Robbie Keane's magnificent hat-trick gave Spurs all three points as they edged
a seven-goal thriller against Everton at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Glenn Hoddle's side trailed to debutant Brian McBride's opening goal for the
Toffees, but Gus Poyet levelled before Keane took over the show to win the match
for his side despite Everton equalisers from Steve Watson and Tomasz Radzinski.
Neither team really deserved to lose an incredible match, but Keane's extra
class meant Tottenham's season is back on track after last week's FA Cup
mauling at Southampton, while Everton are now without a win in five Premiership
matches.
David Moyes' side, desperate to atone for last weekend's FA Cup exit at Third
Division Shrewsbury Town, made the perfect start when McBride, a USA
international who arrived at Goodison Park on-loan from Columbus Crew this week,
scored after 10 minutes.
Scott Gemmill seized onto a loose ball in midfield and played a
perfectly-weighted pass through the Spurs defence and McBride made a dream start
to his Everton career by calmly slotting the ball past the advancing Kasey
Keller to put his new side ahead.
But, Spurs hit back three minutes later through captain Poyet.
The home side won a corner when Espen Baardsen, playing against his former
club after Richard Wright injured himself in the warm-up, was forced to save
from his own defender Alan Stubbs' header which appeared to be heading into the
bottom corner until the Norwegian's timely intervention.
Darren Anderton's resulting flag-kick was only half-cleared to Simon Davies
who nodded on to Poyet and the Uruguayan placed his header firmly past Baardsen
to put his side level.
Steffen Iversen missed a golden chance to put Spurs ahead on the half-hour
when Anderton's free-kick from the left missed everyone in the crowded Everton
penalty area and fell to the unmarked striker at the far post, but he
inexplicably jumped over the ball instead of tapping in from just two yards.
The sides went in level at the interval but a frenetic second half resulted in
five more goals as both sides went for broke in search of a much-needed win.
Keane scored his first when he beat the Everton offside trap and ran onto
Anderton's 50th-minute chipped pass before rounding Baardsen and slotting the
ball into the far corner of the empty net.
The home side almost added a third just a minute later when Carr crossed from
the right and the ball eventually fell to Davies, but his 12-yard shot was
brilliantly turned away from goal by Baardsen.
Just when Spurs were beginning to look worthy of their lead, Everton came
straight back into the match with a goal from Watson.
Gemmill freed Li Tie on the right in the 57th minute and the Chinese
international's superb cross to the far post was met by Stubbs, who headed
firmly at goal, but Keller managed to claw the ball away for a corner.
The resulting flag-kick was taken short and Gemmill's cross was misjudged by a
static Spurs defence and Watson pounced to slot the ball past Keller from six
yards out.
The Everton equaliser merely served to galvanise Spurs back into action and
Anderton's cross was brilliantly met by Poyet, but his 60th-minute header was
held by Baardsen before Keane ended a flowing Tottenham move with a curling shot
that went just wide of the far post.
Midway through the half Spurs took the lead for the second time thanks to a
marvellous piece of individual skill from Keane.
Anderton played the ball to the Irish striker's feet and he turned away from
Yobo's reckless diving attempt to win the ball before slotting a 20-yard effort
into the bottom left corner past the dive of a despairing Baardsen.
The home side then had an excellent chance to take a two-goal lead in the 70th
minute when Iversen raced onto a looping Davies pass but his attempted lob beat
Baardsen and sailed over the crossbar.
Four minutes later, Everton incredibly equalised for the second time when Li
Tie and McBride linked up well and the American found Radzinski, who beat Keller
at the near post when he slammed the ball into the net from 10 yards.
The unrelenting action continued as both sides went in search of a winning
goal, Anderton coming close with a 30-yard free-kick which went just wide of the
post.
Seven minutes from the end of this amazing match, Spurs edged in front again
when Keane completed his hat-trick with another superb solo effort.
Baardsen's goal-kick was headed back by Gary Doherty and Stubbs missed his
header, leaving Keane to run free 35 yards from goal.
He surged forward and skipped past Yobo into the penalty area before chipping
the ball over Baardsen to give his side the lead for the third and final time.
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