Tottenham 2-1 Everton: The Daily Mirror match report

Luka Modric scored one of the goals of the season - but Tottenham only held on for victory after the miss of the season.

Everton looked dead and buried at the break but staged a brilliant second half comeback which would have been completed but for Landon Donovan’s amazing blunder.

Donovan raced in at the back post but, with an open goal at his mercy, somehow the US midfielder fired into the side netting from two yards.

It was a miss which cost Everton a point, left David Moyes with his head in his hands and kept Spurs boss Harry Redknapp’s men in hot pursuit of Champions League football next season.

And if they are to reach Europe’s promised land then they will need more special performances like the one provided by pint-sized midfielder Modric.

Croatian Modric was exceptional throughout and his magical 28th minute goal put Tottenham firmly in charge and on course for victory after in-form Roman Pavluchenko had given them an early lead.

But it turned out to be a nail biting finish as Everton battered Spurs in the second half in what turned out to be a thrilling, end-to-end encounter which was full of twists and turns.

The biggest turning point of the game perhaps came in the 53rd minute when Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone was stretchered off after a clash with Everton’s John Heitinga.

Huddlestone has been an unsung hero for Tottenham this season and you only begin to realise his value to the team after he was replaced by makeshift midfielder Younes Kaboul.

The tide turned and as much as Tottenham bossed the first half, it was one-way traffic after that and Yakubu’s 55th minute goal set up a grandstand finish.

It was almost like deja vu as Tottenham threw away a two-goal lead against Everton in December when Moyes’ men grabbed a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

But Tottenham now have a squad full of confidence and they look capable of forcing their way into the Champions League.

Left back Gareth Bale looks reborn as he flies down the flank and there was no better player on the pitch than him yesterday.

But at the moment Pavlyuchenko looks irreplaceable and un-droppable, even keeping England striker Peter Crouch and Eidur Gudjohnsen on the bench.

Pavlyuchenko is on fire at the moment and it took him just 11 minutes to get Tottenham off to a flier.

Huddlestone’s pass found Jermain Defoe and he drove in a low cross, Pavlyuchenko slid in and then fired home from ten yards.

It was the Russian centre forward’s fifth goal in his last three games and it stunned Everton who, despite their midweek Europa League exit, have been in terrific form in the Premier League.

But Tottenham completely overwhelmed Everton in the first half, never allowing their midfield talents of Mikel Arteta, Leon Osman, Jack Rodwell and Steven Pienaar to get a foot hold on the game.

Tottenham’s only weakness was a shaky performance by keeper Heurelho Gomes who spilled the ball in the 17th minute but the outstanding Michael Dawson made a brilliant block from Everton striker Yakubu.

Modric then put Tottenham further ahead in the 28th minute with an absolute world class goal.

A long injury lay-off has stopped Modric from reaching his high standards this season, but the Croatian was approaching his best yesterday as he swapped passes with fellow countryman Niko Kranjcar on the edge of the box.

Modric then hit a stunning right foot 20 yard shot which caught Tim Howard off his line, the ball sailed over the Everton keeper’s head, hit the underside of the bar and then crashed down over the line.

It looked as if Tottenham would run away with it but Everton boss Moyes was brave and bold enough to change it at half time, bringing on Phil Jagielka for Osman and changing the shape of his team.

Moyes’ tactical switch worked, Huddlestone went off and Everton were back in the contest after Yakubu forced home in the 55th minute after Rodwell headed on Arteta’s corner.

From then on, it was like the alamo. Tottenham panicked, Kaboul was over run in midfield and Wilson Palacios also struggled, at one point his square pass straight out of Sunday League let in Pienaar only for Gomes to save his fierce 72nd minute shot.

But as good as Donovan has been since joining from LA Galaxy in January, he will forever be haunted by his 77th minute miss. Rodwell’s low cross found him unmarked, but Donovan side footed wide.

Fabio Capello will only be hoping that Donovan is as wasteful when England face the USA in the World Cup this summer as the Everton midfielder somehow fired into the side netting.

Still Everton did not give up as Heitinga’s near post corner found Jagielka but the centre half headed over.

There were huge cheers of relief from the Tottenham fans at the final whistle as they went home with three points and a step closer to the Champions League.

Donovan, meanwhile, will want to forget his miss as quickly as possible.