Dempsey scores again, but Tottenham eliminated from FA Cup

With CONCACAF's final round of World Cup qualifying rapidly approaching, U.S. international star Clint Dempsey continues to hit his stride.

Dempsey scored again for Tottenham Sunday, heading home a cross from Gareth Bale as a bright spot in Spurs' otherwise drab 2-1 loss to Leeds United in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Dempsey was given the start in a forward role, with Emmanuel Adebayor on international duty with Togo in the Africa Cup of Nations and Jermain Defoe being rested by Andre Villas-Boas.

Despite having a few chances to get Tottenham on the board go begging, Dempsey made his work pay off in the 58th minute, getting his head on Bale's ball to loop a header by Leeds goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown.

The goal was Dempsey's fifth in his last five games across all competitions and his third in Tottenham's FA Cup run. Dempsey has eight goals this season for Tottenham, six of which have come since Dec. 9. U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann will be hoping that form carries over into next month, with the Stars and Stripes set to kick off the CONCACAF hexagonal in Honduras on Feb. 6.

Fellow American Brad Friedel got the start for Tottenham against Leeds as well, playing his first minutes since Spurs' FA Cup third-round victory over Coventry City on Jan. 5. With Tottenham scrambling for a stoppage-time equalizer, Friedel marched up the field for a Spurs free kick, and he managed to get his head to the set piece but could not direct his effort at goal.