Tottenham Hotspur secured their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burnley on Friday evening.
The match saw Spurs struggling for most of the contest, but a remarkable strike from Pedro Porro in the late stages ultimately proved to be the decisive moment for Ange Postecoglou’s team.
While Burnley had opportunities, including two notable misses from Zeki Amdouni, the hosts managed to secure their progression to the next round without enduring significant pressure.
In the early stages, both teams displayed considerable energy, with Tottenham pressing Burnley fervently in their final third. However, Burnley’s resolute defense and a sharp save from Guglielmo Vicario in response to Johnson’s attempt kept the score level.
Despite Spurs’ dominance in possession, their attacking efforts waned after the initial chances. Burnley’s defense held firm, with Muric relatively untroubled following his save from Johnson’s shot.
The frustration among home fans became palpable as Spurs grappled with creating clear-cut opportunities. Despite their efforts from distance, Burnley’s goalkeeper remained untroubled.
Tottenham’s breakthrough arrived through Porro’s magnificent long-range strike, which found the top corner of Muric’s net with 11 minutes remaining, sealing a truly remarkable goal.
As the game neared its conclusion, Burnley had a chance to equalize, but Amdouni’s close-range effort went wide, ultimately ending their hopes of salvaging a result.
Player ratings:
GK: Guglielmo Vicario – 6/10 – Limited involvement.
RB: Pedro Porro – 8/10 – Impressed in open play, defensively solid, and contributed an extraordinary goal.
CB: Emerson Royal – 6/10 – Held his ground against Burnley’s forwards.
CB: Ben Davies – 6/10 – Impressive in tackling despite limitations on the ball.
LB: Destiny Udogie – 7/10 – Energetic and influential at both ends of the field.
DM: Oliver Skipp – 5/10 – Limited defending responsibilities and struggled with progressing the team.
DM: Rodrigo Bentancur – 7/10 – Exhibited composure and initiative to drive the team forward.
RM: Dejan Kulusevski – 5/10 – Struggled to make an impact from the wing.
AM: Giovani Lo Celso – 5/10 – Faced challenges with Burnley’s physicality and marked closely by the visitors.
Left midfielder Brennan Johnson recorded a 6/10 rating, emerging as the standout performer in Spurs’ attacking lineup. While he began the game promisingly, his impact diminished as the match progressed, frequently making subpar decisions in the crucial attacking third.
Striker Richarlison earned a 5/10 rating, notable for his commendable work ethic and pressing efforts. However, aside from these attributes, his performance left much to be desired as it failed to yield significant success.