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Tottenham Hotspur narrowly avoided a monumental FA Cup upset, defeating non-league Tamworth 3-0 in extra time in the third round. The victory came as a huge relief to Spurs, who struggled throughout the opening 90 minutes against the brave fifth-tier opponents.
Tamworth, 96 places below Spurs in the English football pyramid, gave a valiant account of themselves, holding their own against the Premier League side. However, the part-time players eventually got tired, allowing Spurs to capitalize in extra time.
Nathan Tshikuna’s own goal in the 101st minute proved to be the turning point, as Brennan Johnson’s cross was inadvertently directed into the net. Substitute Dejan Kulusevski doubled the lead in the 107th minute, collecting Heung-Min Son’s pass to fire past Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh.
With the hosts exhausted, Johnson sealed the win with a third goal in the 118th minute, ensuring Spurs’ progression to the next round.
Tamworth’s impressive display earned praise from their goalkeeper, Jas Singh, who stated, “We should be proud, we took a top-six team to extra time. We had chances as well, that’s the frustrating bit.”
The match had all the makings of a historic upset, with Tamworth creating several scoring opportunities throughout the game. Beck-Ray Enoru forced Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to make a diving save in the opening minute, while Tom McGlinchey and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd came close to scoring late winners.
Despite the eventual loss, Tamworth’s manager, Andy Peaks, and his team earned admiration for their courageous display against a vastly more experienced opponent.
