as the absent Claude Makelele but full of energy and enthusiasm.
If there were no first half goals, it was only because the quality of the defending was so high. John Terry excelled at the back for Chelsea, while Michael Dawson did a convincing impersonation of the England and Chelsea captain at the opposite end of the pitch.
Until, that is, Shevchenko reminded us why he was once the darling of the San Siro.
TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Robinson; Chimbonda, Dawson, Rocha (Stalteri 84min), Lee; Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque (Defoe 64); Lennon; Berbatov, Keane.
Scorer: Keane 79 pen.
Booked: Chimbonda.
CHELSEA (4-4-2): Cech; Diarra (Ferreira 90), Carvalho, Terry, A Cole; Mikel; Lampard, Ballack, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 86); Shevchenko (Robben 81), Drogba.
Scorers: Shevchenko 54, Wright-Phillips 61.
Booked: Diarra, Drogba, Cech.
Man of the match: Andriy Shevchenko.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (Yorks).
-------------------------------------------
Last night's other FA Cup Quarter Final Replay
Manchester United 1-0 Middlesbrough
--------------------
FA Cup Semi Finals -
Chelsea VS Blackburn Rovers
Manchester United VS Watford
dailymail.co.uk