Jurgen Klinsmann plundered an amazing second half hat-trick in the space of
five minutes and ended up with four goals in all as Tottenham clinched
Premiership safety.
The German World Cup captain had nudged home David Ginola's cross to ensure
Spurs finished a frantic first half on level terms at 2-2 against Wimbledon.
But the sparks really started to fly when Wimbledon's Ben Thatcher was sent
off - for the third time this season - after an appalling foul on Allan Nielsen
seven minutes after the break.
Just eight minutes after the dismissal, Klinsmann had reduced the Dons to
rubble with a remarkable exhibition of clinical finishing, which doubled his
tally of four goals eked out in 16 previous games since returning to the club
for his second spell just after Christmas.
Klinsmann has fallen out with manager Christian Gross and will bid his
farewells to Spurs after next Saturday's home game with Southampton, the last of
the season.
But he made sure they can go into that match without anxiety after a dazzling
display that left Wimbledon mighty glad they had secured their own top flight
place with a goalless draw with Coventry in midweek.
Spurs had started his London derby with a record of just one defeat in their
previous nine games and were looking for the win that would provide the
salvation of a desperately difficult campaign.
But nobody could guess just how spectacular it would turn out even though Les
Ferdinand put them in front in the 18th minute.
It was looking easy for Tottenham at that stage. Ginola, in typically
flamboyant form, had already hit a post but it was no surprise to anybody when
Ferdinand pounced with some of his old style to force the ball past goalkeeper
Neil Sullivan from Darren Anderton's cross.
But suddenly Spurs' world seemed to collapse again as Wimbledon midfielder
Peter Fear, playing only his seventh game of the season, struck with an
explosive two-goal burst to put his side ahead by the half-hour.
Four minutes after Ferdinand's strike, Spurs could only half clear Michael
Hughes' right-wing cross but there still seemed little danger until Fear let go
with a savage 30-yard shot that flew past Ian Walker.
And eight minutes later Fear finished with equal power, this time from closer
range, when big Carl Leaburn nodded down another Hughes cross.
If anybody expected Spurs to buckle however, they were in for a big surprise.
Gross's team stuck to their guns with an ambitious, adventurous attacking policy
and three minutes before the break got back on terms.
Ginola's low cross to the near post was nudged past Sullivan by Klinsmann's
outstretched right foot.
That right foot was to do terrible damage to the Dons after the break but not
before Thatcher's atrocious challenge left Nielsen crumpled in a heap. Referee
Graham Barber, who had struggled for control as tempers became frayed towards
the end of the first period, waved play-on after the elusive Ginola appeared to
be elbowed in the ribs by Fear.
A split second later Nielsen was sent cart-wheeling into the air as he went
for the loose ball and Thatcher, previously sent off against West Ham, and for
England's Under-21 side earlier in the season, had to walk - the red card an
inevitability.
Wimbledon were left in tatters after that and Klinsmann exacted a terrible
revenge. In the 55th minute Nicola Berti pounced on a mistake by Brian
McAllister, returning for his first start since an Achilles tendon operation in
December, and squared the ball for Klinsmann to sweep past Sullivan.
A long clearance by Walker three minutes later was headed on by Ferdinand and
Klinsmann was in the clear again to knock it home.
His fourth of the match arrived within 120 seconds, a fierce drive into the
far corner as the Wimbledon defence again tangled itself in knots.
That wasn't quite the end. Klinsmann's audacious back-heel opened up the way
for Algerian substitute Moussa Saib and the Tottenham fans' chant of "we want
six" was perfectly answered as the Algerian drove the ball in off a post for
his first goal for the club with 10 minutes left.
Only a freak of mathematics and goal difference can put Tottenham back in the
bottom three now.
For Wimbledon though, it was a shocking afternoon to end their home programme
for the season. Joe Kinnear's team, which had had five goalless draws in their
previous eight matches, suddenly started giving goals away as though they were
meaningless.
And for the first time this season the Dons lost their discipline in a big
way. Skipper Chris Perry and new £1.5million Irish winger Mark Kennedy were both
booked for fouls as well as the red card for hot-head Thatcher.
Teams:
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Kimble, Thatcher, Roberts, Perry, M. Hughes,
McAllister, Euell (Francis 36), Fear, Leaburn (Gayle 46),
Kennedy (C. Hughes 63).
Subs Not Used: Ekoku, Heald.
Sent Off: Thatcher (52).
Booked: Perry.
Goals: Fear 21, 30.
Tottenham: Walker, Calderwood, Fox (Saib 72), Nielsen, Anderton,
Ferdinand (Armstrong 61), Carr, Ginola, Campbell, Klinsmann,
Berti.
Subs Not Used: Scales, Clemence, Grodas.
Booked: Berti.
Goals: Ferdinand 18, Klinsmann 41, 54, 58, 60, Saib 79.
Att: 25,820
Ref: G P Barber (Pyrford).
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