Middlesbrough sensationally stun Spurs in extra time to reach FA Cup quarterfinals

A humble but feisty Middlesbrough hosted a troubled Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup 1/8 on the night of 2 March. Championship`s eighth-placed Boro battled on level terms with Spurs at the Riverside Stadium and managed to secure a narrow 0-1 win to reach the next round.

It seemed to be just a coincidence when Chris Wilder’s side knocked out Manchester United in the last round on penalties.

“It’s the magic of the FA Cup.”

Boro’s head coach said at the time.

Many expected Antonio Conte and his lads to approach this encounter clearly in all seriousness, they needed to rehabilitate themselves for their poor performances in the English Premier League and elimination from all tournaments, including the Conference League. But it was not to be.

The regular time of the match ended 0-0, with the teams playing on level terms, as the post-match statistics confirm. Shots 12-9 (4-6 on goal), possession 51% vs 49%, total passes 673 vs 646. 

The teams also failed to score in the first extra half, and suddenly, in the 107th minute, Joshua Coburn, born 2002, who came on as a substitute, managed to open the scoring, which gave Middlesbrough the win.

As a result, Middlesbrough advanced to the FA Cup quarterfinals while Tottenham finished the tournament.

Many are wondering how the Spurs head coach reacted after such an upsetting defeat, given his scandalous comments about the club’s management after the defeat to Burnley. We bring you his words: 

“For sure the result is not good and we have to be frustrated. It was a pity because in these type of game you have to start and kill your opponent. If you give them hope, they will take confidence and improve during the game. Then anything can happen.”

said Antonio Conte.

“First of all, it is important to say that Middlesbrough played a good game, deserves respect and congratulate them for the win. We have to reflect on our performance and on the game we played. These type of games, in these trophies away from home, you have to try to kill the game quickly. Your opponent has to understand that the night will be difficult, instead we can do much better and in the end Middlesbrough deserved to go to the next round.”

“This is part of our process. I repeat, we have to try to avoid the up and down up and down and there is only one way to improve the situation is to work and learn about the defeat. We have to go ahead and we will try to do our best this season. We have to give our best for the rest of the season, then we will see what is our position and the evaluation of our season. It is early to say something about this.”

As a reminder, Tottenham had beaten Morecam and Brighton & Hove Albion in the previous stages of the tournament. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, knocked Mansfield Town and Manchester United out of the oldest cup of the world.

The reigning FA Cup winners are Leicester, who beat Chelsea 1-0 in the 2021 final.

Chelsea will play Luton on Wednesday, with Liverpool facing Norwich. The final quarter-finalist will be decided on Thursday in the Everton v Boreham Wood match. 

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• Tottenham have been eliminated from a domestic cup match after losing in extra time against a side from a lower division for the very first time in their history. 
• Tottenham have lost seven of their 13 matches in 2022 – among Premier League sides, only Brentford (8) have lost more games in all competitions since the turn of the year. 
• Josh Coburn (19yrs 85d) became the first teenager to score in the FA Cup for Middlesbrough since Lee Cattermole (18yrs 354d) netted against Manchester United in March 2007.