Spurs survive Red Devils comeback in crazy Carabao Cup game

Spurs survive Red Devils comeback in crazy Carabao Cup game


Heung-Min Son’s goal from a corner helped Tottenham secure a 4-3 win over Manchester United in an eventful Carabao Cup quarter-final.

Dominic Solanke’s brace and Dejan Kulusevski’s shot looked like a comfortable evening for Spurs, but two errors from goalkeeper Fraiser Forster brought United back into the game.

A sloppy first pass allowed Joshua Zirkzee to reduce the deficit before Amad Diallo completed his free throw to set up a nervy finale.

But United’s hopes of an extraordinary comeback were dashed when, in another goalkeeper scare, Son scored straight from a corner, this time from visiting stopper Altay Bayindir.

Jonny Evans headed another goal for United in stoppage time, but it was not enough to stop Ange Postecoglou’s side from facing Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle in the semi-finals.

The hosts took the lead inside 15 minutes through Solanke after stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to hold on to James Maddison’s free-kick, with the former Bournemouth striker making no mistake on the rebound.

Kulusevski then parried United’s stopper and spun brilliantly past a defender before his sharp shot was parried.

The Swedish striker was the spark of another tight game for the Red Devils when a clever combination with Heung-Min Song finally found his way and his pass from Manuel Ugarte narrowly missed the goal.

And the in-form 24-year-old scored his goal, his fourth in as many games, less than a minute into the second half when Lisandro Martinez poorly handled Maddison’s cut-back, allowing the Spurs man to capitalize on another goal beat United mistakes.

For the second time this season, Spurs took a 3-0 lead against United as Solanke triggered the offside trap before firing past Martinez and Evans before scoring his second with ease.

Substitute Joshua Zirkzee scored United’s first significant chance of the second half, heading the ball into the goal and forcing Forster to make a strong save.

But the goalkeeper’s joy was short-lived as he carelessly gave the ball away to Bruno Fernandes, who found Zirkzee for an easy finish and reduced the deficit.

That goal threatened to unsettle Spurs and give United momentum, as substitute Amad Diallo saw a deflected shot narrowly miss the post after a series of corners.

Soon it was 3-2 in the most extraordinary way, and the hosts were solely involved. A series of sloppy passes put Forster under pressure before the experienced stopper’s space was nullified and redirected by Amad, sending shockwaves across north London.

As the final ten minutes approached, hearts continued to beat, especially when Forster decided to block a long-range shot from Amad with his feet instead of his hands.

But United’s hopes of an unlikely comeback ended when Son scored from a rare Spurs corner and the ball passed to Bayandir in another unforgettable goalkeeping moment in this Carabao Cup clash.

Just when you thought the action was over, Evans headed in United’s third goal, but it wasn’t enough to stop Spurs’ progress as Postecoglou maintains his promise of a trophy in his second season as manager.





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