Goalkeeper Antonín Kinsky was hauled off after only 17 minutes as Tottenham slumped to a 3-0 deficit in their Champions League round-of-16 first leg at Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.
Marcos Llorente put the home side ahead after only six minutes at the Metropolitano, following a mistake by Kinsky to give the ball away, before Antoine Griezmann made it 2-0.
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Then, moments after Griezmann’s goal, Kinsky attempted a first-time pass out of his area with his left foot but miskicked again. The ball rolled into the path of Julián Álvarez, who had the simple task of slotting the ball into an empty net.
Tottenham captain Cristian Romero walked over to interim manager Igor Tudor before Atletico could kick off again and Kinsky’s number was held up for the fourth official moments later with usual first-choice Guglielmo Vicario subbed into the game.
Romero and Kevin Danso hugged Kinsky as he left the pitch and the 22-year-old Czech goalkeeper walked straight down the tunnel after a nightmare debut in the Champions League proper.
Kinsky had previously appeared in the Champions League qualifying round, and was making his first start for Tottenham in any competition since October.
Spurs substitutes João Palhinha, Conor Gallagher and Dominic Solanke raced after Kinsky along with staff member Dean Brill following a chastening night in Madrid for the young goalkeeper in only his 13th appearance for the Premier League club.
It tied for the earliest goalkeeper substitution in Champions League knockout stage matches with Lyon’s Gregory Coupet, who was taken off vs. Real Sociedad after 17 minutes in the 2003-04 round of 16.
The switch didn’t stop the goals, as Robin Le Normand made it 4-0 in the 22nd minute, making it the second-quickest time for a team to score four in a Champions League match. Only their rivals Real Madrid (vs. Dinamo Zagreb in 2011) have managed it faster.
Spurs did regain an element of respectability as Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke scored for the visitors either side of a second goal for Álvarez.
But Tottenham will still have a huge task of overturning a 5-2 deficit in the second leg in north London next week.
Tudor — appointed last month — is already under pressure, with the team having lost its past five matches going into the game in Madrid.
Information from ESPN Global Research, The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
