Spurs vs PSV Eindhoven (UEFA 1/8 first leg)

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Gilberto suffered a nightmare Tottenham debut at White Hart Lane as PSV Eindhoven earned a slender 1-0 advantage to take to Holland next week.

Spurs coach Juande Ramos billed this last-16 clash as the barometer of whether his side could win the UEFA Cup - but it was the Dutch champions that looked more likely to be at Eastlands in May.

Although it was a deflating evening for Ramos' players, none were as disappointing as Gilberto; the Brazil full-back was booked, was at fault for Jefferson Farfan's winner and was was taken off at half-time.

It means consecutive defeats since winning the Carling Cup less than a fortnight ago. Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter, injured and ineligible respectively, paraded the trophy in a lap of honour before kick-off, rather than the entire squad.

"The cup celebrations are well and truly behind us, it is back down to business,'' wrote Ramos in his programme notes, but the Wembley hangover was still evident when play got under way.

PSV may have lost the experienced players that took them to the latter stages of the Champions League in recent seasons, but the younger players appear to have embraced the club's European traditions.

Fenerbahce's efforts this week have also put into context Sef Vergoossen' men dropping down into the UEFA Cup this campaign - Spurs found them difficult to break down and Farfan caused the hosts constant problems.

He had the first shot of the match, after 15 minutes, but Paul Robinson was able to easily save the tame effort.

The Peru international then almost took advantage when Didier Zokora allowed the ball to bounce from a PSV clearance. He raced through and was hauled down by Gilberto, earning the full-back a yellow card on his miserable first clash outing his new club. Farfan's resulting free-kick was deflected wide.

All Spurs had to show for their opening efforts was Jonathan Woodgate's looping header that Gomes claimed after initially looking out of position.

Woodgate was back at the heart of the Spurs defence with Ledley King after recovering from a sprained ankle, while skipper King returned after resting his knee.

Neither were at fault for Farfan's 34th-minute opener.

Aaron Lennon's poor free-kick was cleared and Farfan broke forward. Lennon did get back to intercept but when the ball fell to Gilberto, the full-back took a touch too many and Farfan dispossessed him before finishing powerfully beyond Robinson.

Steed Malbranque tried to reply immediately for Spurs but his effort from the edge of the area deflected wide. He also had a far-post volley saved by Gomes.

Jermaine Jenas then crossed for Woodgate to head just wide of the post.

It could have got worse for them but Edison Mendez had a drive saved by Robinson, and the goalkeeper almost set up an equaliser with the huge kick that followed. Robbie Keane controlled the towering clearance and nut-megged his defender but Gomes was equal to his finish.

Gilberto's horrendous evening ended at half-time when he was taken off for Jamie O'Hara as Spurs looked for a way back into the tie, although the substitute was needed to block another Farfan effort on the edge of the penalty area.

Farfan laid on another chance on the hour mark when PSV broke, with King backing away towards his own goal, but Ibrahim Afellay's finish curved wide.

When they raided forward again, the visitors mercifully kicked the ball out of play for Jenas to receive treatment to an injury, with the midfielder carried off on a stretcher and Tom Huddlestone coming on.

Dimitar Berbatov was enduring a frustrating evening but he managed to find Pascal Chimbonda at the far post, only for the full-back to head over the crossbar.

King came off for Adel Taarabt as Spurs chased the game, but the Dutch league leaders still threatened and Robinson had to tip a Farfan effort around the post and Jan Kromkamp had an effort disallowed.

Gomes was needed to save from Keane and O'Hara flashed a volley just wide before the end.

source: ESPNsoccernet - Report: Tottenham vs PSV Eindhoven - UEFA Cup

[DavidMc]

Spurs can go to Holland and win. This is a bad result for Ramos but Im sure Spurs have the quality come back from this.

[Vargas_4]

PSV have a great chance into taking this into their advantage. It all depends on themselves.

[keano10]

It was not a very good performance from us, but PSV are a good side. To be honest, I was happy when the final whistle went last night because we could easily have been 2 or 3 nil down going into the second leg.

Gilberto had a bit of a nightmare debut, but I'm sure he'll get better. It just shows how much we are missing Gareth Bale down the left though.

It's only 1-0, we still have a good chance but we have to score the first goal in the game next week and we need Berbatov to be on form.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Not all Brazilians are good footballers.

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Tottenham's UEFA Cup last-16 second leg in Eindhoven could be under threat of being postponed because of industrial action by police in Holland.

Spurs, who trail PSV 1-0 after the first leg at White Hart Lane, are due to play the second leg on Wednesday.

However, a police strike has already resulted in tomorrow's top-of-the-table Eredivisie encounter between PSV and Ajax being called off, the second fixture in the Dutch league to be hit.

the game between AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord was postponed by the mayor of Alkmaar, Piet Bruinooge, with Dutch police fighting for better pay and conditions.

Police unions have warned all games for this week could be at risk, including the UEFA Cup tie between PSV and Spurs.

source: http://www.talksoccer.net/forum/newr...ote=1&p=812632