midfielder Dele Alli (L) vies with Marine’s English defender
Anthony Miley (R) during the English FA Cup third round football
match between Marine and Tottenham Hotspur at Rossett Park ground
in Crosby, north west England, on January 10, 2021.
Martin Rickett / POOL / AFP
Leeds suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit against Crawley
as the League Two side swept to a stunning 3-0 win, while eighth
tier Marine’s hopes of causing the competition’s greatest shock
were crushed in a 5-0 defeat against Tottenham.
After the spiking coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc with
matches across the third round on Friday and Saturday, the FA Cup
was back on more familiar ground on Sunday as Leeds became the
competition’s latest big name to be knocked out by a feisty
underdog.
While Marine’s romantic adventure was cut short by Carlos
Vinicius’s hat-trick and Chelsea and Manchester City progressed to
the fourth round with ease, Crawley’s unexpected success
encapsulated the FA Cup’s unique charm at a time when football is
badly in need of some positive news.
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Numerous clubs have been hit by Covid-19 problems as the new
variant sweeps across Britain, forcing Aston Villa and Derby to
field teams of youth players for third round defeats against
Liverpool and non-league Chorley respectively.
Despite calls for the English season to be halted, the FA Cup
goes on for now and Crawley relished their chance to steal the
spotlight.
Leeds sit 12th in the Premier League after a fine first season
back in the top-flight, but boss Marcelo Bielsa paid the price for
making seven changes at The People’s Pension Stadium in leafy
Sussex.
On a fairytale day for Crawley, it was fitting that Nick
Tsaroulla should open the scoring with his first career goal in the
51st minute.
Ashley Nadesan’s low shot crept under Kiko Casilla to double
Crawley’s lead two minutes later and Jordan Tunnicliffe wrapped up
the victory after 70 minutes.
“These players have got a lot to prove to the clubs who have
released them and we’ve showed what we can do against a really good
side,” Crawley boss John Yems said.
Rubbing salt into Leeds’ wounds, Crawley handed a debut to
former reality television star Mark Wright as a late
substitute.
How much Bielsa knew about Wright is in doubt, but he insisted
he wasn’t surprised by Crawley’s display.
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“It’s not a question of surprise. We knew the characteristics of
their players. We had the ball for a long period of time but we
couldn’t do much with it,” Bielsa said.
– Vibrant Vinicius –
Marine, of the Northern Premier League Division One North West,
were trying to bridge the biggest gap — 161 places — between
opponents in FA Cup history.
Marine’s squad is comprised of teachers, NHS staff, bin men and
factory workers, with their tiny stadium in the Merseyside town of
Crosby providing a surreal setting for the visit of Jose Mourinho’s
stars.
Appropriately for a match against a team named after a local
pub, virus restrictions meant Tottenham had to change in a stadium
function room with a bar.
Marine’s ground is lined on one side by houses, so a few lucky
locals were able to watch for free as Neil Kengni almost gave
Marine the lead when his 30-yard drive cannoned off the bar.
Tottenham, without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, took control in
the 24th minute when Vinicius finished off Dele Alli’s pass.
Vinicius, on loan from Benfica, was on target again after 30
minutes.
Lucas Moura struck with a fine free-kick in the 32nd minute and
Vinicius completed his treble five minutes later
Alfie Devine enjoyed a debut to remember when the substitute
fired home in the 60th minute, making him Tottenham’s youngest ever
scorer at 16 years and 163 days.
“The boys were professionals and didn’t stop until the game was
over. The attitude means a lot for me and also for the competition
and to Marine’s guys, because they felt we played seriously,”
Mourinho said.
Chelsea, FA Cup runners-up last season, thrashed League Two team
Morecambe 4-0.
Mason Mount marked his 22nd birthday with a 25-yard strike and,
after 12 games without a goal, Timo Werner finally got on the
scoresheet in the 44th minute.
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Kai Havertz netted in the second
half.
Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 win against second tier
Birmingham at the Etihad Stadium, with two goals from Bernardo
Silva and one from Phil Foden.
AFP