Premier League 'race for fourth' - Man City 0 Spurs 1 - Tottenham qualify for Champions League
Published: 6 May, 2010
SKIPPER Ledley King played through the pain barrier last night (Wednesday) to lead his team-mates into the Champions League for the first time ever.
Peter Crouch’s late strike saw Spurs secure a Top Four finish with a 1-0 victory at Manchester City.
King, who was passed fit earlier in the day, said after the game: “It is worth being on the pitch because of nights like this.
“All the rehabilitation I have had to do was worth it,” he added.
King, who was paired with Michael Dawson in the heart of defence, had to weather a first-half storm in a tense affair.
The game was billed as the £30 million, the £40 million or the £50 million match, depending on what newspaper reports you read.
And it seemed that Carlos Tevez’s paper boy had been busy as the Argentine forward tore into Spurs from the off. Although City had more possession in the opening period, Spurs enjoyed the better chances.
Crouch hit the post after meeting Gareth Bale’s deep cross, while moments later King had the ball in the back of the net only to see his effort disallowed for a foul on Gareth Barry.
City struggled to create many real chances, and when they did they found goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes in fine form. The Brazilian pulled off a magnificent save to deny Adam Johnson. Gomes even reacted well when his own team-mates threatened the goal, pouncing to save Bale’s blushes when he almost knocked Craig Bellamy’s cross over his own goal-line.
The second-half was as tight, with City again enjoying the possession, but Spurs looking increasingly dangerous on the break.
The multi-million pound goal came eight minutes from time when Younes Kaboul stormed forward and fired in a low cross that was parried by City’s stand-in goalie Marton Fulop.
Crouch stooped, and from four-yards bundled the ball home to earn Spurs a place in next season’s Champions League qualifiers. It was no more than they deserved, igniting early celebrations ahead of their final game of the season away at Burnley on Sunday.