Manchester City’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end as Tottenham secured a 2-1 victory to set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United.
Spurs flew out of the traps, and they were ahead as early as the fifth minute when Timo Werner latched onto Dejan Kulusevski’s pass before emphatically finishing past Stefan Ortega for his first goal since March 10.
There was a blow for the hosts as a distraught Micky van de Ven left the pitch with a suspected hamstring injury, but it never halted Spurs’ momentum.
Pep Guardiola said after the last round that he did not want to “waste energy” on the Carabao Cup and his player were playing like they believed their manager’s words. A lacklustre Man City had no answer and Pape Sarr’s long-range strike beat Ortega to double the lead in the 25th minute.
City eventually started to grow into the contest and began dominating the ball as Spurs looked to get in at the break with their two-goal advantage. However, Savinho – often the bright spark for City in the opening 45 minutes – delivered a cross to the far post where Matheus Nunes converted to give the visitors a huge lifeline just before the break.
Injuries plagued the second half with Savinho stretchered off – he was replaced by Jacob Wright with Erling Haaland remaining on the bench – while Spurs had to replace Cristian Romero and Werner as the rhythm of the game was disrupted.
Spurs were a threat on the counter as City pushed for an equaliser, and the visitors had goalkeeper Ortega to thank for two excellent stops to deny Brennan Johnson and Kulusevski.
Spurs’ big chance to win the game fell to substitute Richarlison, who was sent through on goal by a wayward Josko Gvardiol throw, but the striker wasted the golden chance by sending a weak effort straight at Ortega.
It was a chance he was almost left to rue but for team-mate Yves Bissouma. The midfielder came up up with a superb block right on the goal line to keep out Nico O’Reilly’s last-gasp effort as Spurs kept alive their hopes of a first trophy since 2008.
Carabao Cup quarter-final draw
- Tottenham vs Man Utd
- Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
- Newcastle vs Brentford
- Southampton vs Liverpool
Ties to be played week commencing December 16.
WATCH: All the goals as Spurs send City crashing out…
‘We have to keep going and win every game’
Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski to Sky Sports:
“It is important to win and go through in the cup. When you play a great team like City you always want to win – I am proud of the boys.
“I always love this game, playing the best teams in the world, I want to be one of the best players in the world.
“We have to keep going and win every game. We have to keep focused.”
