Tottenham On This Day: Spurs Defeat Wimbledon In League Cup Semi-Final
By Logan Holmes
Tottenham defeated Wimbledon in the 2nd leg of the Worthington Cup semi-final to reach their 4th League Cup Final. Steffen Iversen scored the only goal of the tie.
Celebration time at the final whistle [Photo: Logan Holmes]Tottenham on this Day
16th February, 1999
Wimbledon 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1 Worthington Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg
Scorer: Iversen
Team: Walker; Carr, Campbell, Vega, Edinburgh (Sinton); Anderton, Freund, Nielsen, Ginola (Young); Ferdinand, Iversen Subs: (unused) Baardsen, Fox, Armstrong
There were very few really successful evenings for Spurs supporters to remember in the 1990s but this is one of them. A single goal from Steffen Iversen in the Worthington Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg match at Selhurst Park was sufficient to secure a place in the Final at Wembley.
Spurs and Wimbledon had played a series of five League and Cup games through January and February and all had been very close. Having drawn 0-0 in the 1st leg game at White Hart Lane, this was the really important one with a place in the Final at stake. Spurs showed great resolve and their victory was well deserved.
Steffen Iversen scores the only goal [Photo: Logan Holmes]Tottenham took the lead seven minutes before the interval when Steffen Iversen produced a precise lob from the edge of the penalty area to leave Neil Sullivan stranded in the Wimbledon goal. In the second half Wimbledon failed to break through the Spurs defence and the players, roared on by the Tottenham faithful, held on through the frantic final nerve-racking minutes to claim their place at Wembley. On the final whistle the ecstatic fans swarmed onto the pitch to join in the celebrations.
Steffen Iversen scored the vital goal that day and made the headlines but every player was Tottenham hero for their battling determination to win through to Wembley. Many years after leaving Tottenham, Iversen returned to the scene of this memorable occasion, Sehurst Park, to play for Crystal Palace.
Spurs were on their way to Wembley!
Wimbledon v Tottenham [Photo: Logan Holmes]