UEFA Cup - Udinese pile on Tottenham woe

Eurosport - Fri, 24 Oct 09:19:00 2008

Udinese continued Tottenham's miserable run of form by inflicting a 2-0 defeat on the North London side, reduced to 10 men, in the opening match of UEFA Cup Group D.

2008-2009 Tottenham Hotspur Jamie O'Hara - 0

Antonio Di Natale scored a first-half penalty after a howler by Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes (pictured) to put the second-placed Serie A side in the lead.

Jamie O'Hara collected two yellow cards in a minute for tackles on Alexis Sanchez in the second half to see red and leave manager Juande Ramos in further trouble.

Substitute Simone Pepe made sure late on when he finished a breakaway move after excellent work by the impressive Fabio Quagliarella.

Tottenham looked a side lacking confidence, exemplified when Didier Zokora failed to control a simple ball on the touchline and, at more cost, when O'Hara moved well away from goal when in a great position to shoot close in with goalkeeper Samir Handanovic stranded.

Under-fire coach Juande Ramos had omitted winger David Bentley, who had earlier criticised his team-mates, from the squad.

It was his replacement Aaron Lennon who caused most of the problems for the home defence, repeatedly scampering down the right but unable to supply a decisive final ball.

After a couple of hairy early moments Spurs looked settled into the match, building their play from a solid base, only for Brazilian Gomes to make a hash of controlling a simple ball and allowing Quagliarella to steal in.

As the Italy star looked to turn and shoot, Gomes manhandled him - and down the striker went.

There were yellow cards for Gomes, perhaps lucky to stay on the field, and Alexander Lukovic for complaining too vociferously before Udine captain Di Natale struck the spot-kick into the corner.

Spurs did have opportunities to equalise - Darren Bent directed a pair of weak headers at goal and O'Hara had that chance - but their haphazard gameplan went out of the window when the midfielder made two rash challenges on Chile international Sanchez 10 and 11 minutes after the break.

There were further yellow cards, including one for left-sided midfielder Bale, who should have centred at least one of three attacking free-kicks he wasted through shooting.

Di Natale almost scored s sensational second with an outrageous lob with his instep after bringing the ball down; Gomes hauled his massive frame backwards to claw it away from on the line.

Substitute Giovani dos Santos looked lively although, with his side a man down, he had little space to work with. Nevertheless, he presented a gilt-edged chance to Bent from the byline with five minutes left to play.

The striker headed powerfully this time under the crossbar from outside the six-yard box, only to see Handanovic tip the ball over.

A minute later the second-goal cushion was added by Pepe, who scored off the inside of the post following a superb breakaway move to leave Tottenham contemplating a fifth game without a win.

Dinamo Zagreb 3-2 NEC Nijmegen

Dinamo Zagreb came from behind with two late goals to beat NEC at home.

Dinamo took the lead after three minutes through Marijo Mandzukic, only to concede an own-goal equaliser 20 minutes later through Carlos.

Tim Withelmus Janssen gave the Dutch side the lead with 12 minutes left, but Bosko Balaban and Ivica Vrdoljak hit two goals inside three minutes to seal the victory for the Craotian hosts.

Jonathan Symcox / Reuters

Comment 15 - 34 of 94

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  1. !!!!!!!!ALE' UDIN!!!!!!!!

    From furdiciaf, on Thu 23 Oct 9:52PM

  2. The Tottenham board made a series of mistakes when they­ tried to make a profit from selling much needed­ players, the players that got them where they were.­ They then compounded it by emploting a manager who is­ so lacking in ability and he cannot form a bond with­ the players due to language barriers. I heard this­ evening that he has lost the support of the dressing­ room and it shows. The board should bite the bullet get­ rid of Ramos and simplify the set up. What is wrong­ with a manager managing like they did 20 years ago,­ what has changed? Manchester United and Arsenal tried­ to impose Directors of football but they let Fergusson­ and Wenger alone, Wenger almost walked away but Spurs­ ended up with the bloke. Liverpool owners imposed on­ Benitez's rule and they are suffering because he is­ still looking over his shoulder, imagine if he was set­ free! Spurs have all international standard players but­ they play like they hate each other, we need man­ management not diets Ramos.

    From CHRIS I, on Thu 23 Oct 9:46PM

  3. I've just watched the game on TV, I could not­ believe what I was seeing. Spurs were nothing more than­ a mediocre pub side, no pace, balance or shape. I­ don't think that it is the fault of Ramos. The­ players at his disposal are just not good enough, no­ wonder they are at the bottom of the Premiership. I am­ not a Spurs supporter, but any team south of the­ Watford Gap will get my backing. So for christ sake get­ it together.
    On this performance, I see you struggling­ in the Championship.

    From Terence P, on Thu 23 Oct 9:27PM

  4. we have to get rid of ramos as a spurs fan for 50 years­ this the worst team we have had get some one in whose­ english and understands howto fight for survial

    From sparkie49, on Thu 23 Oct 9:25PM

  5. The more Ramos stays the more misery Spurs will have.­ The guy does not know how to lead an English team. How­ many losses do you need to see before realising this.­ Even Keane did better with the messy Newcastle. Ramos­ is the problem. Don't try looking around..

    From Half A Brain, on Thu 23 Oct 8:38PM

  6. Spurs lose again no surprise there then!! Perhaps the­ players should only get paid when they win a game??

    From tc, on Thu 23 Oct 8:17PM

  7. IF THERE ANY SPURS FUNS HERE READING THIS , I GIVE YOU­ CREDIT, IN TIMES LIKE THESE IT TAKES A TRUE SUPPORTER­ TO STAY BEHIND THEIR TEAM, BY THE WAY I AM A GUNNER ITS­ JUST THAT I AM A BIT CONCERNED YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO­ CHALLENGE US LIKE THE GOOD AND BAD OLD DAYS WE HAD IF­ YOU GET RELEGATED.

    From Wilson-M, on Thu 23 Oct 8:16PM

  8. Dear Nigel C

    Has Mickey Mouse asked for the cup back­ yet?? :))

    To be honest I am quite stunned that Spurs­ keep doing this. Everyone I know keeps saying They are­ too big to go down, but look at West Ham a few years­ ago !!!

    From H C, on Thu 23 Oct 8:12PM

  9. Why play King in this game when we need him more on­ Sunday against Bolton, why not play Dawson as he would­ be suspended for that game?
    Its all very well doing­ well in the cups but the Premier league is the most­ important and i never thought i would hear myself­ saying that!

    From matt, on Thu 23 Oct 6:11PM

  10. sack the board

    From lesleyhumphreys34, on Thu 23 Oct 4:50PM

  11. why did u ask me 2 email u ???(sexyhotfotosser)

    From Alain, on Thu 23 Oct 4:18PM

  12. who is sexyhotfotosse???

    From Alain, on Thu 23 Oct 4:13PM

  13. WHO R U ???

    From Alain, on Thu 23 Oct 4:09PM

  14. Come on you Spurs
    let see some grit and win it­ tonight, hav a pint in the high rd for ya

    From Andrew, on Thu 23 Oct 4:08PM

  15. spurs r @#$% !!!!!

    From Alain, on Thu 23 Oct 3:46PM

  16. #19 - HC Luvin your work HC, very funny and I'm­ a Spurs fan. We're still polishing the Cup from­ our last Final meeting with you though, as are Man Utd­ from the Champions League Final, guess you've­ binned your second best medals now though. Spurs will­ pick up no worries, but they just need a little more­ time to get it rolling. Pleased for you boys getting­ Scolari though they're looking half decent. From­ Hoof.leics

    From nigel c, on Thu 23 Oct 3:38PM

  17. Juande Ramos has been caught speeding on the M25 today.­ Police reported that it looked like Mr Ramos would do­ anything for 3 points!!

    You can buy 'Spurs, The­ Glory Years' from most shops, priced £200.­ That's £5 for the tape and £195 for the Betamax­ player.

    Spurs have approached Richard Branson for­ sponsorship. When asked if he would consider this, he­ replied "Why would Spurs want to wear­ "Virgin" on their tops when they get f****d­ every weekend ?"

    Apparently on their way home­ Tottenham fans had to get off the tube due to points­ failure!

    Darren Bent is ill, so Juande Ramos offers­ to do his shopping for him. While in Sainsbury's,­ he bumps into Arsene Wenger. "What are you doing­ in here, Juande?" asks Wenger. "Getting a bag­ of potatoes for Darren Bent," he replies.­ "Sounds like a good deal to me," says­ Wenger.

    From a die hard Chelsea fan :)))) Spurs -­ Championship Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

    From H C, on Thu 23 Oct 3:07PM

  18. Bottom of the league - just for the mo'

    But­ it's another European night !!! COYS !!!

    From ispurs, on Thu 23 Oct 2:20PM

  19. Didnt realise that there was so many clowns around ,­ great comments from those morons who take every moment­ to slag Spurs off.

    Did it take long to think of your­ comments or where your born with the mental age of 2 ?

    From Matt, on Thu 23 Oct 2:12PM

  20. I saw the pitch at White Hart Lane and its in­ immaculate condition! So it should be, they put 70­ million pounds worth of manure on it each week!

    From Danny, on Thu 23 Oct 1:46PM
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