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Woodgate wins League Cup for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur's Jonathan Woodgate, right, scores past Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech in extra time during the Carling Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP

Jonathan Woodgate's extra-time header settled a pulsating League Cup final on Sunday as Tottenham came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 and claim their first trophy in eight years.

It was a thoroughly deserved triumph for the Tottenham coach Juande Ramos, just four months after his arrival from Sevilla, with Spurs having continually taken the game to opponents who ultimately paid the price of their own caution.

Didier Drogba's first-half free-kick had put the holders on track to retain the trophy.

But a penalty equalizer from Dimitar Berbatov -- after Wayne Bridge handled in the area -- sent the match into extra-time and Spurs, who might easily have wrapped things up inside 90 minutes, finally got the break they deserved in the third minute of extra time.

Jermaine Jenas bent in a free-kick from deep on the left and Woodgate got in behind the Chelsea defense to glance a header goalwards.

Goalie Petr Cech managed to get a punch on the ball but Woodgate was so close that it rebounded off his head and into the net.

For Woodgate, it was his first goal in two years.

"I don't believe it. I don't usually go up for corners but I just managed to get my head to it," he said.

"I think we deserved it. We were the best team on the day and we knocked the ball about against a team who are very resilient," Woodgate said.

Chelsea could count themselves unfortunate to be denied a penalty in the second period of extra-time when Woodgate appeared to man-handle Drogba in the box and Paul Robinson had to produce a superb save with his legs to deny Salomon Kalou an equalizer.

But overall Chelsea boss Avram Grant could have few complaints about his failure to emulate his predecessor Jose Mourinho's two triumphs in this tournament.

Tottenham's hopes of containing a Chelsea forward line in which Drogba started alongside Nicolas Anelka for the first time had been bolstered by the return of Ledley King to their defense.

King was to prove a hugely influential figure over the two hours but it was the Chelsea back four that found itself under pressure in an opening half hour in which Tottenham spurned several good chances to take the lead.

After Pascal Chimbonda had headed Aaron Lennon's corner onto the top of the crossbar, Berbatov squeezed between Terry and Ricardo Carvalho to get on the end of Keane's cross from the left only to glance his header wide.

Cech then produced the first of what was to be a series of fine saves, diving low to his right to keep out a drive from Steed Malbranque.

Not until 28 minutes had elapsed did Chelsea manage to muster a shot on goal, a wayward Frank Lampard effort from 25m.

It was however a sign that the holders were about to click into gear and Spurs found themselves behind after Didier Zokora crudely interrupted Drogba's progress toward the box.

The body check earned Zokora a yellow card and Drogba ensured his international team-mate was further punished by placing the free-kick around the edge of a poorly aligned wall and just inside Robinson's left-hand post.

With the game entering its final half hour, Ramos switched to a three-man defense, introducing Tom Huddlestone to his midfield and withdrawing Chimbonda.

It was a decision that was vindicated when Huddlestone popped up in the box to collect Lennon's cross from the left with 20 minutes left.

As Bridge attempted to close him down, the Chelsea defender twice handled the ball and, after consulting his assistant, referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot, from where Berbatov sent Cech the wrong way to equalize.
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