The Wednesday Wonder: Robbie Keane

By Taylor Fisher | 30th September 2009

The Wednesday Wonder: Robbie Keane | read this item

In what could be the most obvious Wednesday Wonder to date, Robbie Keane is this week’s pick after his stunning performance on Saturday against Burnley. I’ll admit that I’ve overlooked a hat-trick for the Wednesday Wonder before and picked somebody else, but there is something special about that fourth goal. Scoring four goals in any match is a remarkable feat. I don’t care if Keane scored four goals against the lowly Derby team of the 2007/08 season. It’s still an amazing performance.

Keane’s four goals came against a Burnley squad that has really been stirring up the standings lately. This can be noted by their performance just a month ago that earned the whole squad the Wednesday Wonder crown. Since then, the newly promoted side has continued to cause problems for everybody. On paper Burnley would seem not all that threatening, but there is something about playing them at Turf Moor that really gets them and their fans fired up. Lucky enough for Robbie Keane, the match was played at White Hart Lane.

Toward the end of this match you would have expected that Tottenham had grinded out a hard fought victory, but that was when the floodgates opened in the Burnley defense. Let’s go back and see how we got to this point, though. The scoring got underway for Tottenham in the 18th minute when Jermaine Defoe was stupidly challenged (Anton Ferdinand are you out there?) by Burnley defender Andre Bikey in the box. The penalty was immediately awarded to Spurs who sent their captain Robbie Keane up to take the kick. Burnley keeper Brian Jensen dove one way and Keane coolly slotted home his first goal of the day, putting Tottenham up 1-0.

Spurs’ second goal of the day was also a result of Keane, but he was not the scorer. Keane took the ball at the top of the box and ripped a shot that caromed off a Burnley defender right back out to Jermaine Jenas. Jenas took one touch to figure what he was going to do with the ball, and then his second touch picked the ball out of mid-air and took a shot a goal. Luckily for him it hit another Burnley defender. This altered the flight of his shot, which made it impossible for Jensen to do anything. The ball easily found the back of the net and put Spurs up 2-0 going into halftime.

The score stayed that way until the aforementioned floodgates opened in the 73rd minute. A beautifully placed through ball to Aaron Lennon on the right flank resulted in a quick cut into the box. That freed up plenty of space for Lennon to pass the ball across the box where Robbie Keane was running to. Keane pounded home the ball from twelve yards out and put Tottenham up 3-0. For many teams, the scoring would be done at this point, but Tottenham is still flexing their muscles and showing that they really are a force to be reckoned with this season.

Keane’s hat-trick was completed just four minutes later. Tom Huddlestone booted a long ball to Keane from Spurs’ half of the pitch. The ball happened to land perfectly for Keane – who had already cleared the Burnley defense – who let it bounce twice at his feet and then smacked a left-footed shot by Jensen to add to the already insurmountable lead.

The captain added his final goal in the 86th minute of the match. Peter Crouch flicked a perfect ball through to Keane who was in the process of splitting the Burnley defense – yet again – to receive the ball. Once he received the ball, Keane took a scorcher of a shot on the ground at Jensen, splitting his legs in the process, and finding the back of the net. A 5-0 victory for Tottenham in a glorious performance from Robbie Keane. Four goals has earned you the title of Premiership Talk Wednesday Wonder! Congratulations, Robbie! Maybe Peter Crouch shouldn’t be starting over you after all…

An a side note it’s worth mentioning that the curse may be over. Gareth Bale was subbed on late in the match, which allowed him to earn his first Premier League victory of his career. Does this mean Taylor chose the wrong Wednesday Wonder? Have your say below!