UEFA Cup, Sevilla 2-1 Tottenham

Sevilla recover to snatch win!

Robbie Keane netted a priceless away goal but Spurs still face a tough task to reach the Uefa Cup semi-finals after Sevilla hit back for a hard-fought win.

Spurs began the match in perfect fashion when Keane put them in front less than two minutes into the match tapping in at the second attempt after working himself into acres of space inside the box. But Sevilla got themselves right back into the match when former Spurs man Kanoute converted a controversial penalty and took the lead 15 minutes later as poor defending allowed Kerzhakov to direct a header into the back of the net.

With both teams enjoying a reputation for attacking football, there was always a feeling that the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán would be in for an explosive encounter. Few could have predicted how quickly the match would come to life though, Keane latching on to Dimitar Berbatov's perfect through-ball to stab past Andrés Palop, after the fit-again goalkeeper had parried the Irishman's initial effort.

Keane's ninth strike in as many games provoked a rousing response from the local fans, who answered coach Juande Ramos's call to support the cause. Their heroes did not take long to draw level either, scoring from their first chance as former Tottenham striker Kanouté calmly side-footed in a penalty after goalkeeper Paul Robinson was adjudged to have fouled Adriano Correia.

Frustrated, Martin Jol's men attempted to wrest back control through Berbatov, who curled a low shot towards the far corner from the edge of the area. Palop saved well, however, and the incredible pace continued when Pascal Chimbonda's strong shoulder barge prevented Kerzhakov from scoring, before Robinson produced a fantastic stop at full stretch from a long-range Jesús Navas piledriver.

As good as that save was, the England No1 was helpless on 36 minutes when the unmarked Kerzhakov headed in after Julien Escudé had nodded the ball dangerously across goal from the left. Michael Dawson then came close at the other end, launching himself at a Jermaine Jenas corner yet directing his header wide.

It seemed unlikely that the two rivals could keep up the same intensity after the break and so it proved, the game becoming more notable for niggling fouls. Maintaining a high line, the Premiership outfit now looked the more adventurous of the pair, and the energetic Keane reminded Sevilla of his presence in the 58th minute with a drive flashed narrowly beyond Palop's far post from wide on the left. That spurred the hosts into action, and Kanouté came close to grabbing a second as he drilled Adriano's low centre just off target soon after.

What had become a stop-start affair briefly livened up when Berbatov broke free down the left, only for his touch to let him down at the crucial moment. Both protagonists increasingly appeared content with the scoreline, though that did not stop Kanouté feeling he had missed a glorious opportunity when he deflected a header past the post from a great position. Tottenham's Didier Zakora and substitute Steed Malbranque both squandered chances to equalise late on, suggesting Jol's team must work on their finishing before next week.

Sevilla: Palop, Javi Navarro, David (Dragutinovic 68), Daniel, Escude, Renato (Marti 60), Poulsen, Adriano Correia, Kerzhakov, Kanoute, Jesus Navas.
Subs Not Used: Cobeno, Duda, Chevanton, Hinkel, Maresca.

Booked: David.

Goals: Kanoute 19 pen, Kerzhakov 36.

Tottenham: Robinson, Stalteri, Chimbonda, Dawson, Young-Pyo Lee, Lennon (Malbranque 80), Zokora, Jenas, Tainio (Ghaly 84), Keane, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Mido, Defoe, Taarabt, Ifil.

Booked: Robinson, Tainio, Young-Pyo Lee, Zokora.

Goals: Keane 2.

UEFA Cup Sevilla 2-1 Tottenham goals video:

FA Cup, Tottenham1-2 Chelsea

Spurs second best as Chelsea grasp their second chanceChelsea set up an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Blackburn Rovers thanks to superb second-half strikes from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Andriy Shevchenko finally showed his true quality with a superb strike that put Chelsea on course for a 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final replay victory at Tottenham on Monday.



Shevchenko broke the deadlock with a finish of the highest quality early in the second half before Shaun Wright-Phillips added an equally brilliant second.



Robbie Keane reduced the deficit with a late penalty but Chelsea edged through to set up a semi-final against Blackburn next month.



However, there was an ugly end to the match. As Chelsea's players celebrated with their supporters at the final whistle, a Spurs fan ran on to the pitch to confront Blues boss Jose Mourinho and had to be restrained by Frank Lampard.



With tempers already raised, Chelsea coach Baltemar Brito was involved in a heated argument with Tottenham assistant Chris Hughton as the players left the pitch.



After months of plenty of criticism for a series of lacklustre displays since his pre-season move from AC Milan, Shevchenko is coming into form at just the right moment.



His relationship with Mourinho has been frosty at times amid suggestions the Ukraine international was signed by owner Roman Abramovich rather than the Chelsea boss.



But he scored a fine goal in Saturday's win against Sheffield United and his devastating effort here was further evidence that he is beginning to recapture the form that persuaded Chelsea to pay 30 million pounds for him.



It was tough on Tottenham who had started well, with Dimitar Berbatov wasting no time in testing Petr Cech with a looping header from Steed Malbranque's cross.



Chelsea had staged a dramatic fightback to set up this replay after trailing 3-1 at half-time at Stamford Bridge, prompting Mourinho to taunt Spurs by claiming he expected his side to reach the final after that escape.



Michael Ballack was close to backing up those bold words in the sixth minute when he shot narrowly wide after Didier Drogba chested down Ashley Cole's long punt.



Wright-Phillips has been given a rare opportunity by Mourinho recently and the winger showed a glimpse of his undoubted talent with a fierce drive from the edge of the area that flashed just over the crossbar.


But Spurs have been free-scoring form of late and Michael Dawson wasn't far away with a header from Jermaine Jenas's corner midway through the half.



Martin Jol's side had won seven of their previous eight matches and they gave Chelsea no time to settle in a frantic first half. The visitors' front two were starved of service and Drogba's frustration boiled over when he was booked for dissent after fouling Ricardo Rocha.



Chances were at a premium as these London rivals refused to give an inch.



Lampard tried his luck from acute angle, but his scuffed half-volley never looked like troubling Paul Robinson.



Tottenham were first to threaten after half-time when Pascal Chimbonda's volley from Keane's flick was well saved by Cech. But it was Chelsea who took the lead in stunning style in the 55th minute.



When Shevchenko cut in from the right past Malbranque, there appeared to be little danger, but the Ukrainian unleashed a superb curling strike that arrowed past Robinson into the far corner.



It was the kind of finish that earned Shevchenko his reputation as the best forward in Europe and there was worse to come for Spurs as Chelsea hit them with another stunning goal six minutes later.



Cole spotted Michael Dawson was out of position and lofted a pass to Drogba just inside the penalty area. The Ivory Coast striker chested down to Wright-Phillips and he sent a perfectly-placed strike whistling past Robinson.



Just as Chelsea looked set to cruise into the last four, Berbatov won a penalty in the 79th minute when he surged into the area and was brought down from behind by Carvalho.



Keane sent Cech the wrong way from the spot to set up a furious finale, but Chelsea held on to keep their dreams of a quadruple alive.




Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Young-Pyo Lee, Dawson, Rocha (Stalteri 84), Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque (Defoe 64), Berbatov, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ghaly, Huddlestone.

Booked: Chimbonda.

Goals: Keane 79 pen.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra (Ferreira 90), Ashley Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 86), Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, Shevchenko (Robben 81), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz.

Booked: Diarra, Drogba, Cech.

Goals: Shevchenko 55, Wright-Phillips 61.

FA Cup, Tottenham 1-2 Chelsea highlights & goals:

UEFA cup, Braga 2-3 Tottenham

Keane's timely double puts Spurs in control

Tottenham have one foot in the Uefa Cup quarter-finals after a 3-2 win away to Sporting Braga, but the Premiership side will be frustrated that they hadn't wrapped up the tie further.

Aaron Lennon fed Keane to smash Spurs in front from the edge of the area and Steed Malbranque followed up another Lennon shot to make it 2-0. Paulo Jorge pulled one back after Paul Robinson saved his penalty and Ze Carlos headed home a late leveller.

But Keane had the final word, running clear to score an injury-time winner.

Tottenham Spurs outclassed Braga and probably should have been a few goals up in the first half, but had to wait until after the break before taking the lead through Robbie Keane.

Berbatov poked the ball just wide in the 16th minute, and then tested Santos thrice more in a first half that was all Tootenham. Robbie Keane joined in on the act, forcing another save out of Santos as the game went into the break. However, the game burst into a flurry of goals after the break, as Robbie Keane opened the floodgates by smashing in a delightful Aaron Lennon chip.

Spurs doubled their lead in the 72nd minute, when Lennon produced more magic to force a save out of Santos, but Steed Malbranque was at hand to crash in the reboun.

Braga were given hope when Diego went down under a challenge from Anthony Gardner in the area four minutes later. Paulo Jorge's penalty was pushed away by Robinson but the same player turned in the loose ball. Then, on 81 minutes, Braga grabbed an unlikely equaliser as Zé Carlos headed in Castanheira's free-kick. Yet there was still more drama as Didier Zokora's pass to Keane split the Braga defence two minutes into added time and the striker rolled a shot under Santos for the decider.

Braga: Paulo Santos, Luis Filipe, Paulo Jorge, Rodriguez, Carlos Fernandes, Joao Amaral, Joao Pinto (Maciel 80), Castanheira, Bruno Gama (Cesinha 69), Ze Carlos, Wender (Diego 69).
Subs Not Used: Dani Mallo, Nem, Paito, Ricardo Chaves.

Goals: Paulo Jorge 76, Ze Carlos 81.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Gardner, Young-Pyo Lee, Lennon, Tainio (Huddlestone 74), Zokora, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri, Ghaly, Defoe, Taarabt, Charlie Lee.

Booked: Berbatov, Chimbonda.

Goals: Keane 57, Malbranque 72, Keane 90.

UEFA Cup, Braga 2-3 Tottenham goals Videos: