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European trips are certainly a rarity for
spurs fans these days so the opportunity to go to Feyenoord the UEFA cup
winners was one not to be missed. However, based on this
performance in the Stade de Kuip we are certainly able to mix with the
cream of Europe though a new striker would confirm this further.
After an early start and a long drive we
arrived in the city at about 1 o'clock after making sure the car was
parked as far as possible from the stadium. After a walk around the city
and accidentally bumping into the Spurs players coming out of their
hotel to get on their bus to go to the stadium, we arrived at a busy
Stade de Kuip at about 3 o'clock. Already a fair number of the 600
travelling support was there including the Belgian Supporters Club, the
others would arrive by police escort before the game started.
The match
itself was entertaining. Tottenham dominated the early spells before
Sheringham hit a sweet volley with his left foot from close range after
good work from Anderton on the right in the 23rd minute. Spurs fans
taunted the quiet Feyenoord fans with chants of “We love you Ajax we
do” which certainly got a response.
Feyenoord dominated the first half
once Spurs had scored, hitting the bar and equalizing with a brilliant
long rang effort from Van Haaren in the 36th minute and to be honest if
they had led at half time, it would not have been an injustice.
The second half was just as entertaining, as both sides had chances.
Blondel
who was very impressive wasted the best chance for Spurs. Feyenoord took
the lead through Bonaventure Kalou assisted by a Brett Emerton cross.
Feyenoord nearly made it 3-1 when a Van Hooijdonk free kick produced a
brilliant save from the impressive Kasey Keller.
With three minutes to
go and an away defeat looking all the more likely, Steffen Iversen
intercepted a weak Van Wonderen back pass and rewarded the travelling
Tottenham fans with an equaliser. Spurs could have won it at the death
when Gary Doherty, who had earlier replaced Sheringham, miscued, however
we hung on for a very creditable draw.
All in all a very worthwhile
trip, although having to be stuck in the ground for an hour after the
ground did dampen the mood. However the trip certainly succeeded in
whetting the appetite for being involved in European football and
brought
all the "if onlys" about last season flooding back ... Sir Les against
Blackburn at Cardiff certainly came to mind.
MEHSTG TOP MAN : - KASEY KELLER
DAVID GERTY
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Feyenoord
(AWAY)