Tottenham Hotspur needed extra time to defeat fifth-tier Tamworth, which is 96 places behind it in the English football pyramid, 3-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Tamworth almost achieved a surprise after holding out from the beginning, but the team composed of amateur players collapsed in extra time, and was unable to achieve one of the biggest surprises in the history of the competition.
Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh told ITV: “We should be proud that we succeeded in forcing a top six opponent into extra time, and we also had some chances that we did not take advantage of, which is disappointing.”
After 90 minutes of scoreless play, Nathan Cicona scored an own goal in the 101st minute at the Lamb Ground, giving Tottenham the lead after Brennan Johnson sent a low cross into the penalty area.
Substitute Dejan Kulusevski doubled the lead when he took advantage of a pass from Son Heung-min and shot into the goal, and Johnson added the third goal.
Tamworth gave its fans a lot of joy when Beck Ray Enoro, who works as a salesman in a store, forced Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinski to make a wonderful save in the first minute.
Before kick-off, Enoro climbed onto the shoulder of a team-mate to repair a hole in the net using a roll of tape, while Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou watched, laughing, and Tamworth’s Tom Tonks, known for his long throw-ins, sent one of his throws off the pitch. At the far post for Tottenham.
Tom McGlinchey and Jordan Cullinan-Liburd had excellent chances to score the winning goal in the last moments for the host team, whose coach Andy Becks – who resigned from his day job as an assistant to become a full-time coach before Sunday’s match – showed signs of disbelief.
Singh, who gave birth to a baby boy the night before, impressed in goal as he blocked several Spurs shots, including two from James Maddison.
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