Tottenham avoided becoming the first Championship team to lose away to non-league opponents in the Premier League era, as a Nathan Cicona own goal and extra-time strikes from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson settled their FA Cup third-round clash with Tamworth.
Cicona produced the finishing touch when the hosts failed to clear Brennan Johnson’s shot, opening the scoring after 101 minutes before Kulusevski scored a decisive goal from a pass from fellow substitute Son Heung-min six minutes later.
Johnson slotted the third into the roof of the net two minutes from time in a game in which the 96-place gap between the two teams was often not clear.
The National League side were rarely in real trouble during regular time, threatening a late winner when Thomas McGlinchey curled a shot from close range behind them and Jordan Cullinan-Liburd sent an effort straight to Antonin Kinski when the ball fell to him in space inside the penalty area. From the next corner.
Finally, Tottenham scored a goal against Tamworth ⚽️
Pedro Boro with a moment of brilliance to set Tottenham on their way#ETVfootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/KrbeH1S4kr
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
Tamworth scares Tottenham
With FA Cup replays canceled this season, the Tamworth side may be saddened that they don’t have a well-deserved and lucrative trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to look forward to – and they could have qualified at the first opportunity here.
The lively Bec Ray Enoro’s angled shot was tipped over by Kinski, making his FA Cup debut, over the bar, with the Lambs showing their bravery almost immediately.
Jed Spence’s ball 🔥
The end of Kulusevsky 😮💨Finally, Tottenham produced a moment of quality to put the game to bed #ETVfootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/1aNMGR7noj
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
In a strong Spurs line-up, James Maddison was the only player to cause Tamworth problems during the first half, as he fired over the goal and tested goalkeeper Jas Singh.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper made another good save early in the second half to keep out Timo Werner’s shot, and defender Hayden Hollis, who was central to his defensive rigor throughout, did well to clear Werner’s header off the goal line.
The Lambs almost win it late
Anyone expecting Spurs’ superior levels of physicality to be on display late in the game will be amazed to see them holding it together seconds before the end of normal time, when McGlinchey almost shot the ball away and Cullinan Liburd failed to test Kinski when he was well placed to provide a thrilling finish.
Those chances left Andy Bix making a prayer gesture three days after the Tamworth coach, who led them from the seventh tier during three seasons, signed a contract to work on a full-time basis.
Brennan Johnson gets in on the action
Tottenham well and truly broke Tamworth hearts in extra time 💔#ETVfootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/VlwwShIJzG
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
In the adjacent technical area, Ange Postecoglou received cheers about his job security well and managed to send on Kulusevski, Jade Spence and Son Heung-min for Radu Dragosin, Maddison and Werner at the start of extra time, creating more pressure. Eight-time FA Cup winner.
Singh and Becks were among those who expressed frustration afterwards at the nature of the goal that broke the deadlock, with Kulusevski and Johnson showing their ruthlessness to ensure the result left Spurs satisfied.
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