Mido boosts Tottenham's Euro hopes

[bad_meetz_evil]

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Egyptian striker Mido pushed Tottenham Hotspur closer to Champions League football after by scoring their winner in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Irish striker Robbie Keane scored twice before Florent Sinama-Pongolle hauled Blackburn back into the game just before the break and Craig Bellamy drove in a 67th minute equalizer.

Manchester City punished bottom club Sunderland for some woeful defending, with Greek striker Georgios Samaras scoring twice inside the first 10 minutes of a 2-1 win.

Mido's winner restored Tottenham's five-point lead over fifth-placed arch rivals Arsenal in the race to finish fourth - and claim a place in the Champions League qualifiers.

The battle for the Champions League has become the main focus of interest in the English top-flight as Chelsea cruise towards a second consecutive league title.

Keane gave Spurs a flying start with a superb solo goal with a clever run from a dubious throw-in after nine minutes.

He poached his second in the 42nd minute after Mido's free kick was parried by Rovers keeper Brad Friedel.

Slack defending halved Spurs' lead two minutes later when Craig Bellamy crossed and Florent Sinama-Pongolle headed in.

The Frenchman returned the compliment, cutting back from the right for Bellamy to rifle a first-time shot past Paul Robinson on 67 minutes.

Three minutes later substitute Aaron Lennon pierced the Rovers defense and Mido tapped in at the far post.

Suicidal defending
Sunderland's suicidal defending in the first 10 minutes cost them the points as City's Greek striker Georgios Samaras scored twice to move Mick McCarthy's side ever closer to relegation.

Sunderland defender Danny Collins tried to be clever in his penalty area but lost the ball to Samaras, who hammered his shot past Kelvin Davis.

Trevor Sinclair then beat Sunderland's offside trap and crossed for Samaras to stroke home his second.

Kevin Kyle pulled one back in the 25th minute for Sunderland, who had captain Gary Breen dismissed five minutes from time for a bizarre second booking -- using his arms to block keeper David James' throw upfield.

[Straight Edge]

Good for Tottenham, I seriously hope they qualify for the Champion's League next Season, because Arsenal don't deserve it and I want to see the Champion's League without Arsenal included into the mix next season