Tottenham faced an unexpected challenge as they struggled to fend off fifth-tier Tamworth in the FA Cup, ultimately winning 3-0 after being pushed into extra time. The match highlighted the disparity in their league standings, with Tamworth nearly 100 places lower within the English football hierarchy. Despite the overwhelming odds, the match was tense, and Spurs only secured their victory late in the game, preventing what could have been one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history.
In another notable match, defending champions Manchester United overcame Arsenal, winning 5-3 in a penalty shootout after a tightly contested 1-1 draw. United had to battle through adversity, playing with 10 men for over 30 minutes following Diogo Dalot’s second yellow card. Joshua Zirkzee successfully converted the decisive penalty for United, keeping their title defense alive.
Tottenham, fresh off a victory against Premier League leaders Liverpool just four days earlier in the League Cup, had difficulties against a Tamworth side composed largely of part-time players juggling jobs in various fields, including bricklaying and financial advising. After a scoreless regulation period, the match was forced to extra time, culminating in an own goal from Tamworth in the 101st minute. Spurs then followed up with goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson, much to the dismay of the 3,700 spectators in attendance at The Lamb stadium.
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s manager, was compelled to call upon some of his star players, including Son Heung-min and Kulusevski, from the bench to shift momentum and ultimately prevail over their opponents, who were participating in the third round of the competition for the first time since 2012. Postecoglou acknowledged the pressure of the match, stating, “It’s very easy on a day like this to lose your head when things aren’t going your way, but for the most part we stayed calm, persistent and got through.”
Tamworth’s midfielder Tom McGlinchey expressed regret over his team’s inability to pull off a shock result, reverting to his teaching job the following day. In years past, Tamworth would have been able to earn a lucrative replay by holding Spurs to a draw; however, the current season’s schedule changes eliminated replays.
There was also a lighthearted moment before kick-off when the game was briefly delayed due to a netting issue on one of the goals. A Tamworth player humorously climbed onto a teammate’s shoulders to fix the problem.
In a surprising turn of events, Altay Bayindir emerged as the standout performer for Manchester United. Following a disappointing previous outing that saw him concede during a match against Tottenham, the goalkeeper redeemed himself by making crucial saves, including one against Martin Odegaard in regular time and another in the penalty shootout against Kai Havertz, ensuring United’s progress in the tournament.
Bruno Fernandes initially put United ahead in the 52nd minute, but the team was thrown into uncertainty when they lost a player. Despite the adversity, they held firm, and after Arsenal equalized through a deflected goal, they managed to keep their composure long enough to secure a victory in the shootout. Zirkzee’s successful penalty not only helped clinch the win but also provided a moment of redemption after facing a challenging spell with fans.
Other Premier League teams also progressed, with Newcastle making a successful comeback to defeat fourth-tier Bromley 3-1 despite conceding an opening goal. Furthermore, Crystal Palace and Ipswich secured their places in the next round with victories against lower-league teams. Southampton likewise triumphed over Swansea confirming their strong performance in the competition.
As the tournament moves into the next round, Manchester United will face Leicester at home, marking a significant matchup against their former player, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who now manages Leicester. Meanwhile, Liverpool will take on Plymouth away, and Manchester City will face either Leyton Orient or Derby.
