AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! What else is their to say after what I just witnessed? A dramatic come from behind victory over Spurs London rivals, a bit of revenge for last seasons denial of a Champions League spot as well as a devastating loss that will more than likely seal the fate of the Hammers in their relegation fight.
Spent most of the first half watching in awe as the Hammers went on a furious attack in building a 2-0 lead at the half, dominating in possession though not on chances, their conversion of what they had was a true to life representation of what happened on the pitch. Mark Noble started the scoring off in the 16th minute, with a wonderful strike on which goalie Paul Robinson had little chance as his defense was starting to set up in front of him. Noble had a shot a couple of minutes early that was thwarted by Robinson, so that got the crowd at Upton Park roaring with delight. Controversial signing Carlos Tevez got his first EPL goal on a dazzling free kick that curved and dipped just below the bar right before half time, and Tevez celebrated the occasion by jumping shirtless into the crowd to celebrate with the fans, a move which I don't blame him for but it still drew a yellow card.
Spurs got back into the game early on in the second half, Jermaine Jenas drew a penalty kick opportunity which Jermaine Defoe delivered solidly on, and one could feel the apprehensiveness in the stadium as the mood changed. Teemu Tainio scored in the 63rd minute on one of the most beautiful goals I've seen in awhile, a cross from Dimitar Berbatov on the right that hit Aaron Lennon in stride on the left, who backheeled it back into the box immediately toward Tainio, who crushed the ball into the back of the net, and all of this without the ball hitting the ground. BANG. Just like that and the score was level.
Both teams settled in a bit after that, neither had any clear cut chances in a hard fought match, Nigel Quashie was seen on screen giving a V sign and telling some Spur to Fcuk Off, right before he was injured in the 78th minute.
Ex-Spur Bobby Zamora came on in the 83rd, and headed in a corner kick over the smaller Tainio a couple of minutes later, and it looked like all of the Spurs hard work to salvage a point was down the drain. It was not to be however, as Spurs galvanized themselves into attacking, and 17 year old Adel Taarabt was able to draw a free kick for Berbatov at the top of the box in the 89th minute, and Dimitar delivered another beauty of a kick to bring Spurs back level as regulation time neared its end.
Okay, after all of that, one might figure that both teams would've been satisfied with a point, right? Four minutes of stoppage time was added and both teams had their chances, but as the four minutes changed into six, the Hammers were caught flat footed as their last chance went for naught, leaving Spurs on something like a 5 on 2 break. Don't remember who took the shot that goalie Robert Green knocked away, but Paul Staltieri was there to knock in the rebound in the dying moments of the game to give Spurs a wonderful, memorable victory.
I like Alan Curbishley a lot, and I felt sorry for him afterward. Also, some of the West Ham players were seen talking loudly to Taarabt, presumably for what they considered his diving antics.
Ah well, a heckuva way to start the day, a victory I will not soon forget. Come On You Spurs!!!
MATCH STATS
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