Tottenham avoided becoming the first top-flight team to lose to non-league opponents in the Premier League era, as Nathan Tshikuna’s own goal and strikes from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson during extra time settled their FA Cup third round tie at Tamworth.
Tshikuna applied the finishing touch when the hosts at half-time failed to clear a Brennan Johnson shot, breaking the deadlock after 101 minutes before Kulusevski clinically tapped home compatriot Son Heung-min’s pass for six minutes later.
Johnson scored the third into the roof of the net two minutes from time in a match in which the 96-place gap between the teams was often not evident.
The National League side were rarely truly troubled in normal time, threatening a late winner when Thomas McGlinchey saw a close-range shot blocked behind and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd sent an effort straight at Antonin Kinsky when the ball hit him fell into the space inside the surface. from the next corner.
Tottenham FINALLY put one together in the Tamworth net ⚽️
Pedro Porro with a moment of ingenuity to put Tottenham on the right track#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/KrbeH1S4kr
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
Tamworth scares Tottenham
With the FA Cup replays abolished this season, Tamworth might feel aggrieved at not having a deserved and lucrative trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to look forward to – and they could have qualified at the earliest opportunity here.
The lively Beck-Ray Enoru had an angled shot tipped over the crossbar by FA Cup debutant Kinsky as the Lambs showed their fearlessness almost immediately.
Djed Spence’s ball 🔥
Kulusevski’s finish 😮💨Tottenham finally produce a top quality moment to put the game to bed #ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/1aNMGR7noj
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
In a strong Spurs starting line-up, James Maddison was the only player to cause Tamworth problems in the first half, curling a shot over the target and testing Jas Singh.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper made another good save early in the second half to keep out a Timo Werner shot, and defender Haydn Hollis, who was central to his defensive rigor throughout, did well to clear later Werner’s header off the line.
The lambs win almost late
Anyone expecting Spurs’ superior fitness levels to come through late would have been incredulous to see them hanging on with just seconds remaining in normal time, when McGlinchey nearly shot and Cullinane-Liburd failed to score. failed to test Kinsky even though he was well placed to deliver a sensational ending.
Those occasions led Andy Peaks to make a prayerful move three days after the Tamworth boss, who guided them from the seventh tier for three seasons in charge, signed a contract to work full-time.
Brennan Johnson enters the scene
Tottenham well and truly broke Tamworth’s hearts in extra time 💔#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/VlwwShIJzG
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
In the adjacent technical area, Ange Postecoglou took chants about his job security with good grace and was able to send Kulusevski, Djed Spence and Son Heung-min in place of Radu Dragusin, Maddison and Werner at the start of extra time, which led to more pressure. of the eight-time FA Cup winners.
Singh and Peaks were then among those to voice their frustrations at the avoidability of the opening goal, with Kulusevski and Johnson subsequently showing their ruthlessness to ensure the scoreline flattered a relieved Tottenham.
