Goalkeeper substituted after just 17 minutes in Champions League quarter-finals due to consecutive errors

Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was taken off the field after just 17 minutes as Tottenham fell behind 0-3 to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals early this morning.

Marcos Llorente opened the scoring for the home side after only 6 minutes at the Metropolitano, following a mistake by Kinsky. The Tottenham goalkeeper slipped inside the penalty area while attempting a pass to a teammate. Atletico Madrid intercepted the ball, and Llorente easily scored to give the La Liga side the lead. Later, Antoine Griezmann increased the score to 2-0 in the 14th minute.

Immediately after Griezmann's goal, Kinsky made another error. He attempted a one-touch pass with his left foot from outside the penalty area but missed the ball. It rolled directly to Julian Alvarez, and the striker calmly placed it into the empty net.

Tottenham captain Cristian Romero approached interim coach Igor Tudor to discuss before Atletico restarted play with a kick-off. Shortly after, the electronic board displayed Kinsky's number, and the regular first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was sent onto the field as a replacement.

Romero and Kevin Danso hugged Kinsky as he left the pitch, while the 22-year-old Czech goalkeeper went straight into the tunnel after a forgettable match.

Previously, Kinsky had played in the Champions League qualifiers. This was his first start for Tottenham in any competition since October.

Tottenham substitutes Joao Palhinha, Conor Gallagher, and Dominic Solanke ran to console Kinsky along with coaching staff member Dean Brill after a difficult evening in Madrid for the young goalkeeper. This was his 13th appearance for Tottenham.

Kinsky's substitution after 17 minutes also equaled the record for the earliest goalkeeper substitution in a Champions League knockout round, matching Gregory Coupet of Lyon, who was withdrawn in the 17th minute against Real Sociedad in the 2003–04 quarter-finals.

However, this change could not prevent Tottenham from conceding further goals. Robin Le Normand increased the score to 4-0 in the 22nd minute, making Atletico Madrid the second team in Champions League history to score 4 goals in a match so quickly. Only Real Madrid (against Dinamo Zagreb in 2011) achieved it faster. Ultimately, the Premier League side lost 2-5 and faces a significant challenge in the second leg in north London next week. Coach Tudor, appointed just last month, is under immense pressure, as the team entered the match in Madrid following a streak of 5 consecutive losses.

Antonin Who is Antonin Kinsky?

Antonin Kinsky was born on March 13, 2003, in Prague, Czech Republic. With a height of 1.90 m, he is regarded as one of the prominent young goalkeeper talents in Czech football.

Kinsky developed through the academies of Tempo Prague, Bohemians 1905, and Dukla Prague. He debuted for Dukla's senior team in 2020 before transferring to Slavia Prague in 2021. During 2022–2024, he was loaned to Vyskov and Pardubice to gain playing experience.

In January 2025, Kinsky joined Tottenham for a transfer fee of approximately £12.5 million, signing a six-and-a-half-year contract. He debuted for the club in the 2025 English League Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool, keeping a clean sheet as Tottenham won 1–0. According to The Athletic, Kinsky's style resembles Neuer's, characterized by composure in ball handling with his feet. This goalkeeper possesses good passing ability with both feet.