MOSCOW, January 22 (RIA Novosti) - A Roman
Pavlyuchenko goal in the 118th minute of Tottenham Hotspur's
Carling Cup semi-final tie against Burnley on Wednesday evening
sent the London club through to a Wembley final against
Manchester United.
Carling Cup holders Tottenham had won 4-1 in the first leg
at their home stadium of White Hart Lane on January 6, and were
expected to go through easily to the final. However, Burnley,
in the second tier of English soccer, ran Tottenham ragged, and
after 90 minutes were 3-0 ahead.
In most cup competitions, this would have meant victory
for Burnley on the away goals rule, but Carling Cup rules
stipulate that away goals only count as double after extra
time, and the match went into an additional 30 minutes.
With just two minutes left before the end of the game, and
what would have gone down as one of the most memorable
comebacks in English soccer history, Pavlyuchenko struck home
in trademark style from just inside the box after a pass from
Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
The Russian international, who had replaced the Croatian
Luka Modric in the 65th minute, then set up fellow striker
Jermaine Defoe for Tottenham's second to break Burnley's hearts.
Pavlyuchenko, who joined Tottenham from Spartak Moscow in
the summer for $28 million, has scored in every round of the
Carling Cup. Overall, he has scored 11 goals in 23 games, just
one behind the club's top scorer Darren Bent.
The Carling Cup final is on March 1.
News
