Spurs progressed to the last eight of this season’s Carabao Cup after edging out Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Goals from Timo Werner and Pape Sarr inside the opening half an hour were enough to see Ange Postecoglou’s side through what was an exciting, open contest on Wednesday evening.
Matheus Nunes pulled one back for City just before the break but the hosts held firm in the second half and perhaps should have been out of sight as their hopes of a first trophy since 2008 remain alive.
We’re into the quarter finals of the @Carabao_Cup! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/pU9Gq1Flxs
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 30, 2024
Pep Guardiola fielded for several academy stars in City’s line-up, while Postecoglou opted for experience and went with a strong line-up.
And within five minutes, it was a decision that appeared to pay off. A pacey, fluid counter attack saw Dejan Kulusevski released down the right before the Sweden international played an inch-perfect pass into the path of Werner.
The German made no mistake as he arrowed the ball into the back of net to give Spurs the perfect start.
But it got worse before it got better. Micky van de Ven hobbled off the pitch clutching his hamstring after 10 minutes after sliding into a tackle with Savinho.
The Dutch international appeared visibly emotional as he walked down the tunnel, replaced by Destiny Udogie.
Werner again had a chance with a right-footed strike after an Ilkay Gundogan mistake but his shot was straight at Stefan Ortega.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, City dominated possession but offered little attacking threat, with Vicario rarely troubled in the Spurs goal.
Then, on 25 minutes, Pape Sarr, who had been booked two minutes earlier, had doubled Spurs’ lead when, from a short corner, Kulusevski found him on the edge of the box and he bent a beautiful first-time effort that flew past Ortega at his near post.
Pape Matar Sarr DOUBLES Tottenham’s lead 😨🔥 pic.twitter.com/TIDVl0ZSot
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 30, 2024
Shortly after, Phil Foden crashed a first-time volley high over the bar when perhaps he should have done better.
Foden again cleared the bar when he was unable to keep his free-kick from the edge of the area down.
City had pegged their opponents back for most of the half but they had to wait until the fourth minute of added time to register their first and only shot on target of the half.
However, one was all they needed to half the deficit when Nunes met Savinho’s far-post cross to rifle home on the half-volley.
Guardiola made two changes at the break, with Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol replacing Gundogan and Ruben Dias.
But despite the City changes, it was Spurs who had the first chance after the break when Brennan Johnson drew a smart stop from Ortega.
Werner then squandered a glorious chance to restore the host’s two-goal lead when he ran clear of the visitor’s backline only to shoot wide of the goal.
Kulusevski also missed a great opportunity when a lay-off to a teammate was perhaps the more sensible option.
Bissouma clears the ball OFF THE LINE! 😨
An incredible goal-line clearance to deny O’Reilly. pic.twitter.com/ZHtzYrZZn2
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 30, 2024
Despite being a goal down, Guardiola opted not to turn to Erling Haaland on the City bench, even after Savinho was stretchered off on the hour mark following what appeared to be an ankle injury.
The winger’s replacement, 19-year-old Jacob Wright, was inches away from finding the equaliser himself when he curled an effort narrowly wide shortly after coming on.
Guardiola again rang turned to his substitutes, handing a first-team debut to Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, but, for everyone else in City colours, it wasn’t to be a night to remember.
Richarlison should have wrapped up the game when he pounced on an error from a throw-in, but again a Spurs player could only find the palms of Ortega.
City then piled on the pressure late on but the Spurs defence remained solid.
Yves Bissoumi blocked Nico O’Reilly’s goal-bound effort on the line as Postecoglou’s men held on to secure a famous victory.
