Statistics on Spurs goalkeeper Kinsky’s early substitution against Atlético

Goalkeeper Antonín Kinsky experienced a challenging UEFA Champions League debut for Tottenham Hotspur against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, being substituted just 17 minutes into the round-of-16 match after allowing three goals and making two significant errors.

The Czechia U21 international’s display was so disappointing that former England and Spurs goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was providing commentary for TNT Sports, expressed he was “heartbroken for the lad” after coach Igor Tudor decided to replace him following his troubled start.

Kinsky’s substitution marks one of the earliest instances a goalkeeper has been replaced in the knockout stages (Gregory Coupet, Lyon, 2004 round of 16). Tottenham’s 3-0 deficit after just 15 minutes was the quickest a team has fallen behind in a Champions League knockout-stage match, and their four goals conceded in 22 minutes were the second fastest in Champions League history (Real Madrid vs. Dinamo Zagreb in November 2011).

Kinsky, 22, was given his first appearance since a 2-0 Carabao Cup loss at Newcastle United last October by Tudor, who had benched first-choice Guglielmo Vicario after the Italy keeper had allowed 13 goals during a five-match losing streak.

However, a mistake by Kinsky allowed Marcos Llorente to score the opening goal for Atlético on six minutes, and just a minute after Antoine Griezmann made it 2-0 on 14 minutes, Kinsky mishit a clearance, enabling Julián Álvarez to extend the lead to 3-0.

Tudor then substituted Kinsky for Vicario, and the Spurs coach did not acknowledge the young keeper as he departed the field.

“I’ve been trying to make sense of it,” former Spurs, Manchester City, and England goalkeeper Hart remarked. “My heart is absolutely broken for him [Kinsky].

“He had a terrible 14 minutes, that slip and the third goal. I don’t know what to say. I am just heartbroken for the lad.”

Paul Robinson, another former Spurs and England goalkeeper, reiterated Hart’s sentiments while commentating for BBC Radio Five.

“Wow, wow, wow!” Robinson stated. “I have never witnessed that on a football pitch. What a significant decision from manager Igor Tudor. Yes, the goalkeeper was at fault, but that is confidence-shattering for Antonín Kinsky.”