Tottenham trophy wait goes on as magnificent Middlesbrough stun Conte’s men in FA Cup thriller

Young striker Josh Coburn stunned Tottenham with an extra-time winner as Middlesbrough knocked the Premier League outfit out of the FA Cup and booked their place in the quarter-finals at the Riverside Stadium. 

A game that produced plenty of chances, particularly late on and in the added period, finally saw a goal in the second period of extra-time when Coburn slammed an effort past Hugo to send the home fans delirious and Spurs still looking for their first trophy since 2008 as Boro triumphed 1-0.

The opening half failed to produce an effort on target despite plenty of endeavour from the home side and Spurs looking dangerous on the break.

The closest the visitors came to scoring came through Matt Doherty, who burst forward and beat scrambling Boro keeper Joe Lumley to the ball but failed to hit the target from wide on the right.

Boro squandered a golden chance to take the lead in the 55th minute when an unmarked Matt Crooks powered a header over the bar from six yards from a corner.

Tottenham went close themselves minutes later when Eric Dier’s 30-yard free-kick was tipped around the post by Lumley. Kane then saw a close-range finish from the corner narrowly ruled out for offside.

The impressive Jonny Howson curled a free-kick just wide as Boro started to build up a head of steam.

Substitute Folarin Balogun, on loan from Arsenal, fired over the bar before Antonio Conte decided it was time for a double change when he introduced Emerson Royal and Steven Bergwijn to the action.

Late chances squandered

The home side had a great chance to win it at the death when Isaiah Jones was played in on goal but Lloris made a smart stop to deny the Boro wing-back. From the resulting corner Howson glanced a header wide when he should have scored.

At the other end, it was Son’s turn to squander the opportunity to book a place in the last eight in stoppage-time, when he headed straight at Lumley, and the game went to extra-time.

WHO’S NEXT? 🔴⚪️ #UTB pic.twitter.com/yRvnnIMIBs

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) March 1, 2022

Both Kulusevski and Son went close in the opening stages of extra-time as Tottenham started to go through the gears.

Howson then fired high and wide before Lloris had to be alert again to keep out Marcus Tavernier’s far-post volley as Boro responded with a flurry of chances of their own.

But Boro took a deserved lead early in the second period of extra-time when young striker Josh Coburn found himself through on goal and lashed him effort across Lloris and into the far corner.

Conte’s last throw of the dice was throwing on 17-year-old forward Dane Scarlett with five minutes to go.

Lumley produced a great late save to keep out what would have been an own goal from Crooks, but Spurs failed to muster another chance and their long wait for a trophy goes on.