Premier League - Kamara breaks Spurs hearts

Eurosport - Sun, 02 Sep 02:23:00 2007

FOOTBALL 2007-8 Fulham Tottenham Kamara - 0

Younes Kaboul put Spurs into the lead on 11 minutes, tapping home after a Fulham had failed to clear a header from Jermaine Jenas at the near post, before Dimitar Berbatov ran through and slammed home a volley to double the lead.

Clint Dempsey headed home at the near post from Simon Davies' corner just before half-time to give Fulham hope, though Gareth Bale restored Spurs' lead on the hour mark. Alexei Smertin refuced Fulham's arrears though a shot that took a fortunate deflection in off Ricardo Rocha, before Kamara struck late.

The result leaves both sides still with just one win this season, though it is Spurs who have the greater cause for concern, especially with the visit of arch-rivals Arsenal coming next weekend.

Any disappointment among the Tottenham fans over Michael Dawson's absence from the starting eleven was swiftly extinguished when Kaboul, playing in his place, made his considerable physical presence felt early on. The Frenchman capitalised on home defenders' indecision in clearing a corner on eleven minutes, tapping home after the ball dropped perfectly into his path.

Fulham's decision to play a high back line was playing into the hands of the Spurs front two, whose running in behind meant they always looked a threat, and it was no surprise when Berbatov doubled the visitors' lead.

Robbie Keane volleyed a well-judged pass over the top of the defence and into the Bulgarian's path, and after chesting the ball down, he let loose a fierce volley past Antti Niemi at the near post.

Jenas almost made it three moments later after running through the defence, though he tried to beat the last man rather than square the ball for Keane, allowing Carlos Bocanegra to race back and nick the ball away.

Fulham's only effort of note hitherto had come from an audacious shot from Kamara from distance, though they pulled a goal back on 41 minutes as Dempsey stole a yard on Pascal Chimbonda from a corner, and planted a firm header home at the near post.

Bale had a chance to hit back immediately after a fine exchange between Jenas and Berbatov, though drilled his low shot straight at Niemi.

Spurs dominance continued at the start of the second half as Berbatov saw a fierce 30-yard volley tipped over by Niemi, before Steeed Malbranque slammed a volley off the post from 12 yards.

It was no surprise then, when Bale scored his first goal for his new club, firing low at the near post after being sent clear by Keane.

Dempsey gave notice of a Fulham fightback with 15 minutes to go by sending a right foot drive just over the bar from distance, before Smertin pulled a goal back moments later.

The Russian tried his luck from the edge of the area, and was duly rewarded as the ball deflected off the legs of Rocha and looped over the hapless Paul Robinson.

Fulham then rained in a volley of high balls into the Spurs area as the clock ticked down with little reward, until substitute David Healy chipped a ball into the heart of the Spurs area. Kaboul managed to glance clear of the six-yard area and over the head of Kamara, only for the Senegalese to volley home acrobatically over Robinson.

MF / Eurosport

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account