FA CUP PEN MIGHTIER THAN SPURS!

Krul breaks Tottenham hearts in shoot-out shock

TIM KRUL made it a tale of two keepers as Tottenham went crashing out of the FA Cup to leave their season in danger of falling apart.

And for Jose Mourinho, it was another night of shoot-out misery – he has now won only one of the nine he has faced in his long managerial career.

Norwich keeper Krul saved two spot-kicks, from Troy Parrott and Gedson Fernandes, in a nervous shoot-out after Tottenham’s standin Michel Vorm’s howler had gifted the visitors a late equaliser.

Krul is renowned as a penalty specialist and he did not let his team down as the home fans feared the worst when Gedson stepped up and saw his weak effort saved.

Eric Dier and Giovani Lo Celso were on target for Spurs, Erik Lamela missed but bottom-of-thetable Norwich kept their nerve to inflict a fourth straight defeat on Mourinho and book a quarter-final clash with the winner of tonight’s Derby v Manchester United tie.

Yet Tottenham had started well and, despite lacking a natural centre-forward, they pinned Norwich back with sustained pressure.

Bergwijn found Lucas Moura whose lay-off set up Lo Celso but his shot was superbly saved by Norwich keeper Krul.

The reprieve did not last long as Tottenham were ahead after just

13 minutes. Norwich midfielder Mario

Vrancic was booked for a foul on Lo Celso and it gave Spurs a freekick in a dangerous position on the left edge of the box.

Lo Celso put over a teasing cross and, when Krul got caught in two minds, Jan Vertonghen rose to head powerfully home at the back post.

Just when it looked like Spurs would take charge, Norwich came back at them and Tottenham’s third-choice keeper Vorm, making his first start in 533 days, looked decidedly rusty.

The equaliser was coming – and it eventually arrived after 78 minutes following a clanger from Vorm.

Norwich substitute Kenny Mclean unleashed a 20-yard shot and, when Vorm spilled what should have been a straightforward catch, Drmic (above) chased in to force home the rebound from close range.

Tottenham have kept just two clean sheets in 13 home games under Mourinho.

The Londoners should have nicked a winner when Serge Aurier looked certain to score but he was denied by a heroic clearance from Ben Godfrey as the tie went into extra time.

The closeness of the tie should have come as no surprise.

The Premier League clash at Carrow Road in December finished 2-2 and in London a month later Spurs needed a late winner to seal the three points.

But that seems a long time ago now for Mourinho and his men, who looked shattered last night.