Cudicini sharp, helps Tottenham to scoreless tie with Earthquakes in exhibition

Earthquakes, Tottenham play to scoreless tie

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini made six saves, including two in the final three minutes to help Tottenham tie the San Jose Earthquakes 0-0 in an exhibition Saturday.

Cudicini, who missed much of last season recovering from wrist and pelvis injuries from a motorcycle accident, played solidly in Tottenham’s first tuneup before the start of the English Premier League on Aug. 14. He made three saves in the first half.

San Jose’s Javier Robles missed a free kick that sailed high and over the net in the 87th minute while Arturo Alvarez was wide right on his attempt two minutes later. Tottenham recovered and had a chance to score late but Gareth Bale missed high from close range in the final seconds.

Tottenham, which finished fourth in the Premier League last season, played without strikers Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Giovani Dos Santos, all of whom played in the World Cup. Spurs looked rusty, managing only one shot on goal in the first half and four overall.

Joe Cannon made three saves for San Jose, all in the second half.

The game, played before a record-setting crowd of 10,712 at Buck Shaw Stadium, capped a busy week for Spurs. After signing manager Harry Redknapp to a contract extension that will keep him with the team until 2013, the London club didn’t arrive in California until late Wednesday following a 10-hour flight.

The team also held two public practice sessions and were joined by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and offensive lineman Joe Staley for one of the workouts.

Tottenham and San Jose have been club partners since 2008.