clinical farfán puts psv in command published: thursday 6 march 2008, 23.50cet tottenham hotspur fc 0-1 psv eindhoven jefferson farfán's neatly-taken goal gave the dutch outfit a priceless first-leg victory at white hart lane.
jefferson farfán's neatly-taken goal put psv einhdoven in command of their uefa cup round of 16 tie with tottenham hotspur fc after the first leg at white hart lane.
farfán winner tottenham, hoping to become only the fourth three-time uefa cup winners, had most of the play but could not break psv down and the dutch side made a swift break count late in the first half courtesy of farfán. they now look well placed to advance after wednesday's return in eindhoven.
gilberto bow juande ramos, aiming to win a third consecutive uefa cup after his double success with sevilla fc, gave gilberto his first start since signing from hertha bsc berlin, and home morale was lifted by the pre-game parading of the newly-claimed english league cup. suitably inspired, tottenham began the game deep in psv territory, but they were not able to create clear-cut chances and 34 minutes in they were made to pay.
psv goal psv counterattacked at speed and although the break was initially halted, gilberto was robbed in possession by farfán, who calmly slotted the ball into the net. spurs responded positively, jonathan woodgate heading just wide and not long before half-time robbie keane latched on to goalkeeper paul robinson's clearance and worked a position to shoot, only to be denied by heurelho gomes.
jenas injury ramos replaced gilberto with jamie o'hara at the break, but tottenham continued to be frustrated and they suffered a further blow on 64 minutes when england midfielder jermaine jenas was forced off with an ankle injury. tom huddlestone came on and spurs had a chance when dimitar berbatov chipped the ball into the box but pascal chimbonda looped his header over the bar. farfán forced a diving save from robinson and jan kromkamp had a header ruled out for offside in an exciting conclusion with opportunities at both ends, but psv are well-placed to end ramos's run of 12 consecutive successes in two-legged european ties.
