White Hart Lane erupted!
Not even a minute had passed—and the scoreline had already changed?!
Tottenham fans at the stadium were stunned, hands gripping their heads in disbelief. What had just happened?
They looked at the giant screen overhead.
Only 30 seconds into the match.
Many fans watching from home hadn't even turned on their TVs yet!
No one expected a Championship side like Crystal Palace to score against a Premier League team in the very first minute.
The away stand exploded with deafening cheers.
Zaha pointed both hands toward the sky, mumbling in disbelief.
"Did I really score against Spurs? Is this a dream?"
He sprinted toward Kai, with Vaughan rushing in to join the celebration. Crystal Palace players huddled in pure elation.
A magical goal—a deadly through ball that cut right through Tottenham's entire defensive line!
Even the Spurs fans were stunned by Kai's pass—it wasn't just effective; it was visionary.
A 16-year-old playmaker, orchestrating a goal in less than a minute.
Even diehard Spurs fans couldn't help but marvel… and envy. This Championship team had a true prodigy.
But reality soon settled in.
This was the FA Cup. It was still early. The match had just begun. Spurs had more than enough time to recover.
Coach André Villas-Boas called Bale over.
The plan? Stick to their reliable "4-3-3" formation—exploit the flanks.
If Bale could destroy Maicon in the Champions League, surely he could tear apart a Championship defense.
The crowd roared:
"Bale! Show them your pace!"
"No mercy—go full throttle!"
"Do them like you did Maicon!"
The whistle blew again. The game resumed from the center circle.
Spurs began pressing high, as expected from a dynamic young squad.
Kai stayed just behind the #10 spot, orchestrating Crystal Palace's midfield from a deeper role.
Their formation mirrored a classic 4-4-2, almost Atlético-like, as some La Liga fans noticed.
Modrić, playing as Tottenham's conductor, quickly shifted the ball to the wing.
Everyone knew what was coming—Bale's flank assault.
He picked up the ball, pushed it forward, and turned on the afterburners!
At this stage of his career, Bale was still healthy, unburdened by injuries.
He exploded down the line. Klein gritted his teeth and tried to match his pace… but he couldn't.
The Welshman tore down the right like a whirlwind. Spurs fans leapt up, exhilarated.
But… the ball rolled too far. Goal kick.
A sigh of relief from Palace fans.
Still, Coach Holloway was fidgeting nervously.
"That kind of speed… if it keeps up, we won't hold this lead for long."
Tottenham had a towering center-forward—Pavlyuchenko—perfect for headers. Their playing style was brutally English: fast wingers, direct crosses, and powerful finishes.
Palace lacked speed demons in defense.
Kai had rescued them once against Manchester City. But this? Spurs were a different beast.
The pressure was rising.