FA Cup

PLENTY of us have imagined that if a Jose Mourinho team was playing in our back garden, we would draw the curtains.
Not so the back-garden army who watched from treetops, ladders, shed roofs and verandas as Tottenham ran riot at Marine’s Rossett Park.

Tottenham dodged the Marine banana skin in front of their back garden faithfulCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Carlos Vinicius thumped Tottenham ahead after 24 minutesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

There was even a cardboard cut-out of Jurgen Klopp peering over the fence of one of the houses which back on to the Merseyside home of the Northern Premier League Division One North West club.
But if the setting had been perfect for the quintessential FA Cup upset, then Mourinho’s men were in no mood to be the bumbling anti-heroes of some romantic comedy.
Spurs made the largest gulf in league positions in the 150-year history of this competition look exactly that with four goals in 13 first-half minutes.
Before the rout began, though, there was one moment to leave the curtain-twitching nosey neighbours agog.

After keeping a strong Spurs side at arm’s length for the opening 19 minutes, Marine’s trainee plumber Neil Kengni sprinted clear from the halfway line and produced a powerful 30-yard shot.
Joe Hart – 75 England caps, an FA Cup and Premier League title-winner – seemingly imagined the effort was heading over – yet Kengni’s effort dipped and crashed off his crossbar.
This stunning moment jolted Spurs into life and they were four-up by half-time – Dele Alli the architect, Carlos Vinicius the scorer of a quick-fire hat-trick, his fellow Brazilian Lucas Moura thumping home a free-kick.
The boys from the homeland of the beautiful game would have known little like this – but there was a curious kind allure about this ultimate third-round fixture.

Marine’s collection of binmen, teachers and NHS workers, managed by railwayman Neil Young, had been gifted Everton’s training facilities and Liverpool’s scouting insights on Mourinho’s men.
Yet that was never going to be nearly enough, if Spurs arrived here with their heads screwed on – and despite that slow start, the game faces of the Premier League side were soon apparent.
Mourinho made nine changes from the side which booked a Wembley date in the Carabao Cup Final by beating Brentford on Tuesday – but those coming in included Alli, Hart and Toby Alderweireld, as well as teenage midfielder Harvey White, who was handed a first senior start.
With a gulf of 161 league positions between the two clubs, surely an upset was impossible?
Yet in the first round, Marine had knocked out Colchester United, who had defeated Spurs in last season’s League Cup.
And Mourinho had suffered one major FA Cup shock – when his Chelsea side blew a two-goal lead and were beaten 4-2 at home by Bradford City in 2015.
So nothing is entirely beyond possibility’s realms – especially with a dodgy playing surface and a stubborn, packed defence.
For 23 minutes, these sort of hopes would have been shared by those braving the cold to drink champagne in their backyards.
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Neil Kengni came closest to making Marine’s cupset dream come trueCredit: PA:Press Association

Tottenham put in a professional showing to book their place in Monday’s drawCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Yet after Kengni’s nearly moment, unlikely dreams soon turned to dust.
Within four minutes of that, Marine’s resistance ended when Alli played a one-two with Gedson Fernandes and centred low for Vinicius to miscontrol, but then gather himself to round keeper Bayleigh Passant and thump into an empty net with a certain level of relief.
Alli, who was certainly up to the latest personality test handed to him by the sceptical Mourinho, was at it again on the half hour.
This time a gorgeous lofted pass was met with Matt Doherty’s cushioned volley, which was saved by Passant but poked in by Vinicius on the rebound.
Moura hammered home a curling free-kick, then Vinicious completed his treble with a cute, lofted side-footed finish.
At half-time, Mourinho sent on Alfie Devine for his first-team debut and the 16-year-old soon became Tottenham’s youngest-ever FA Cup scorer when he cut in from the left and drilled in a shot which beat Passant at his near post.

Vinicius scored a first-half hat-trick to seal the winCredit: AFP

Jose Mourinho put out a strong side featuring a handful of kidsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Marine fans were not able to attend the game but those with garden vantage points made sure to get a good viewCredit: AFP or licensors

Gareth Bale was given a late cameo off the benchCredit: Reuters

If there was any relief among Marine’s players when Alli was withdrawn, there would have been wry smiles at the identity of his replacement – the four-time Champions League winner Gareth Bale.
Spurs had shown Marine respect with their cast-list and with their performance too.
They could not turn this into a complete annihilation job – or perhaps they didn’t truly wish to.
It was a happy occasion for miserable times. Neighbourhood watch had never been so much fun.

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MANCHESTER CITY star Sergio Aguero missed his side’s FA Cup win over Birmingham as he was self-isolating.
The Argentine was unavailable for the 3-0 victory at the Etihad after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

Sergio Aguero is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19Credit: PA:Press Association

Aguero himself has tested negative but has still been forced into isolation under government protocols.
Aguero, 32, had been hoping to make his first start since October against the Championshp side after several struggles with injuries this season.
But he was forced out of City’s matchday squad after coming into close contact with someone who later tested positive for Covid-19.
Speaking post-match, City manager Guardiola said: “He is isolating, unfortunately.

“He was in contact with one person who was positive. It is a pity. It was a perfect day to get minutes but unfortunately, he has to be a few days out.”
Aguero’s 10-day isolation period means the striker is set to miss City’s Premier League clashes against Brighton and Crystal Palace.
He becomes the ninth City first team player in three weeks to isolate.
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In Aguero’s absence, Bernardo Silva bagged a brace, while Phil Foden was also on target to continue his recent run of goalscoring form.
City were able to welcome back Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus after both players previously tested positive for coronavirus.
The absence of Cityzens first-team stars alongside two backroom staff had let to the postponement of the club’s game against Everton last month.

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MARINE have jokingly claimed they rejected the chance to sign Arsenal outcast Mesut Ozil to help beat north London rivals Tottenham.
The Merseyside club are attempting to achieve the greatest upset in FA Cup history when they face Jose Mourinho’s side at Rossett Park.

Marine have trolled Mesut Ozil ahead of their FA Cup clash with SpursCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Marine, who feature in the eighth tier of English football, are 161-places below Spurs – the largest gap between two sides in the competition ever.
Unfortunately, the UK’s lockdown will mean Paul Leary’s men will be without fans when they face the Premier League giants.
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However, Spurs have helped Marine in managing to sell over 21,000 virtual tickets to help the club’s finances.

But the Mariners have assured supporters they don’t need help on the pitch after joking that they rejected Ozil’s services for Sunday’s clash.
They tweeted: “TEAM NEWS. On Friday @Arsenal offered us Ozil on loan to help us beat @SpursOfficial.
“I’m sorry our bench is already sorted unfortunately.”
And fans were in stiches at Marine’s trolling, with one replying: “Just like that, Marine became a second club to millions of Spurs fans.”

Another said: “Let me be clear. This tweet alone has caused me to buy a ticket for tonight. Top work Marine admin.”
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Ozil meanwhile will offer Arsenal the chance to get him out of the club this month, SunSport revealed this weekend.
The German has options to leave the Emirates during the transfer window but the Gunners would need to cough up the remainder of his £350,000-a-week deal which still has six months to run.
Turkish club Fenerbahce are working hard to try to sign Ozil but an agreement is far from in place.

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CRAWLEY’s giantkilling hero Nick Tsaroulla broke down in tears live on TV after scoring to help dump Leeds out of the FA Cup.
The Cyprus Under-21s defender was released by Spurs in 2018 after a terrible car crash kept him out for an entire YEAR.

Nick Tsaroulla was tearful in his post-match interviewCredit: BBC

Tsaroulla smashed home his first ever senior goal against LeedsCredit: Alamy Live News

And he struggled to contain his emotions after setting the League Two outfit on their way to a 3-0 win against Marcelo Bielsa’s Prem side with his first ever senior goal.
Tsaroulla’s sharp turn led to a mazy run forward that caught everyone by surprise.
The 21-year-old fired a great left-footed strike past Kiko Casilla to put the Cupset on the cards in the 50th minute.
Immediately after the game, he told BBC Sport: “Yeah [I enjoyed that], I’m buzzing.

“What a team performance that was – I’m over the moon. I’m not sure [what was going through my head when I had the ball].
“I kind of just lost myself in the moment there.
“It has been a long, hard road for me and it’s a great moment. I’m really proud.”
As his voice started to break, Tsaroulla added: “I’m getting a bit emotional now, um… It has been a tough road and it means a lot, that win.”

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Tsaroulla celebrates breaking the deadlock in the FA Cup third-round tieCredit: Rex Features

Bristol-born Tsaroulla was shown the door at White Hart Lane having joined the club as a 12-year-old and also went on to be released by Brentford B before penning a deal at Crawley last year.
Former Spurs midfielder and pundit Jermaine Jenas loved the emotion Tsaroulla showed after his hellish football journey.
Jenas said: “It was really nice [the emotion]. You tend to forget at times, the journeys a lot of these players are going through.
“When you actually physically see somebody almost break down mid-interview because of that journey they’ve been on.
“Moments like today, that goal that he scored – it’s so special to him and hopefully something that can give him a load of confidence moving forward in his career now.”

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A FEW of Chelsea’s new signings need a confidence booster after a poor run of form, you say? Play them against League Two side Morecambe then, that will help. 
And this is exactly what Chelsea boss Frank Lampard did, as he named a strong line up for their 4-0 FA Cup third-round win. 

Kai Havertz rises to nod Chelsea’s fourth and final goal against battling MorecambeCredit: Reuters

Timo Werner can’t miss as he doubles Chelsea’s lead at Stamford BridgeCredit: AP:Associated Press

Frank Lampard saw his Chelsea side ease past League Two MorecambeCredit: Rex Features

New German international arrivals Kai Havertz and Timo Werner have both been struggling a bit with belief and form lately, after both starting the season fairly well at their new club. 
But as ever when players arrive in a new country to a new league, things may not always go to plan, and some players might need a bit longer to settle in than others. 
Lampard was wise to start them both today; he knew that against a lower opposition they would both have a good chance of playing well at least and boosting their confidence going forward into a very important run of games for the Chelsea boss. 
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He has found himself under some immense pressure to now get results, or potentially face the sack at Stamford Bridge.
So he really needs his new signings to step up now, and he cannot afford to wait. 
Havertz started quietly but grew into the game and got an assist for his fellow German Werner in the first half, which will do wonders for both of them. 
Werner ended his 12-game goal drought, and the relief on his face was plain to see when he put that one in. 

Havertz went on to have a very good game and even got on the score sheet himself with a brave and good header late on to see Chelsea go 4-0 up. 
This stayed the end result, and Lampard will be justifying his strong team selection now when hopefully this has been the kick-start that some of his players who were struggling needed. 
Callum Hudson-Odoi has been one rare Chelsea player who can hold his head up high even through the bad form.
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He has been a rare shining light, and he proved once again that he deserves to now become a key player and a regular starter in Lampard’s starting eleven. 
The England international put in a man of the match performance today, in my opinion, grabbing a goal and an assist, and in general being a real menace to Morecambe all game. 
It’s a good step in the right direction for Chelsea and Lampard, who have a long way to go to relief this pressure yet. 

Chelsea goalscorers Mason Moun and Timo Werner celebrateCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Kai Havertz played the whole game for Chelsea and netted their fourth goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Midfielder Mason Mount plans Chelsea ahead after 18 minutesCredit: Reuters

Callum Hudson Odoi fires the Blues 3-0 in front early in the second periodCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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