Tottenham replaced goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in just the 17th minute of their Champions League last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid after conceding three goals inside the opening quarter of an hour.
The Czech Republic stopper, 22, endured a nightmare start and interim boss Igor Tudor quickly replaced him with Guglielmo Vicario.
Italian Vicario has started the majority of Tottenham’s games this season but was dropped for Tuesday’s first-leg tie in Madrid after being criticised for poor performances.
However, Vicario also conceded five minutes after coming on as Atletico stormed into a 4-0 lead by the 22nd minute, before Pedro Porro reduced the deficit by half-time.
But Spurs face an almighty task to turn it around in the second leg on 18 March after losing 5-2.
Tottenham signed Kinsky from Slavia Prague in a deal worth about £12.5m in January 2025.
His first error – a slip – led to Marcos Llorente making it 1-0 in the sixth minute, before Antoine Griezmann added a second eight minutes later.
Kinsky – who last started in October for the second of two Carabao Cup games this season – was also at fault for Atletico’s third goal, gifting the ball straight to Julian Alvarez to finish easily in the 15th minute.
The keeper had his head in his hands after that horror show and was taken off less than two minutes later, going straight down the tunnel.
BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty, who was at the match, said: “I’ve watched a lot of football but not sure I’ve ever witnessed anything quite like this.
“Not just those mistakes, but Igor Tudor’s decision to take Antonin Kinsky off.
“What a horrible night for the young keeper. The Atleti fans actually gave him sympathetic applause but not sure how he can be consoled after that.”
BBC Sport’s Spanish football reporter Elizabeth Conway, also at the match, added: “Kevin Danso, Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro went straight over to Antonin Kinsky as he left the pitch to show their support.
“It was a disastrous 17 minutes for the 22-year-old Czech.”
