Tottenham vs Barcelona Highlights: Wembley Cup Highlights

Posted on July 24, 2009
Filed Under Barcelona, English Premier League, Spanish Primera Liga

Tottenham youngster Jake Livermore celebrated his new contract by scoring a late equalizer in the Wembley Cup friendly against Barcelona’s second string. Livermore’s new deal, until 2011, had been announced earlier in the day and he found the net shortly after coming from the bench in the 80th minute, canceling out Bojan Krkic’s opener.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp auditioned four possibilities to plug the hole in the center of his defense during the clash. With Spurs short on numbers, Vedran Corluka, Tom Huddlestone, Pascal Chimbonda and youngster Dorian Dervite filled in at center-back but could not prevent Bojan getting on the scoresheet.

The Spanish and European title holders selected a severely weakened and young team, with only Yaya Toure remaining from the side that defeated Manchester United two months ago in the Champions League final. Eric Abidal, who was suspended for that clash, started and so did Bojan but Spurs’ makeshift defence were spared an evening trying to keep out Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has agreed personal terms ahead of a move from Inter Milan.

With Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Dawson and Ledley King injured, Huddlestone had to drop back from midfield to center-back, with Corluka shifting inside from the right from the start. Redknapp went with Jermain Defoe sa a lone striker and Spurs struggled to make chances, allowing Barcelona to settle into the game.

Barcelona took the lead in the 32nd minute when Toure went on a mazy run past Wilson Palacios and Corluka. Huddlestone tackled him cleanly but the ball ran for Bojan, who fired home at the near post. It could have got worse when former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen chipped through for Pedro Rodriguez to double the lead, but he was harshly ruled offside.

Luka Modric struck the post for Spurs in their first genuine attack, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto getting an effort tipped over when the rebound eventually fell for him. Barcalona almost changed their entire side at the break, while Robbie Keane was among the four substitutes Redknapp brought on.

Spurs had a huge penalty appeal turned down just before the hour mark when Albert Dalmau appeared to handle he ball when he controlled a corner aimed at the far post. Heurelho Gomes saved well when Jeffren Suarez was sent through, while Modric had a close-range effort bravely blocked by substitute goalkeeper Jose Maria Pinto before Livermore headed home in the 83rd minute, getting on the end of Assou-Ekotto’s cross.
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One Response to “Tottenham vs Barcelona Highlights: Wembley Cup Highlights”

Jeqq on July 25th, 2009 1:36 am

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