Goalkeeper Antonín Kinsky experienced a troubling debut in the UEFA Champions League for Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, being substituted a mere 17 minutes into the round-of-16 match against Atlético Madrid after allowing three goals and making two significant errors.
The performance left the Czechia U21 international red-faced, prompting former England and Spurs goalkeeper Joe Hart, commentating for TNT Sports, to express his heartbreak for Kinsky following coach Igor Tudor’s decision to take him off after such a dismal start.
Kinsky’s early substitution marks the fastest a goalkeeper has ever been replaced in Champions League knockout rounds (previous record held by Gregory Coupet of Lyon in 2004). Tottenham’s 3-0 deficit within just 15 minutes set a new record for the earliest a team has trailed in a Champions League knockout match, with their four goals conceded in 22 minutes standing as the second fastest in the tournament’s history (after Real Madrid vs. Dinamo Zagreb in November 2011).
At only 22 years old, Kinsky was given his first start since a 2-0 loss in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle United last October, following Tudor’s decision to bench first-choice Guglielmo Vicario after a dismal stretch where Vicario conceded 13 goals in five matches.
A slip by Kinsky allowed Marcos Llorente to score the opener for Atlético just six minutes in. Then, just a minute after Antoine Griezmann made it 2-0 at the 14-minute mark, Kinsky misplayed a clearance that allowed Julián Álvarez to extend the lead to 3-0.
Following this disaster, Tudor replaced Kinsky with Vicario, deliberately avoiding eye contact with the young keeper as he exited the field.
“I’ve been trying to understand it,” said former Spurs and England keeper Hart during his commentary.
“My heart goes out to [Kinsky]. He had a terrible 14 minutes, especially that slip leading to the third goal. I’m at a loss for words; I just feel for the lad.”
Paul Robinson, another former Spurs and England keeper, shared similar sentiments during his commentary for BBC Radio Five, saying, “Wow, wow, wow! I’ve never seen anything like that on a football pitch. What a bold decision by manager Igor Tudor. The goalkeeper was definitely at fault, but this could be very damaging for Antonín Kinsky’s confidence.”
Fiorentina keeper David de Gea, a seasoned player for Manchester United, also expressed support for Kinsky on X.
“No one who hasn’t been a goalkeeper can truly appreciate the challenges we face in this role. Stay strong, keep your head up, and you will bounce back,” he encouraged.