Tottenham 2-2 Hull (8-7 pens): Brad Friedel goes from zero to hero in Capital One Cup shoot-out
Tottenham 2-2 Hull (8-7 pens): Brad Friedel goes from zero to hero in Capital One Cup shoot-out
Ageless keeper was at fault for both the Tigers' goals but his save from Elmohamady sets up West Ham quarter-final
Yanks a lot: Spurs' Kyle Walker and Harry Kane leap on redeemed Friedel
PA
Through to the last eight to face West Ham – but only just.
Spurs were left grateful to the man whose penalty agony gifted them three points in the Premier League on Sunday.
Spurs keeper Brad Friedel was even happier for the chance to redeem himself in the shoot-out after gifting Hull both their goals in normal time.
But Tottenham's
fans were left unimpressed at their stellar side's inability – even
allowing for eight changes – to see off a reserve Hull team over 120
minutes.
And Andre Villas- Boas was left indebted to the
supporters he lambasted at the weekend after they helped his men escape
to victory.
The Spurs boss said: "They were absolutely fantastic for us.
"To see their response after a setback of 1-1 and 2-1 down was something that was very, very pleasant.
"The supporters can make that difference for us."
Ahmed
Elmohamady was the man sufficiently unsettled by the fans during the
nerve-shredding spot-kick marathon to send his effort against Friedel's
legs at 8-7.
The Egyptian winger will be glad to see the back of
White Hart Lane after his inadvertent handball in the League game four
days ago gave Spurs the win.
Hull boss Steve Bruce has been charged by the FA for his comments regarding referee Michael Oliver after that match.
It is Elmohamady you feel most sorry for, however.
That failed spot-kick papered over the cracks of a Spurs performance that left a lot to be desired.
When
Gylfi Sigurdsson opened the scoring on 16 minutes, it looked as though
they were set to get Sunday's failure to break down Bruce's team out of
their system.
The Iceland star killed a pass from Kyle Naughton,
turned two defenders and unleashed an unstoppable contender for Goal of
the Month into the top corner from 25 yards.
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Tottenham v Hull - 30/10/13
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But Spurs then allowed Hull to build up a head of steam
before Friedel fumbled Curtis Davies's effort into his own net eight
minutes after half time.
Even then Tottenham were expected to exert their class and see off the Tigers without the need for extra time.
Yet they often wanted one touch too many.
And it was no surprise in extra time to see Paul McShane score from George Boyd’s cross on 99 minutes.
The Ireland defender should not have had the time and space to head past Friedel from six yards.
A major upset suddenly looked on the cards with Hull heading for their first League Cup quarter-final for 63 years.
Enter sub Harry Kane to make himself the toast of Tottenham with his first goal for 22 months.
Receiving the ball from Jermain Defoe, he held off a defender before burying his shot into the bottom corner.
In the shoot-out Spurs finally found their scoring boots.
Of their eight penalties only Erik Lamela saw his effort saved by Eldin Jakupovic.
Friedel kept out the Tigers' first, from Aaron McLean, and their last with Elmohamady lashing the ball away in anger.
Bruce said: "We dominated the first half and created a lot of chances in the second.
"We deserved to win.
"The penalty was harshly given against Ahmed on Sunday and he has missed the crucial one tonight.
"Hopefully some time we will have a bit of luck."
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