A stunning strike from Pedro Porro fired Tottenham Hotspur into the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round with a 1-0 win at home to Burnley.
A chilly Friday night in the capital yielded few chances for either side, but Porro produced a moment of magic 12 minutes from time to send Spurs through to the next round.
The Spaniard robbed Zeki Amdouni inside his own half before letting fly with a dipping and weaving shot which powered past Arijanet Muric into the top corner.
It proved the winner despite late pressure from Burnley, as Spurs eventually made their dominance of possession pay against a resolute defensive performance from those in claret and blue.
The home side started brightly but it was Burnley who had the first real sight of goal but Anass Zaroury could only fire high and wide after Charlie Taylor’s foray down the left wing.
Wilson Odobert was next to take aim as part of a bright start for Vincent Kompany’s side, but his curled effort was easily beaten away by Guglielmo Vicario.
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Spurs then began to assert their dominance with the ball, Giovani Lo Celso slipped Richarlison through on goal but the Brazilian could only drag his shot wide of the target.
Brennan Johnson then called Muric into action for the first time, cutting inside from the left and curling shot that was well met by the Burnley ‘keeper.
The best chance of the first half then fell the way of the visitors, as Zeki Amdouni found himself in behind the Spurs backline after latching onto a chipped through ball from Zaroury but the Swiss forward could only direct his effort over the bar.
Spurs responded well, Pedro Porro’s delightful cross was met by Johnson at the back post but he could not find the target.
The hosts started the second half on the front foot as they set about breaking the deadlock and came close to doing five minutes after the break as Dejan Kulusevski curled a shot just wide.
This angle of @Pedroporro29_'s stunner 😮💨#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/C4pHp3K5Ek
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2024
Johnson was then again involved for Spurs, but his cannoned effort into the floor went comfortably past the post before the Welsh forward brought a good save out of Muric ten minutes later with a shot from the edge of the box.
Burnley remained a threat on the counter and Porro was forced into evasive action to block substitute Mike Tresor’s shot after the Belgian found some rare space in behind.
The game soon became increasingly stretched as both sides searched for the opener, and it soon came for the hosts in spectacular fashion.
Porro disposed Amdouni in the Burnley half before the Spaniard rifled into the top corner from outside the box.
Spurs pushed for a second, substitute Ryan Sessegnon almost marking his return from injury with a goal but his effort was saved by Muric, before Dane Scarlett saw his shot bravely blocked by Hannes Delcroix.
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Burnley almost forced a replay a the death, Delcroix turning from defender to attacker as Kompany’s men broke forward but his shot was blocked.
And the resulting corner could only be flicked wide of the target by Amdouni after goalkeeper Muric won the initial header.
Elsewhere, Bobby Decordova-Reid's thumping strike was enough for Fulham to get past Rotherham 1-0.
The Millers were caught playing out from the back and the Jamaica international punished them by firing home from just outside the box to send the Cottagers through.
It was all square in West London however, as Brentford and Wolves played out a 1-1 draw.
The Bees went ahead just before the break through Neal Maupay as the hosts took advantage of their numerical superiority following Joao Gomes' red card after just nine minutes.
But Wolves hit back through a superb Tommy Doyle strike midway through the second half to force a replay at Molineux.
Palace and Everton play out stalemate
The opening third round proper tie of 2023/24 was short of chances throughout, Jefferson Lerma and Eberechi Eze missing Palace’s best openings while Toffees winger Arnaut Danjuma saw two efforts kept out by Dean Henderson.
Everton were a man light in the closing stages following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s sending off but Palace could not make their numerical advantage count despite nine minutes of added time.
Both sides named strong line-ups for the all-Premier League clash and the visitors were quicker to settle.
Danjuma was a constant threat inside the first 20 minutes, seeing one effort deflected into the side netting from a tight angle before forcing Dean Henderson into a fine save after being played through by Jack Harrison.
Palace grew into the contest as the half wore on and a promising run by Matheus Franca, making his full debut for the club, ended when he was bundled over by James Tarkowski only for Eze to fire the free-kick over from 20 yards.
Franca then forced Henderson into action when he diverted a low corner towards his own goal but the England international reacted well to save with his feet.
Lerma fired over with Palace’s best chance of the first half and the hosts started strongly in the second, Eze forcing Joao Virginia into his first meaningful save of the evening with a fierce effort which the Portuguese stopper was equal to.
At the other end, Calvert-Lewin’s tame shot when well placed was easily held by Henderson and Amadou Onana headed over as both sides continued to lack spark in the final third.
Danjuma was again denied by Henderson on 74 minutes, the winger striking straight at the goalkeeper when a loose ball broke his way in the area.
Play was then halted for a VAR review and referee Chris Kavanagh opted to show Calvert-Lewin a red card for his challenge on Nathaniel Clyne earlier in the move.
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Substitute Naouirou Ahamada fired narrowly wide as the home crowd began to sense a late winner may be possible but the visitors continued to pose a threat, James Garner and Harrison both blazing over from inside the area.
Virginia tipped another Eze effort around the post as Palace forced a string of late corners but the five-time winners held firm and will welcome the Eagles to Goodison Park for a replay later this month.
