The New Zealand centre-half finally found a way to beat brilliant Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan in the last- eight tie which had been originally abandoned after Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest 11 days ago.
Nelsen climbed high at the far post to head in Rafael van der Vaart’s 74th- minute corner to ease the frustration sweeping the north London ground.
And a couple of minutes later Gareth Bale fired in his first goal in the FA Cup before substitute Louis Saha sealed a deserved victory in injury time.
Hungarian keeper Bogdan had single-handedly defied Spurs with a string of athletic saves as Wanderers fought a rearguard action from the moment the game started following a minute’s applause for Muamba.
Tottenham’s slick passing game had Bolton at full stretch but they could not find a way past Bogdan, who foiled Emmanuel Adebayor, Luka Modric, Bale and Scott Parker in the first half.
Van der Vaart hit the crossbar from a free-kick soon after the restart before Spurs broke Bodgan’s resistance, with substitute Kevin Davies reducing the arrears late on before Saha struck. |
