Defoe treble ends Leeds’ run as Spurs stay in hunt

JERMAIN DEFOE kept Tottenham on course for Wembley and brought the curtains down on the Leeds fairytale with a hat-trick in a high-octane fourth-round FA Cup replay at Elland Road last night.

Defoe’s mis-hit opener in the 37th minute was cancelled out by Luciano Becchio’s equaliser at the end of the first half, but the England striker poached a second-half winner and then a late third to book the Londoners a fifth-round tie at Bolton on the weekend after next.

Defoe admitted he was relieved to have overcome the challenge.