Tottenham required three goals in extra time as they survived a huge scare against non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup third round. (More Football News)
The Premier League giants were taken all the way by a team four divisions lower than them in the English football pyrꦆamid, with Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson eventually settli♍ng the tie at the Lamb Ground.
Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh kept out James Maddison's long-range effort, w♒🦩hile Dan Creaney cleared off the line from Pape Sarr during the first half.
Singh ꧟also thwarted Timo Werner as the hosts continued toౠ keep their opponents at bay.
Tamworth even had an opportunity to snatch a dramatic victory in the final seconds of regulation time, with 𒁏Thomas McGlinchey seeing a shot deflected wide and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd firing straight at Antonin Kinsky.
Ange Postecoglou introduced the likes of Kulusevski and Son Heung-min ahead of extra time, and Tamworth's resolve was finally broken in the 101st minute following a cleverly worked free-kick, with Nathജan Tshikuna𒁃 deflecting Dominic Solanke's shot beyond Singh.
Tottenham꧟ put the tie beyond Andy Peaks' spirited side when Kulusevski drilled home early in the second period, while Johnson swept home a third to add further gloss to the scoreline later on.
Data Debrief: Spurs survive scare
Tottenham have now progressed from each of their last 11 FA Cup third-round ties, but it was far from straightforward for Postecoglou's men against the side position𝄹ed 16th in the National Lea🔯gue.
Spurs became only the fourth Premier League side (since 1992-93) to be taken to extra time in an FA Cup game bꦡy a non-league ꦐclub, after Leicester City (against Hereford in 1999-2000), Charlton Athletic (against Dagenham and Redbridge in 2000-01) and West Ham (against Kidderminster Harriers in 2021-22).
The breakthrough final🐻ly arrived in the 101st minu🍸te. The unfortunate Tshikuna became the first non-league player to score an own goal against a Premier League side in the FA Cup since Lincoln City's Luke Waterfall against Arsenal in the 2016-17 quarter-finals.
