EPL: Tottenham 6 - 4 Reading [29.12.2007]

[Dellas]

Dimitar Berbatov scored four goals for Tottenham as they won an amazing game.
Berbatov put Spurs ahead with a tap-in before Kalifa Cisse levelled and Ivar Ingimarsson headed Reading in front.
Berbatov smashed home an equaliser, Dave Kitson restored Reading's lead and Berbatov completed his hat-trick only for Kitson to then put Reading 4-3 up.
Steed Malbranque equalised and Jermain Defoe scored from the rebound after Robbie Keane's penalty was parried, before Berbatov got Spurs' sixth.
Tottenham - with defender Ledley King playing his second match following his comeback from a knee injury - made the perfect start, going ahead after six minutes.
Keane beat the offside trap to collect Malbranque's clever pass and cross for Berbatov to score from eight yards out.
The home side looked in control but then conceded an equaliser against the run of play.
Spurs keeper Paul Robinson could only punch Nicky Shorey's long free-kick to the feet of Cisse, who made no mistake from the edge of the penalty area.
Keane then missed a golden chance to regain the lead for Spurs just before the break.
Ingimarsson slipped under pressure from Berbatov, whose low cross from the right left Keane with the goal at his mercy but the Irishman was unable to connect.
Keane's miss was punished eight minutes into the second half, when Ingimarsson put the Royals in front by heading in Shorey's corner.
The header was almost straight at Robinson, but the England keeper failed to react and was again arguably at fault for the goal.
Robinson later redeemed himself by twice diving at the feet of Kitson to deny the Reading striker.
Kitson's hesitation after Cisse's deflected shot dropped to him allowed Robinson to intervene, and the keeper again thwarted Kitson after he had linked up well with Royals midfielder Bobby Convey.
A third Reading goal seemed to be on the cards but a mistake by Graeme Murty gifted Spurs an equaliser.
Substitute Defoe found space on the right and his ball into the box was poorly dealt with by Murty, whose clearance straight to Berbatov allowed the Bulgarian to fire into the roof of the net.

But Reading - without an away win all season - hit back almost straightaway.

Again a Shorey corner was Tottenham's undoing, with Kitson heading in the full-back's perfect delivery.

Almost every attack seemed to result in a goal and with the Reading defence standing still, Berbatov poked the ball beyond keeper Marcus Hahnemann, completing his hat-trick and levelling the match at 3-3.

Astonishingly, Reading regained the lead with their next attack. This time Kitson was released by Stephen Hunt's perfect pass and calmly lifted the ball over Robinson.

Spurs' response was equally emphatic.

They dug out another equaliser on 76 minutes when Tom Huddlestone picked out Malbranque, who shrugged off Sonko's challenge and found the corner of Hahnemann's net.
Three minutes later, Tottenham were awarded a penalty after Sonko fouled Keane.
Hahnemann saved Keane's spot-kick but Defoe was on hand to score from the rebound with a close-range header.
The outstanding Berbatov still managed to have the final say, latching onto Younes Kaboul's long ball and shooting past the beleaguered Hahnemann to finally complete the scoring.

source: BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Tottenham 6-4 Reading

Amazing game...goals galore.

Berbatov decided to score every ten mins after his 2nd goal (63 mins, 73 mins, 83 mins)

[lionel]

wow! berbatov is amazing! 4 goals!!

11 goals in 2 matches for tottenham I think...

[Dellas]

Originally Posted by lionel

wow! berbatov is amazing! 4 goals!!

11 goals in 2 matches for tottenham I think...

he's on fire atm

not sure he has scored that many tho in 2 matches

[Werdna]

Reading!

Imagine scoring 4 goals away from home TWICE and losing both games!

[Zaphod]

I was wondering when Berbatov was going to explode. He's finally rounding into form, so the Spuds will probably start moving up the table a bit. They could use a bit more defense to go with all those scorers though.

[Podolski]

maybe madrid should of tried to get ramos.. this must be some entertainment
happy with schuster though!