PSV Eindhoven 0 Tottenham 1 (aet, agg 1-1, PSV win 6-5 on pens):Juande Ramos' dream of a Uefa Cup hat-trick ended despite a stunning Dimitar Berbatov volley as Tottenham crashed out on penalties against PSV Eindhoven at Philips Stadium.
Ramos has endured a few scares winning the competition with Sevilla in the past two seasons - goalkeeper Andres Palop scored at this stage a year ago - and this time Berbatov looked to have come to his rescue.
His ferocious drive cancelled out PSV's advantage from the first leg before the shoot-out, with PSV advancing after Jermaine Jenas and Pascal Chimbonda failed from the spot.
Berbatov has an extensive back catalogue of sumptuous strikes but he might have topped them all with his equaliser last night, which forced a gripping tie into extra-time. Tottenham had appeared set to take home hard-luck stories, despite enjoying the upper hand against the champions of Holland. Steed Malbranque shot wastefully wide in the first half while the substitute Darren Bent lacked conviction in front of goal.
But Berbatov revived his team with a bolt from the blue which plunged the travelling support into delirium. It was a goal laced with quality and dramatic timing. Little appeared on when Pascal Chimbonda arrowed over a cross from the right but Berbatov, from just inside the penalty area, sized up the situation in an instant. Sauntering on to the ball's trajectory, he wrapped his right foot around a volley which fizzed beyond the clutches of the PSV goalkeeper, Gomes. The cries of Berbatov's name were still ringing around the visiting enclosure when the additional 30 minutes started.
Ramos has demonstrated a ruthless edge since taking charge at the end of October; nobody can be sure of his starting place. If that has kept the players on their toes, then Aaron Lennon was rocked back on to his heels when he was dropped for the first time by the Spaniard. Tottenham started with a midfield diamond, with Didier Zokora at the base and Jermaine Jenas at its tip, as Ramos sought early security and possession. PSV's game is all about keeping the ball and moving it quickly, stretching their opponents, and despite the pre-match predictions of both managers about an open tie, the tone was set for a tense, tactical struggle.
Malbranque cut into the area from the right-hand side with Robbie Keane available to his left, unmarked, but Malbranque, justifiably, chose to go for goal. He was guilty, though, of the cardinal sin, flashing his drive wide of the near post. Keane, never short of a dramatic gesture, raged in the six-yard box.
PSV: Gomes, Kromkamp, Marcellis, Salcido, Alcides, Mendez (Bakkal 112), Simons, Culina, Afellay (Dzsudzsak 82), Koevermans (Lazovic 72), Farfan. Subs Not Used: Roorda, Zonneveld, Rajkovic, Aissati. Booked: Simons.
TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Chimbonda, Woodgate, King (Lennon 61), Lee (Bent 46), Jenas, Zokora, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane (O'Hara 86). Subs Not Used: Cerny, Tainio, Boateng, Dawson. Booked: Jenas, King, Malbranque, Huddlestone, Zokora.
Referee: Matteo Trefoloni (Italy).
