Defoe hat-trick ends Leeds run

Feb 04, 2010

Leeds, Feb. 4: Jermain Defoe spared his own blushes and those of Tottenham Hotspur with a hat-trick at Elland Road to overcome brave Leeds and book a place in the FA Cup fifth round at the second time of asking with a 3-1 win here on Wednesday.

England striker Defoe missed a host of good chances but still managed to come up trumps for the Premier League side with strikes in the 37th and 73rd minutes before putting the result beyond all doubt in the fourth minute of stoppage time to take his tally for the season to 22 goals.

Luciano Becchio had equalised for Leeds on the stroke of half-time as Simon Grayson’s League One side threatened to pull off another shock in front of a partisan home crowd. But Defoe secured a trip for Tottenham to top-flight rivals Bolton in the last 16 and ended the Cup dreams of Leeds, who had knocked Manchester United at Old Trafford out of the competition in stunning style in the previous round.

"That was a difficult game," Defoe told ITV Sport. "Away from home it was a great performance from the lads."

— AFP

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