Young Arses cream Spuds

Mickey Mouse Cup (semifinal, 2nd leg)
Aggregate score 2-2, 5-3

Young Arses 3
(Adik Bayor 77th, Aliadiere 105th, Chimbonda o.g. 113)

Spuds (creamed) 1
(Mido 85th)

This was a real thriller of a game.

As the second-leg semi-final between bitter traditional crosstown rivals resulted, it already showed promise, what more with the thrilling 2-2 draw of the first leg at Whiteshite Lane.

Fortunately for the neutral fans, the match lived up to its promise. Football at a furious end-to-end pace, dubious tackles simply throbbing with crunchy malice and cheeky nipple-tweaking all featured in this smorgasboard of a footie feast.

There was even an in-yer-face confrontation between Diaby and Spud's Hossam Ghaly

The first half was surprisingly scoreless considering the number of decent chances that were created.

Manuel Almunia in the 10th minute somehow denied Robbie Keane at the edge of the penalty area when the Ozzie beat the Arse offside trap. Then Paul Robinson denied Denilson's powerful shot.

Aaron Lennon didn't start due to a sudden illness, causing malicious Spuds to raise their collective eyebrows inferring a repeat of last year's infamous "mass food poisoning" just hours before a crucial tie for the fourth place. And Berbatov remained injured.

But Spurs had enough to mount a creditable fight, with Chimbonda making frequent forays upfield and Keane getting into promising positions while the Young Arses were showing the slick interplay and passing that was missing from the seniors during the Bolton game.

In the second half, Arsene brought in Rosicky for the ineffective Walcott, who while he did better than during Bolton was still underperforming. And it made a whole lot of difference.

Adding depth to the passing interplay, Rosicky was intyrumental in Arsenal's first goal.

Denilson, the Brazilian U-19 captain, fired a shot that Robinson could only parry away. It came back to Rosicky who passed it to Aliadiere, took the return pass and fed Adik Bayor for a clear shot at goal.

1-0 to the Arsenal.

Spurs went to overdrive. Jol sent in Huddlestone for Hossam Ghaly after his hissy spat with Diaby and striker Mido for a tiring Steed Malbranque.

Meanwhile Arsene sent in Cesc for Diaby and Clichy for an injured Armand Traore. The Boss was going for the kill.

It paid off and Mido headed in a Jermaine Jenas free-kick.

Suddenly things went even more frantic as both sides pressed for the winner. But as the clock ran down, the score remain stubbornly at 1-1.

It was all Arsenal during extra-time, Spurs being limited to 2 significant forays before substitute Rocha misread a Cesc cross. The ball dipped suddenly and Rochas found himself trying to head the ball away with his chin firmly planted in the turf. The ball bobbled off his head and Aliadiere gleefully wallopped past Robinson to take the lead.

Spurs came back and Chimbonda and Keane missed before Rosicky, who added stylish penetration to the Arsenal attack, took a low cross to turn Dawson beautifully before crashing a shot that Robinson parried onto his left post.

The ball bounced off and hit Chimbonda who deflected it over the line before managing to hook it back out.

But the officials saw it clearly and blew for the goal.

It was a cruel blow to a Spurs team that gave everything they got, including elbows, hacks and spats in the game.

But the youthful Arses deserved their win and it will be interesting to see if Arsene will reward them by fielding the same side against the Chelshites at the Millennium.

Unsung Hero Award
Denilson Pereira NEVES, is the Brazil Under-19 captain. Would make a passable Frodo Baggins.

Started at Sao Paulo team that won the 2005 Copa Libertadores.

Turned in a commanding performance, and never shrank from a physical challenge during the game. Floated in a couple of beautiful free-kicks into the box which unfortunately weren't got to by the strikers.

Got into a personal duel with Paul Robinson with several good shots that Robinson managed to parry away but one resulted in Adik Bayor's goal.

Best moment in the match - when Robbie Keane went for a hard shoulder challenge on him for a 50-50 ball near the end of the match. Poor old Robbie went down hard, to the loud cheers and jeers of the amused Gooner crowd at the touchline. The boy (born Feb 16 1988) is hard.

:P