Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky produced one of the saves of the Premier League season on Monday night to preserve a potentially priceless point for his relegation threatened side.
Leeds had looked certain to clinch victory when Sean Longstaff blasted goalwards in stoppage time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, only to see his effort crash back off the underside of the crossbar.
For many, it was only when they saw replays of the incident to discover that Kinsky had remarkably produced a reflex save to push Longstaff’s effort onto the goalframe, keeping the match level.
The 1-1 draw saw Tottenham edge two points clear of West Ham in the relegation battle with two matches remaining of the season.
It continued a turnaround in fortunes for Kinsky, who also made a stunning stop in the first half to deny Joe Rodon. His heroics came just two months and a day after he was hauled off after 17 minutes against Atletico Madrid following two errors in the Champions League, that left many fearing for his Spurs career.
Here, Daily Mail Sport reporters debate whether Kinsky’s save from Longstaff is the best of the Premier League season, while offering other possible contenders for the accolade.
Antonin Kinsky made a stunning late save in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Leeds on Monday
Ian Ladyman
I was right behind Sean Longstaff when he was denied by Antonin Kinsky at Tottenham last night and it was a breathtaking moment.
But my vote still goes to Jordan Pickford for his effort to repel Sandro Tonali‘s volley at Newcastle.
It was a world class save and typical of the England goalkeeper who has had another marvellous season.
Jordan Pickford’s effort to repel Sandro Tonali’s thumping volley earns Ian Ladyman’s vote
Nathan Salt
It’s absolutely Kinsky vs Leeds. It has everything. The technical quality of the save to go along with the magnitude of what it meant in the moment and may mean down the line.
There will be those that pick out David Raya vs West Ham when he denied Mateus Fernandes – but it was right at him!
The Kinsky save gets better and better and better every time I watch it. Stunning goalkeeping.
The quality of Kinsky’s save and its magnitude make it a contender for save of the season
Kieran Gill
I guess we could argue David Raya’s against West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes trumped it in terms of importance as that kept the title in Arsenal’s hands. But as an actual save, Antonin Kinsky’s cannot be beaten.
I liked Jordan Pickford’s for Everton against Newcastle in stoppage time, too, but he saw that one coming.
Kinsky had to react in a split-second, and given what he’s been through with Tottenham, he deserves all the praise he’s getting now.
Isaan Khan
With the score 2-1, Arsenal were nervously hanging on at the Emirates. Suddenly, Yankuba Minteh’s curling strike inside the box was, it seemed, travelling into the net.
That was before David Raya propelled himself into the air, using the full length of his frame to somehow deflect the ball wide with his fingertips.
It defied logic — and should be a real contender for save of the season.
David Raya preserved an Arsenal win over Brighton with a stunning stop back in December
Jack Gaughan
The Karl Darlow stop against Wolves recently has to be in the conversation.
Wolves corner into the near post, Darlow’s following it and flying in the wrong direction as the header goes across him.
Somehow, the Leeds goalkeeper throws a right hand at it and diverts over the bar – seemingly with his wrist.
Lewis Steele
The one that immediately springs to mind is Gianluigi Donnarumma for Manchester City away at Liverpool. Having come from 1-0 down to take the lead and breathe life into their title charge, the Italian somehow managed to claw an Alexis Mac Allister long-range effort away with inspired reflexes.
However, given the context of the game and season, Antonin Kinsky’s stop last night is top of the list for me. Will it keep Spurs up? I think it just might — and I can’t help but feeling glad for the young Czech after the ridicule Igor Tudor put him through at Atletico Madrid.
