Defoe ends Leeds adventure

England striker hits hat-trick to gun down brave United

Last updated: 3rd February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Defoe ends Leeds adventure

Jermain joy: Defoe celebrates putting Spurs ahead against Leeds

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Leeds United's fabulous FA Cup run finally came to an end as they went down 3-1 to Tottenham Hotspur.

A hat-trick by Jermain Defoe - who could easily have plundered more - was enough to end the League One side's resistance in a pulsating fourth round replay.

The England striker gave the Premier League side the lead after 37 minutes when his mis-hit volley looped over the valiant Casper Ankergren and in.

But Leeds were level on the stroke of half-time when Argentine striker Luciano Becchio pounced after Heurelho Gomes could only parry Jermaine Beckford's prod goalwards.

It was pretty much one-way traffic after the break and the packed Elland Road crowd could hardly argue when Defoe put the visitors back in front with a crisp finish from a fine cross from man-of-the-match David Bentley.

The tiring home side tried to find a way back in the remaining 17 minutes but rarely looked like producing another fairytale end as Defoe ran clear in added time to confirm Spurs' fifth round trip to Bolton.

Defoe missed a hatful of first-half chances to put the tie to bed, just as he had done against Leeds in London, and Grayson's side harried and chased to keep most in an Elland Road crowd of 37,704 full of expectation until the visitors' decisive second goal.

Defoe fluffed a golden chance to give the visitors a first-minute lead when pouncing on a blunder by Hughes, only to scuff his shot and Bassong volleyed an early corner over the crossbar.

Peter Crouch then chested down for Defoe to fire a shot inches wide as Spurs burst out of their blocks, just as they had done at White Hart Lane 11 days ago.

Thwarted

Defoe squandered another chance when one-on-one with Ankergren in the 25th minute as the striker's low shot came back off the Danish goalkeeper's legs.

Defoe's searing pace then caught Leeds flat-footed again when chasing a long ball over the top, but Lubo Michalik's desperate lunge went unpunished by referee Andre Marriner.

Ankergren thwarted Defoe again 10 minutes before the break, this time after Tom Huddlestone's lay-off, but the pint-sized forward broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, ironically from a mis-hit effort after Bentley had cleverly slipped his marker, Hughes, down the right.

Defoe controlled Bentley's cross and miscued to send the ball arcing lazily over Ankergren into the top corner.

Spurs goalkeeper Gomes then saved brilliantly to keep out Michalik's header from Howson's free-kick as Leeds launched an immediate response.

But there was no denying Becchio in first-half stoppage-time. Beckford's shot on the turn was parried by Gomes, but the Argentinian forward rammed home the rebound to level the scores.

Ankergren kept out Michael Dawson's 59th-minute header which appeared destined for the top corner and was equal to Bentley's fierce drive soon after as Tottenham probed - but Leeds refused to buckle.

Defoe sidefooted home Kranjcar's cross in the 68th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

The League One side were not to be spared in the 73rd minute however. This time Bentley's low cross eluded the Leeds rearguard and Defoe nipped in to turn the ball home from six yards.

Leeds never stopped running and pressed for another unlikely equaliser, but with time running out Defoe latched on to another ball over the top to round Ankergren and roll home his third in time added on.

Leeds UnitedTeam StatisticsTottenham Hotspur
1Goals3
11st Half Goals1
6Shots on Target11
3Shots off Target10
3Blocked Shots1
5Corners8
16Fouls8
2Offsides3
2Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
65.3Passing Success71.9
30Tackles21
80Tackles Success76.2
47.4Possession52.6
43.4Territorial Advantage56.6
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Comments (54)

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Marcus Gudgeon (Leeds United fan) says...

And here we have a supporter from the stunning, awe-inspiring, culture-riddled city of Middlesborough telling us to get back in our caves? Hahahahaha . . . At least we have caves - they are still preferable to mud huts

Posted 08:34 5th February 2010

Rick Tetlow (Leeds United fan) says...

Interesting to read Nicholas Swarbrick's comments vis a vis "Leeds fans crawling back into their caves". As a South African I do not see too much League One or Championship soccer (mostly Premiership games on TV), but I have done a quick check and it would appear that the average attendance at a League 1 game at Elland Road is around 6-7000 more than Middlesborough attract to their "higher" league games!! It would seem that there are more Middlesborough supporters "hiding in their caves" than Leeds fans.

Posted 01:57 5th February 2010

Spurs Brent (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

it was a great game, and yes we deserved to win, leeds played some impressive attacking football, very dangerous at times! harry centralised the midfield in the 2nd half which made it hard for leeds to penetrate. defoe, great to see him back in with the goals. i hope to see leeds in the prem soon, and next year do us another favour and knock out another big gun in the cup please:] gd supporters n all x COYS

Posted 20:57 4th February 2010

Jamie Taylor (Leeds United fan) says...

Firstly, the better team won - you could tell the teams had a difference of £100m+ but Spurs aren't quite as good as you think. They still need to be tougher and more competitive. We can concentrate on getting out of this dross division and the one above. Finally, to the bright spark Boro' fan who said get back into your caves....funny. Middlesbrough are back where they belong and in big debt. No history, no fan base and no track record. Leeds is one of the best cities in the UK to love and work. I can assure Middlesbrough and stcokton are in a depressed state once again. Aurevoir smog monster.

Posted 17:09 4th February 2010

Tony Greenhill (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Fair play to Leeds, they gave us a great game. After fluffing so many chances in the first game it was always going to be tough. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the game, pulsating stuff. Beckford is class although he didn't really shine in this game.

Posted 16:06 4th February 2010

Gillian Black (Leeds United fan) says...

Really proud of you Leeds you gave a great account of youselves (although Beckford wasnt great, looking for the glory goal without any real, passion, committment or conviction) It was clear that Spurs had the stamina during the second half, where we tired. Its now time to focus on promotion although a little silver wear from the JPT would be a bonus.

Posted 16:00 4th February 2010

Liam Mclean (Leeds United fan) says...

Leeds looked tired in the 2nd half and it says it all really as Leeds have already played 9 more games than Spurs this season. Let's hope Leeds can now concentrate on the League and automatic promotion, only the JPT against Carlisle as a bit of a distraction now. As for all the talk of Bentley, personally I was disappointed with him, far too much diving and the arrogance and grins when he was getting away with it, just show what kind of player he is. Defoe was very good, but I think it is well known that pacey strikers do well against League 1 defences, that is the main reason Beckford scores so many.

Posted 12:25 4th February 2010

David Lee (Leeds United fan) says...

Let's be fair Spurs were the better side and looked absolute quality at times. The pace at which they move the ball is amazing, and without Casper's performance in goal we would have been dead & buried again, before half time. The last 20 minutes in fact most of the 2nd half we couldn't even get the ball! So onwards & upwards - Hartlepool next and 3 vital points a must!!

Posted 12:13 4th February 2010

Dean Thompson (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Awesome game to watch, slick, fluid football from BOTH sides. Well done to Leeds for putting on a great run in the cup and giving us a tough game. Leeds deserve to be promoted this season and I'm sure if they continue to play like that, they will. Good luck to you. As for Bentley, far too much praise for him, he still has a lot to prove in the Premiership! Good team performance and should be an interesting season for the boys!!! COYS!!!

Posted 11:18 4th February 2010

Mick Bueble (Leeds United fan) says...

I am a staunch Leeds fan of 30+ years - we are on our way back but all credit to spurs better team over the two legs. Now lets concentrate on getting back to the premier league. Hope spurs win the cup and Leeds carry on the winning form in the league - marching on together super whites.

Posted 11:06 4th February 2010

John Seddon (Leeds United fan) says...

I applaud those Spurs fans who have been gracious with their comments on this forum ,and to those who weren't ,perhaps you have something to learn from your fellow supporters ! Spurs were better and deserved to win . However the fact that Leeds are now spoken about in positive terms again after all they have been through is a testiment to Grayson and his players . Oh and Uncle Ken as well . Hartlepool on Saturday will be a real test of character and I fully expect them to rise to the challenge !

Posted 10:55 4th February 2010

Daniel Priestley (Leeds United fan) says...

This game was excellent, jermaine defoe was too good to be fair, but i am proud to be a leeds fan because how far we have come in the FA Cup, now lets concentrate on getting out of League 1

Posted 09:43 4th February 2010

Tom Loveless (Nottingham Forest fan) says...

From last night you can see the FA Cup is not dead. Last nights game should inspire young kids in their footballing careers.

Posted 09:32 4th February 2010

Nicholas Swarbrick (Middlesbrough fan) says...

Well looks like the fairytale is over. Now all you Leeds fans can crawl back into your caves where you belong. See you's next time your team looks like maybe winning something.

Posted 09:26 4th February 2010

Lucy Hellen (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Well done Leeds United, you put up a great fight in the two matches, I think that you must agree though that Spurs were the better side in both games. Great to see the Spurs playing with pace and grace as opposed to there sometimes arrogant displays. Harry please DONT buy Beckford, hes lazy, Casper might be a good replacement keeper though.

Posted 09:08 4th February 2010

Yousef Doubooni (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

It was a great advert for the FA Cup and despite a crucial match against Villa at the weekend it was good to see Harry field such a strong team. Hopefully we can go onto win the cup this year. Over the two games I have been impressed with Leeds. Despite the gap between the clubs it was encouraging to see Grayson's team play a decent standard of football instead of just trying to go lump the ball forward and just be aggressive. Good luck for the rest of the season and I hope you get promoted.

Posted 08:57 4th February 2010

Marcus Gudgeon (Leeds United fan) says...

Well done Leeds . . . Yet again a great performance against a team two leagues higher. . . . . . . . Now let's concentrate on the league and get back up to the Championship and then the Premier League . . . . . . . . Spurs, you were the better team on the night . . it's just a pity some of your fans on this forum don't give Leeds the credit they deserve - I suppose it is tough being a Spurs supporter and living in the shadow of Arsenal and Chelsea - we will win the Premier League title AND get back into the Champions League long before you do!

Posted 08:44 4th February 2010

Tim Sherratt (Leeds United fan) says...

I watched the game last night and the gap between a Premiership side and a Leauge 1 side is huge. Tottenham have spent millions and we have spent nothing. We need a new defence - a younger defence. We are too slow at the back. I am positive we will be promoted this season.

Posted 08:37 4th February 2010

Carson Heatley says...

As a Spurs fan living in Yorkshire and surrounded by the rest of the family who are Leeds fans, i was a bit worried. in the past Spurs would have bottled this tie but fought to a good win, 3-1 scorline a bit unfair on Leeds. Leeds play like this and get promoted and maybe in a couple of seasons back to the premieriship

Posted 08:29 4th February 2010

Steve Vernon (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

In the cold light of day, it still feels as good to have dome through a really great game. All credit to a really good Leeds side who have taken 2 of the top 4 sides in the prem all the way. I'm sure they will be back in the top flight before too long . As for Spurs, that was as good away performance I have seen for a long time and with players like Bentley and Bale finally getting the chance to show just how good they are I think it is going to take a very special performance to stop us going all the way this year, especially with other players still to come back (if they can get back in) and new strikers yet to start. Things are looking good, Keep up the great work Mighty Spurs

Posted 08:28 4th February 2010
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