Spurred into the FA Cup quarters

Defoe’s brace enables Tottenham to register 3-1 win.

LONDON:

Jermain Defoe was a delighted man after his brace enabled Tottenham Hotspur to book an FA Cup quarter-final spot with a 3-1 fifth-round replay win at home to third tier Stevenage at White Hart Lane.

Joel Byrom opened the scoring for the visitors and the League One side sensed a famous victory, only for England striker Defoe to level before the break.

Emmanuel Adebayor edged Spurs in front with a penalty before Defoe added his 15th goal of the season in the 75th minute to give eight-times FA Cup winners Tottenham a home quarter-final against Premier League strugglers Bolton.

“I’ve felt sharp all season and, playing in a team like ours, you’ll always get chances to score,” said Defoe. “I’d love to play in the summer for England [at Euro 2012] but obviously I have to get a run in the Spurs team first.”

Stevenage manager Gary Smith added, “We gave a terrific account of ourselves, but some moments didn’t go our way. In the end, Jermain Defoe finished us off. But we can have a lot of pride in ourselves.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2012.