Cristian Romero’s 95th Minute Scissor Kick Rescues Tottenham in Tense Draw, Saving Beleaguered Manager Thomas Frank’s Immediate Future.
The Argentine center-back's 95th-minute overhead kick salvaged a 2-2 draw against Newcastle, providing temporary relief for manager Thomas Frank amid intense pressure.
Cristian Romero's dramatic late brace, including the 95th-minute overhead kick, rescued a critical point for Tottenham at St. James' Park.
The pressure gauge at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium dropped from 'Explosive' to merely 'Critical' on Tuesday night, courtesy of an unlikely source: center-back Cristian Romero.
The defender scored a spectacular injury-time equalizer an overhead kick salvaged from a scramble to snatch a 2-2 draw against Newcastle. The point halts a brutal run of three consecutive defeats that had placed manager Thomas Frank squarely on the Daily Mail's managerial hot seat.
Frank had uncharacteristically come into the match looking visibly frayed, with his team selection featuring several rotational changes after the weekend’s capitulation to Fulham. His initial tactics seemed to fail as Newcastle raced to a two-goal lead by the 60th minute, fueled by a contentious penalty decision that drew furious protests from the Spurs bench.
The team's response was desperate, yet effective. A goal from Richarlison in the 80th minute offered a sliver of hope, setting the stage for the Argentine defender's stunning intervention.
"You saw the emotion," a red-faced Frank told Sky Sports afterwards. "This team has grit. We're in a terrible period, I won't lie, but we don't quit. I told the players at halftime: fight for the badge. Fight for the next game. That point I hope buys us the time to fix this."
The draw leaves Tottenham adrift of the Champions League places, but the dramatic turnaround means Frank will, for now, remain in the dugout as the club faces a brutal December fixture list.
