- Tottenham Hotspur draw 1-1 vs Leeds United
- Antonin Kinsky comes to the rescue
- Czech goalkeeper puts Metropolitano woes behind him
Nobody envisioned Antonin Kinsky bouncing back so quickly after his torment at the Riyadh Metropolitano in March. Two woeful mistakes in a 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid saw the Czech goalkeeper subbed off in the very first half.
Most of the footballing world was shocked at Igor Tudor’s brutal decision, and some even suggested he’d ruined his career. But the 23-year-old has shown unbelievable resilience to put that nightmare behind him.
Kinsky has since become Spurs’ new number one under Roberto De Zerbi and last night explained just why. A 1-1 draw against Leeds United still means the Lilywhites are two points above the drop zone, but if it weren’t for their shot-stopper, it would have been one.
Tottenham 1-1 Leeds – Kinsky Saves a Point
Kinsky was Man of the Match, making three saves, including one in stoppage time, to deny Sean Longstaff from point-blank range. The Leeds midfielder struck a fierce effort that the Czech goalkeeper turned onto the bar.
Tudor’s poor handling of Kinsky could have jeopardised his career, especially denting his confidence with his decision to bring him off against Atletico. But De Zerbi has shown his faith in the former Slavia Prague shot-stopper, with Guglielmo Vicario recovering from surgery.
At such a young age, many goalkeepers crumble under the pressure of representing a club of Spurs’ stature. Add one of the worst displays on the European stage, and it’s a recipe for disaster.
Tudor got it completely wrong throughout his tenure as the North Londoners’ manager. The Croatian has now unintentionally made Kinsky a fan favourite who even rival fans want to see succeed.
‘Save of the Season’
Jamie Carragher said it best during Monday Night Football when he lavished praise on Kinsky. He pointed out how crucial his saves could prove to be in the relegation battle:
“You think about that save from Kinsky, that’s one of the saves of the season. It could’ve been a lot worse. The two saves he made have made sure his team have got potentially a vital point.”
Kinsky has now made eight appearances across competitions, keeping two clean sheets. With Vicario’s future in doubt, he has the chance to further lay claim to being the Lilywhites’ number one next season.
Next up for De Zerbi’s men is a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Tuesday (May 19th). Another performance from Kinsky, like last night’s, could prove vital in a tightly poised relegation battle.
