JOSE SUFFERS A KRUL NIGHT
Norwich keeper is penalty hero to knock Spurs out
TOTTENHAM 1 NORWICH 1 AET; NORWICH WIN 3-2 ON PENS
TIM KRUL was Norwich’s hero last night as he saved two penalties in the shoot-out to KO Tottenham.
The Canaries goalkeeper saved from Troy Parrott and Gedson Fernandes as they reached the quarter-finals.
This is a Spurs team finding it hard to score goals – another defender in Jan Vertonghen put them ahead last night with his 13th minute header. And because of that the pressure is always on a nervy back line.
Stand-in keeper Michel Vorm was playing his first game in 18 months. In the first half he fumbled a drive from Lukas Rupp but got away with it.
But 12 minutes from time there was no escape for the 36-year-old. Canaries substitute Kenny McLean let fly from 25 yards – and Vorm spilled the ball straight at the feet of Josip Drmic – who bundled in the equaliser.
It was Giovani Lo Celso who once again showed Spurs the way early on, and going forward, Jose Mourinho’s team did look dangerous. Too often though there was no one there to finish the chances. First he raced onto Lucas Moura’s pass after the Brazilian had cut through the middle, but saw Tim Krul excellently beat away his shot. But two minutes later the Argentine swung in a pinpoint free-kick from the left and Vertonghen, recalled by Mourinho, climbed at the far post to power home his header.
The 32-year-old is almost certainly leaving Tottenham in the summer when his contract ends, but his second goal of the campaign and 12th in his eight years gave his team hope.
But Norwich have shown this season, despite a difficult campaign, that they can never be counted out.
And Daniel Farke’s side came back hard. First Emi Buendia dribbled through to fire in a drive that Vorm parried. But when Rupp cracked in another effort from 30 yards, the Spurs goalkeeper spilled the ball and had to dive back to grab it and save his embarrassment.
It was nervy stuff. Not helped by the fact that Krul was his usual excellent self in the Canaries goal, superbly pushing over Moura’s shot.
Drmic then and forced Vorm into another stop – before Mario Vrancic curled his freekick just over.
But then there was one too many fumbles from Vorm. Once again Spurs had surrendered a lead – as they had done twice against Wolves on Sunday.
Frantically, Tottenham threw everything at Norwich to try to regain their lead, and Serge Aurier saw his shot booted off the line by Ben Godfrey.
Then Mourinho was on his feet claiming a penalty as Dele Alli, who had yet another disappointing night, tumbled in the area. But referee Paul Tierney was having none of it.
Norwich were pinned back for long spells, but they held on for extra time and have Krul to thank.