Spurs made that profligacy costly after the break.Sunderland (5-3-2): Chamberlain; Kubicki, Howey, Bennett, Melville, Scott; Smith, Armstrong (Martin Gray, 83), Ferguson; P Gray, Russell. Substitutes not used: Michael Gray, Norman (gk).Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): Walker; Edinburgh, Campbell, Calderwood, Mabbutt; Anderton, Howells (Nethercott, 87), Popescu, Barmby; Sheringham, Klinsmann. After 73 minutes Phil Gray scored a consolation goal with a left-foot shot from a cross by Martin Scott, and towards the end they began to worry Spurs with some late pressure.It might have been different if Melville had not headed wide from a Craig Russell cross just a minute before Klinsmann’s final goal, and probably would have been, had Sunderland notmissed a couple of good chances in the first half. The third, in the 64th minute, was an own-goal by the defender, Andy Melville, although he did not know too much about it.
A blistering shot by Gary Mabbutt was covered by Chamberlain until the ball took a deflection off Melville and spun to the other side of the keeper.Finally, with just four minutes remaining, Klinsmann headed the final goal from Sheringham’s cross, and that was his 18th of the season.It was not quite all Spurs though. “We’ve scored four away from home and could have had a few more.”Sheringham scored the second in the 56th minute, turning Lee Howey on the right, cutting in and shooting across goal into the far corner of the net. The Spurs manager admitted to having made “a few comments” during the interval, “but we really got into it in the second half We’ve gotto be delighted,” Francis said. He was in danger of missing the match after his clattering collision with Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, Mark Bosnich, on Wednesday night, but, having suffered no broken bones, he managed to put both the physical effects and potential psychological ones behind him.The German, who went on to score the final Spurs goal four minutes from time, said: “I was glad that I was able to play today, for the FA Cup in England is very important and a big tradition.”The penalty was particularly timely as Spurs still had the half-time comments of Gerry Francis ringing in their ears. Once he was gone and Jurgen Klinsmann had put away the resulting penalty, there could be only one winner.Klinsmann’s presence in the Tottenham team is of considerable significance to his hope of fulfilling his ambition of appearing in a Wembley final this season. Made a `pair’ v Australia at Edgbaston.Tests to date: 117 (Joint English record holder with David Gower)England captain: 34 times Test runs to date: 8,859Average: 42.79Highest score: 333 v India (Lord’s 1990).Bowling to date: 23 wickets Average: 46.47One-day internationals: 125Other details: Banned from Test cricket for three years for joining `rebel’ tour to South Africa in 1982.Leading test run scorersTests Runs Ave 100s A Border (Aus) 156 11174 50.56 27S Gavaskar (Ind) 125 10122 51.12 34G Gooch (Eng) 117 8859 42.79 20J Miandad (Pak) 124 8832 52.57 23V Richards (WI) 121 8540 50.23 24D Gower (Eng) 117 8231 44.25 18G Boycott (Eng) 108 8114 47.72 22. Sunderland 1 Tottenham Hotspur 4
How quickly things can change in football.
Not so long ago, Tottenham Hotspur were out of the FA Cup, having been banned by the Football Association for some indiscretions behind the scenes. Reinstated, they are now in the last 16 after a comfortable victory at Roker Park and looking forward to a home tie against either Luton Town or Southampton.
Two seasons ago, Sunderland played Liverpool in the Cup final. Now they are left with only a First Division relegation battle to face, and the agony of a terrible home record goes on.They have won only two matches out of 17 at home this season, and they never looked like winning this one.They did show tremendous spirit throughout a goalless first half, performing better than even their most ardent supporter dared to expect, but after the interval Spurs strode home.Mind you, the Londoners were helped by the dismissal of Sunderland’s captain, Gary Bennett, in the 50th minute for making a brilliant one-handed save to keep out a shot by Gica Popescu that had defeated the home goalkeeper, Alec Chamberlain.Bennett, who had been clearly the best of Sunderland’s three central defenders to that point, ruefully admitted his save “was just instinct” and acknowledged that his dismissal had cost his side the game. So, despite John Crawley’s defiance, England ought not to havelost six wickets yesterday.One change they should already have decided on for Perth is Jack Russell for Rhodes, who has kept wicket indifferently throughout the tour, and whose series average now stands at 4.4 after seven innings.It makes you shudder to watch him coming in at No 6, although at least the shuddering does not last for very long.GRAHAM GOOCH Born: Leytonstone, 23 July 1953First-class debut: 1973, for Essex.Test debut: 1975. Twenties, thirties and forties aren’t really good enough.”A bit more of this kind of attitude needs to rub off on Graham Thorpe before too long.