Tottenham Hotspur needed a 73rd-minute penalty from Andros Townsend to secure a 1-0 win over third-tier Sheffield United after the opening leg of their English League Cup football semi-final at White Hart Lane.
Spurs celebrate Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It had looked like being a frustrating evening for the Premier League side and four times winners, whose laboured efforts to break down their lower league opponents came to nothing for most of the encounter.
Yet a blatant handball from Jay McEveley gave the hosts the chance to finally break the deadlock and Townsend walloped home from the spot to give them a lead heading into next week's second leg at Bramall Lane.
The winners face either Liverpool or Chelsea, who drew 1-1, in the final at Wembley.
