16 May 2009 – Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester City
Essay Preview: 16 May 2009 – Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester City
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16 May 2009 – Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester CityRobbie Keane stroked home the winning penalty to end Manchester Citys hopes of European qualification but keep Tottenham Hotspurs bid for a UEFA Europa League place alive.Keane, who rejoined Spurs from Liverpool in February after moving to Anfield in July 2008, scored the fourth goal of his second spell at the club after Micah Richards had fouled Fraizer Campbell.Spurs manager Harry Redknapp named an attacking line-up with Keane, Jermain Defoe, who also returned to White Hart Lane at the turn of the year, and Roman Pavlyuchenko forming a three-man strikeforce.City goalkeeper Shay Given made saves from Defoe and Pavlyuchenko early on but the visitors resistance was ended on the half-hour mark when Jermaine Jenas found Tom Huddlestone, whose cross was backheeled into the net by Defoe.Keane spurned two chances to stretch the lead before the break as Spurs continued to dominate.City manager Mark Hughes made a double substitution in the 61st minute, throwing on strikers Valeri Bojinov and Benjani, and he was rewarded four minutes later as Benjani nodded the ball down to Bojinov, who slammed in his first Barclays Premier League goal.
The goal rallied the visitors but it was Spurs who had the final word when Keane sent Given the wrong way from the penalty spot.Benjani missed a chance to equalise when he headed over from inside the six-yard box but Spurs held on.But their own European dream was ended the following week, in the final BPL match of the season, when they lost 3-1 at Liverpool. They finished eighth, two points behind Fulham, who took the final UEFA Europa League spot. City finished 10th, their second successive mid-table placing.