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UEFA penalty woe
The long-winded UEFA Cup campaigns of Spurs and Everton are over after both sides crashed out agonisingly on penalties on Wednesday night.
Cup King Juande Ramos’ excellent run in the competition came to end as Spurs crashed to PSV.
Dimatar Berbatov scored for Spurs to level the tie 1-1 on aggregate but PSV ran out winners after winning a thrilling penalty shoot-out 6-5.
It was the first time the Spaniard has lost a competitive penalty shoot-out and he was seemingly unaware of the woeful record of English sides from 12 yards.
‘I didn't know about it,’ said Ramos. ‘Every player that takes a penalty is courageous.’
Jermaine Jenas and Pascal Chimbonda buckled under the pressure to send Spurs packing and PSV into the last eight.
Everton also fell foul of the dreaded penalty shoot-out as they lost 4-2 against Italian side Fiorentina after levelling the tie 2-2 on aggregate.
Goals from Andrew Johnson and Mikel Arteta meant David Moyes' men meant that the Toffees would have to be clinical from the spot to advance.
Yakubu Ayegbeni and Phil Jagielka both missed, Moyes was philosophical about harsh reality of penalties.
‘Players have different styles of penalties,’ commented Moyes.
‘Sometimes they can blast them but they then fly over the crossbar.
‘That's all it is but we practised them in training the day before the game and I went with the players that I trusted.
‘It's just an unfortunate way to go out but we have to get over it.’
In the Premier League Chelsea beat Derby 6-1 with Frank Lampard netting four goals.
Portsmouth continued their good form after FA Cup heroics at Old Trafford at the weekend and beat Birmingham 4-2.
In the Premier League’s other encounter, Aston Villa could only manage a 1-1 draw with a beleaguered Middlesbrough.
