Men's

Round 3

National Hockey Stadium

Wed 25 Oct 2006 | 19:45

Match Report

Jermain Defoe and Mido scored two goals apiece as Tottenham eased past MK Dons in the third round of the Carling Cup. Mido scored the opener after 34 minutes, latching on to Reto Ziegler's cross and firing home from six yards.

Defoe scored either side of the break, the England striker dinking the ball over Dons keeper Adolfo Baines before tapping in his second from close range.

Mido made it four after Baines could only parry Defoe's shot and Robbie Keane made it a rout in injury time.

Spurs began the game on the back of a five-match unbeaten run but it was the League Two side who made the brighter start.

In the seventh minute, Dons striker Clive Platt forced Radek Cerny to save at the second attempt with a skimming drive.

Defoe then forced Baines into a diving save with a stinging shot from the edge of the penalty area.

In the 26th minute, Lloyd Dyer sent a free-kick over Cerny's crossbar and the left winger was enjoying a fine first half against Paul Stalteri.

A minute later, Dyer's pace left Tom Huddlestone with no option but to bring him down and the Spurs midfielder was shown a yellow card.

Such was the Dons' early dominance that Mido's first was something of a surprise.

The Egyptian striker, who scored the winner against West Ham on Sunday, was first to Ziegler's centre as the home defence hesitated.

Three minutes later Izale McLeod was prevented from scoring an equaliser by a great block tackle from Calum Davenport.

And Cerny had to be alert as the striker tried his luck with a near-post effort.

However, Mido turned provider in the 42nd minute, his clever pass finding Defoe in space and the England striker lifting the ball over Baines for Tottenham's second.

Any hopes of a comeback for MK Dons were shattered within five minutes of the restart when Huddlestone chipped the ball into the path of Defoe, who finished with aplomb.

Defoe's partnership with Mido was now beginning to function with some potency and in the 59th minute the pair combined to make it four.

Defoe once again sprinted clear of the home defence but his shot was saved well by Baines.

However, the ball ran clear to Mido who threaded the ball through a forest of legs and into the back of the net.

In the 78th minute, MK Dons should have reduced the deficit but McLeod hit the post from eight yards and then sent the rebound over the bar.

Defoe was eventually replaced by Keane with 10 minutes remaining and the substitute added a fifth for Spurs in the final minute of normal time.

MK Dons boss Martin Allen: "Defoe showed a bit of bite tonight. He got his teeth into us. He was very sharp and his attitude good.
"If they had come here half weak we would have done them but they came and stood up to the test.

"We have not been helping ourselves with our mistakes but tonight was down to some great finishing from Spurs."

Tottenham boss Martin Jol: "They had a go at us and put us on the back foot, but after we scored it was easier. "Tom Huddlestone pulled the strings in midfield and the strikers scored their goals - what more do you want?

"The start of the season wasn't good but that was a long time ago now. We're unbeaten in six games now."