FRIENDLY MATCH
SATURDAY 7TH AUGUST, 2010
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 (1) FIORENTINA 2 (2)
Spurs scorers:-
Pavlyuchenko, 27
Keane 57, 90
Fiorentina scorers:-
Gilardino, 7
Pasqual, 36
Attendance:- Est. 25,000
Referee:- Mr. S. Attwell
Assistants:- Mr. M. Yerby & Mr. S. Ledger
Fourth Official:- Mr. J. Hopkins
Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Gomes (sub Cudicini, 68); Kaboul, King (Capt.) (sub Walker, 68), Bassong, Ekotto (sub Naughton, 78); Lennon (sub Kranjcar, 46), Jenas (sub Huddlestone, 46), Palacios (sub Livermore, 78), Giovani; Pavlyuchenko (sub Rose, 68), Crouch (sub Keane, 46)
(Armband to Keane)
Subs not used:- Corluka, Dawson
Booked:- Palacios
Fiorentina (4-2-3-1):- Frey (sub Avramov, 82); Comotto (sub, Silvestri, 46), Natali (sub Kroldrup, 57), Felipe, Pasqual (sub Gulan, 57); Donadel (Capt.) (sub Montolivo, 46), Zanetti (sub ; D’Agostino, 46) Waigo (sub Agyei, 83), Ljajic (sub Bolatti, 72), Marchionni (sub Seferovic, 82); Gilardino (sub Babacar, 57)
Subs not used:- Santos
Booked:- Zanetti (Dissent), Montolivo (foul on Giovani)
Keane come-back for Spurs
Second half substitute Robbie Keane scored his third and fourth goals of a successful pre-season campaign to seal a deserved win for Spurs in their final preparation for the new season. There was no sign of key players such as Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Jermain Defoe, and with Michael Dawson and Vedran Corluka un-used substitutes, there were opportunities for others to shine. Of these, it was probably Giovani Dos Santos who made the most of his chance with a great all-round performance, appearing on both flanks, in the “hole”, and finally supporting Keane in attack.
Fiorentina, who finished mid-table in last season’s Serie A, were missing their star Montenegro striker Jovetic, and also former Chelsea star – the controversial figure of Mutu – but otherwise had a decent squad of players to present decent opposition to Spurs. The visitors played with two men in front of the defence and three across the middle supporting their striker. Spurs played in their traditional 4-4-2, but will need to be more flexible in the face of an oncoming Champions League campaign, which hopefully will be sealed by victory against Young Boys of Bern by the end of this month.
Ledley King made a welcome start, and played on the right of defence to accommodate Bassong. Ledley was replaced mid-way through the second half by Kyle Walker, and Younes Kaboul moved inside from right back to cover the vacant centre back slot. Giovani actually started on the right wing with Lennon on the left, but they soon switched. Gio started Spurs first attack with a pass to the advancing Kaboul, and then was on hand with Pavlyuchenko to offer threat to the Fiorentina goal after Kaboul’s cross. Wilson Palacios took an early booking from the English referee after only 3 minutes, for a crunching tackle on Gilardino. Next week, we must hope he uses that style to stop Yaya Toure in his tracks!
Gilardino gained revenge in the 7th minute, after a poor Gomes clearance went to the feet of Waigo, who returned the ball to the unmarked striker, who scored with a free header. After an early switch for Gio and Aaron Lennon, Jenas sent the right winger away on a run which ended with the goalkeeper touching the ball over for a corner, after which Lennon crossed to the near post where Giovani was thwarted by the defence. Spurs were playing some good football with Gio to the fore. First he passed to Crouch who was blocked, then Palacios followed up giving Crouch a shot that was hit wide across the goalmouth. After 27 minutes, Giovani seized upon Comotto’s error and fed the ball to the lurking Pavlyuchenko who could not miss the open goal.
There was good skill from Lennon and Giovani, whose chip was held by Frey in the Fiorentina goal. Gio was popping up everywhere, and perhaps could be a player to cover for Modric, although he displayed enough talent to win a chance to feature on his own merit.
Fiorentina re-gained the lead after Pasqual took his chance from a low ball from the left, beating Gomes with a low shot that the keeper really ought to have saved. Gomes has arrived late for the season and Cudicini has been sharp, so there is a competition for that shirt next week too! Zanetti saw yellow for arguing too vociferously with the referee, and with Pavlyuchenko and Kaboul looming, Jenas touched the free kick to Super Pav, whose shot was deflected for a corner.
Spurs made three half time changes, with Huddlestone on for Jenas, Kranjcar for Lennon, and Robbie Keane replacing Crouch. Within three minutes, Gio was demonstrating great play, as he brought the ball out of his own half with a fine run down the right flank, crossing for Kranjcar, whose shot was blocked. After some good approach football on 53 minutes, Wilson Palacios hit a shot that passed just outside the keeper’s left post.
Spurs scored a deserved and fine equaliser after a Kranjcar free kick, and a ball to Huddlestone, who freed Keane with a measured and accurate pass through the defence, leading to a nice finish for Robbie from the right side of the goal. Fiorentina started to ring the changes, and substitute Montolivo got a yellow card for a cynical block of Giovani as he reached the edge of the area. Huddlestone’s free kick was well saved by Frey.
Spurs were now very much dominating possession, with just one scare for substitute Cudicini, whilst at the other end Fiorentina were tested by shot from Kranjcar and Danny Rose, who had been fed by Kranjcar. Kranjcar also had a right foot shot tipped over for a corner. The game was won in the closing stages after Keane escaped any offside flag, and ran onto a beautiful low through pass by substitute Jake Livermore, finishing with a low right footed shot in front of the Paxton Road stand.
There was a very well attended Spurs Odyssey gathering for this traditional pre-season game, but now the party is over and it’s time for the serious stuff to begin next Saturday at 12.45!
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