Here is the third exclusive on the spot reports from Spurs Odyssey correspondent - "Johnny Hotspur". There will now be a further report on tomorrow's final (kick-off 9 a.m BST on Eurosport)

PEACE CUP
THURSDAY 21ST JULY, 2005
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 (1) REAL SOCIEDAD 1 (0)

Spurs scorer:-
Mido, 41

Real Sociedad scorer:-
Paula, 46

Spurs (4-4-2):- Fulop; Kelly, Davenport, Gardner, Edman; Tainio (Marney 87), Carrick (C), Mendes (Reid 56), Routledge (Lennon 74); Defoe (El-Hamdaoui 81), Mido (Keane 67).

Subs not used:- Cerny, Burch; Bunjevcevic, King; Yeates, Huddlestone; Kanoute.

Sociedad:?

It was another hot and humid one in Korea. These days are very good for watching football and drinking, and Spurs tonight played their third game of the Peace Cup. They needed a draw (plus a favourable result in the Boca Juniors game) to go through to the final against Lyon. They got the result they needed but tonight’s game had far less of the bubble and fizz of the first two performances, and the neutrals (i.e. everyone in the crowd except about 25 Spurs fans) left the stadium far from convinced that they’d witnessed a quality game of football. I understand Martin Jol wanted to win this one, as it was there for the taking, so he wasn't all that pleased either.

Spurs lined up with more changes, as usual. In came Fulop, Carrick, Defoe and Mido again, and along the touchline ran all our stars all night.

Several stars are back home at this point too. Could Spurs not field three strong teams right now? It’s an interesting mental exercise, especially for all those advocating we sign this one and that one. Three strong teams – and money in the bank. We only really need to be buying extra good quality at the moment, hence the recent strategy of Spurs putting in big bids for the likes of Baptiste, Downing, Jenas and the like. We’re getting there, and if we buy someone, he's got to be a step up from what we've got now...

The game was a real tactical squeeze, as Sociedad pushed up their defence quite high, forcing the game to be played in midfield. That looks boring for some. In fact, Spurs broke through their trap all night long with several good through passes by the likes of Reid, Routledge and the very buzzy Tainio – my Spurs player of the tournament so far – but the shots didn’t go in for us and the game never really got the goals that might unlock the midfield congestion; overall, not a super watch for the fans.

Except us Spurs fans, who would be happy watching Robbie Keane sit and read the newspaper for 90 minutes.

Two such through passes in the first half were telling of the whole night’s action. A great Tainio chip put Mido through but his effort went out for a corner. Soon after some beautiful Routledge skill led to a cross from the same but Defoe didn’t put it in. Then the ball would spend another ten minutes stuck in midfield, and you would just switch off, look at the guys running up and down the touchline; and muse about our new kit. It’s a new shade of blue for Spurs; it looks far better in real life than on the Internet. It’s a bit non-traditional but… it looked all right actually. I think it'll quickly become a non-issue.

At the other end it was the same, with Lee Chun-Soo (of the World Cup – the only Korean who managed a shot on goal in the semi against Germany) playing back in his hometown stadium Ulsan again and determined to do something good all night; he got put through but Davenport forced him out and into no man’s land, here and in fact all night long.

On 41 minutes Tainio put Defoe through with a fine pass, he rounded the keeper, who bundled him off the ball, which rolled to Mido, who paused to allow the defender to slide past him before he slotted it in nicely for 1-0.

Then as if that wasn’t enough action, a hilarious sending off occurred with Kovacevic getting his marching orders for diving. They call it Hollywood Action here. See, don’t do Hollywood Action in Korea. They all remember Totti, who got that preposterous red card for Italy against Korea. They all think that was fair. And now, to keep up that benchmark, they do dish out cards for that every time. Kovacevic clearly hadn’t watched a video tape of that game before tonight…

The second half started and Real equalize right away, with Paula stabbing home; they then go out and put together a fine spell where they run the ball all over us and create a few good chances.

Finally after a ten-minute siege, Mido breaks and rounds the keeper but the ball gets poked out for a corner. Then Defoe gets put through, but takes too long to shoot and the ball ricochets out for another corner.

Soon after, Tainio shielded the ball nicely and put in a pass to Mido who shot on the volley, missed, but looked great. Then Reid (on for Mendes) fed Mido on the wing, who cut it back to Reid, who fed Defoe, who shot right at the keeper. Defoe then took another through pass but missed another scorable one. This was a spell with Defoe right in the action but just not scoring – he also ruined a nice free kick routine; and was just about to have a scrap with a big guy and get a ticking off from the ref, but the ref came flying in and slipped. He was so embarrassed about that he forgot to tick off the players.

Keane and Lennon came on for Mido and Routledge. Defoe misses another nice chance, this one a volley, from a Reid cross, and eventually gets subbed off for the likely, busy and no doubt very good El-Hamdaoui, who soon feeds Lennon with a great pass to the wing, but the youngster wasted it. At the other end, Davenport stops a Real break with a solid tackle.

With the clock ticking there was little time for much else except for Marney to come on and take a shot; and the ref to come sliding in again to stop another set-to again, and fall over again. Best entertainment of the night.

Boca beat Sundowns 3-1 and Spurs made the final on goals scored, this Sunday in Seoul, against Lyon, Michael Essien and all. There was one Spurs fan out there who stood to miss this game – his first in 4 years – he looked a bit bitter and twisted at the final whistle (Ed; ust be "Rosie" from "Topsurs" who I know prizes his record of consecutive games!). The players trotted around the stadium, and Tainio threw his boots into the crowd – this guy will be a favourite of many, it seems; I really like him already.

One final thought. So many fans call out for Spurs to go out and sign a leader, a big name to lead all these youngsters we now have. Tonight got me thinking; why? Do we really need a proven leader? We are emerging as a real team here, where everyone takes responsibility for making that win happen; if we sign Beckham, or Guti, will the younger guys not be tempted to leave the match-winning plays up to him? Will they defer, instead of taking the game by the scruff of the neck by themselves? This Peace Cup has got me thinking – perhaps at this point, we’re all right, we have a sporting unit that is moving forward and about to make a name for itself…

Well I say that now, but if Lyon thrash us..........

Well thanks for reading,

Johnny Hotspur.

Follow @spursodyssey