Image Credit: Tottenham Hotspur
By Lee Clow
04 March 2020 | FA Cup
Tim Krul was the hero as he helped Norwich City progress into the quarter finals of the FA Cup after defeating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties.
Having lost to Wolves at home on the weekend, Jose Mourinho and his team looked for a response by progressing into the quarter final of the FA Cup.
Spurs started game quickly and came close within the first 10 minutes through Giovanni Lo Celso.
Lucas Moura burst through the Norwich defence before offloading the ball to Lo Celso, who took a touch and struck, but Tim Krul did well to smother the Argentines shot.
Despite the near miss, it did not take long until Spurs had the ball in the back of the net. Lo Celso involved again whipped in a beautiful ball across the box, catching out Krul, allowing captain Jan Vertonghen to rise highest and header home the opener. The goal was met by huge cheers from the fans and great passion by Vertonghen who has struggled for form in past few weeks.
Following the goal, Spurs went from strength to strength as they piled huge pressure on the visitors defence. Lo Celso and Moura looked the most dangerous for Spurs with their creativity and pace causing Norwich problems.
On the half hour, the away side a good chance to level having got through the Spurs defence, but Norwich wasted the chance by trying to walk the ball into the back of the net.
This started a spell for Norwich as they grew in confidence. Emi Buendia excellently skipped past a few defenders before unleashing a strike at Michel Vorm who parried the ball away well keeping scores at 1-0.
Vorm was needed again moments later when he luckily saved a long range effort by Lucas Rupp. The effort from Rupp moved in the air and seemed a routine save for Vorm however the Dutch keeper, making his first Spurs appearance in over a year, spilled the shot initially before luckily claiming the rebound.
Along with Vorm bailing Tottenham out, Eric Dier also made crucial blocks and tackles for the home side with Norwich now the stronger side.
Late in the first half, Moura came inches away from doubling his sides lead. The Brazilian excellently won back the ball in the box before striking towards goal but Krul was there to make a crucial save for Norwich.
The teams went into the break with only Vertonghen’s header separating them. Moura and Lo Celso looked the most dangerous for Spurs however Norwich grew stronger in the half with the tie still in their grasp.
In the second half, Daniel Farke’s Norwich came out of the traps quickly, starting how they ended the first half. Dier had to make another early block with Maxx Aarons and Josip Drmic combining well.
Moments later, the away side had another chance as Drmic volleyed towards goal, following some pinball in the box, however Vertonghen was there to make a crucial block to preserve his sides lead.
Todd Cantwell and Norwich continued to threaten Spurs defence with the home side lacking an out ball. A direct ball from the back allowed Rupp to unleash a strike from range again however Dier was there once more to take the sting out of the shot and allow Vorm to fall on the ball.
Halfway through the second half, Spurs appeared to have weathered the storm having kept Norwich quite for some time. Despite this, Spurs lacking anything in attack with Erik Lamela now on the pitch to try and change that.
With 13 minutes to go, the visitors got their deserved equaliser through Drmic. Vorm who earlier spilled a long range strike once again dropped a shot from Kenny McClean allowing Drmic to beat Davinson Sanchez and snap up the rebound to draw the tie level.
With the minutes ticking, Tottenham started to turn on the style as they looked to retake the lead. Serge Aurier came the closet to scoring after Lo Celso managed to squeeze the ball across the box towards the Ivorian who looked certain score, however Ben Godfreywas their to make a crucial goal line clearance.
Despite the late attack, Spurs could not find the winning goal forcing extra time to be played.
In extra time both sides looked dangerous as they looked for a winner to send them through to the next round.
Aurier came close to scoring for Spurs after some great build up play. The right back cut inside before going on the outside striking at goal but Krul did well to parry the effort.
With a fourth substitute allowed in extra time, Spurs fans finally got what they wanted as Troy Parrott was brought on by Jose Mourinho, replacing Dele Alli.
The first 15 minutes of extra could not bring any goals with one more set to go before a potential penalty shootout.
Lo Celso having been quiet for while a great chance at the start of the second half of extra time. The Argentine ghosted through the Norwich defence before striking low towards goal but Krul once again got down to keep the tie level.
Gedson Fernandes came closet in final 15 minutes but after 120 minutes of scintillating football, the tie headed for a penalty shootout.
Dier was the first to take a spot kick and he dispatched his effort well before Vorm saved magnificently to deny McLean, making it 1-0 to Spurs in the opening two penalties. Lamela was Spurs’ next penalty taker however he blasted his over the bar allowing Adam Idah to equalise. Lo Celso made it 2-1 before Marco Stiepermann executed the same. The highly anticipated Parrott was next, but he faulted under pressure with Krul saving, giving Norwich the advantage which Cantwell extended. With Spurs needing to score, Fernandes stood up to the spot but Krul guessed right sealing the victory and sending Norwich through into the quarter final of the FA Cup.
For Tottenham they suffer another defeat while also conceding their last chance to win a trophy this season.
After the game, Spurs manager Jose Mourinho spoke to the press giving his thoughts on the game: "I think we don't deserve the result but that's football. As you can expect it was a difficult game, as I could expect some of my players were really really in trouble and they made an incredible effort to try.”
"I am not going to say what everybody knows so this time I am not going to say that but I have to say Steven Bergwijn, it's too much for him to play so many minutes like he is doing. I prefer to call Lucas [Moura] a hero, he is playing every minute of every game in every position to help the team but he told me he had to go out of he's going to get injured.”
"Harry Winks was completely dead. I think he's started 11-12 games in a row, we had many many players in trouble.”
"The solutions were solutions but we weren't improving the team. We were the only team that could win in 90 minutes, we were the only team trying in the last 10 minutes. The same in extra time. Penalties are penalties, we missed them so congratulations to Norwich that's the only thing I can say.”
"I don't have one single negative feeling towards my players, the opposite, they tried fantastic things. I am really, really sad for the boys, I can cope with the bad result and with negative moments, I've had so many, but I am really sad for the players."
What’s next?
Tottenham have a tough trip against Burnley on Saturday while Norwich face Sheffield United at Bramwell Lane on the same day.
With Norwich progressing through to the quarter final, they will face either Manchester United or Derby, who play tomorrow.
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