FA Cup: Chelsea have edge over Spurs

Tottenham 0 Chelsea 1

William Gallas scored his first goal for Chelsea to give them the edge in a red-hot FA Cup quarter-final at White Hart Lane.

The French defender pounced after 11 minutes, bundling the ball home from close range after Tottenham goalkeeper Neil Sullivan fumbled Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s inswinging corner.

Spurs had Les Ferdinand, Dean Richards and Christian Ziege all booked insided the first 15 minutes as referee Andy D’Urso struggled to get to grips with a physical opening.

Chelsea, bidding to avenge their recent 5-1 humiliation in the Worthington Cup semi-final here, saw Hasselbaink scoop a shot on to the crossbar after 27 minutes, while 11 minutes later Ferdinand met Darren Anderton’s cross with a header which came back off a post.

Spurs captain Teddy Sheringham has suffered from a dip in form recently, and he should have done better from a free-kick just outside the Chelsea box after 25 minutes.

The set-piece was only four yards outside the box and Sheringham usually finds the target from there, but he hit a woeful shot over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Sullivan almost got Spurs into deeper trouble. Hasselbaink played a neat one-two with Gudjohnsen and as the goalkeeper hesitated before coming off his line the Dutch striker hooked his shot against the bar from 12 yards.

Tottenham’s crossing was not up to its usual standard, but Ziege whipped in a teasing corner after 32 minutes which Richards headed over the crossbar.

Chelsea, bidding to avenge their recent 5-1 humiliation here in the Worthington Cup semi-final, looked more dangerous in front of goal, and Richards made a good diving header to prevent Gudjohnsen’s cross reaching Hasselbaink after 34 minutes.

Spurs came within inches of an equaliser after 38 minutes when Anderton crossed from the right and Ferdinand saw his downward header come back off the far post with Cudicini beaten.

In the final minute, Gudjohnsen dispossessed Anderton but blazed his shot high and wide from the edge of the box.

Seconds later, Ziege crossed from the left and Sheringham scooped another shot over the crossbar.