Tottenham Hotspur narrowly defeated Manchester United in a thrilling Carabao Cup quarter-final, surviving a late comeback to secure a 4-3 victory. Ange Postecoglou’s side appeared to be cruising with a 3-0 lead, but two errors from goalkeeper Fraser Forster nearly cost Spurs their place in the semi-finals.
The match began with an intense and evenly contested first half. Tottenham took the lead in the 15th minute when Dominic Solanke capitalized on a mistake by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir to slot home. Spurs carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime.
Moments into the second half, Dejan Kulusevski doubled Tottenham’s lead with a powerful strike in the 46th minute. Solanke struck again in the 54th minute, tapping in a well-placed cross from Djed Spence to make it 3-0, leaving United stunned.
However, the game turned chaotic as Spurs’ goalkeeper Forster made two costly errors. His misplaced pass in the 63rd minute was intercepted by Bruno Fernandes, who set up substitute Joshua Zirkzee for a simple finish. Seven minutes later, Forster’s hesitation allowed Amad Diallo to pounce and reduce the deficit to 3-2.
With tensions running high, Tottenham found a crucial fourth goal in the 88th minute. Son Heung-min’s corner curled directly into the net, catching Bayindir off guard and giving Spurs a vital cushion.
Manchester United refused to give up and pulled one back in injury time through Jonny Evans, whose header made it 4-3 after another Forster error. Despite the late drama, Tottenham held on to secure their spot in the semi-finals.
The match showcased Spurs’ attacking prowess and resilience while highlighting defensive frailties that nearly allowed United to pull off a stunning comeback. For Manchester United, it was a valiant effort that fell just short, with costly defensive lapses and missed opportunities leaving them out of the competition.
Key Moments
• 15’: Solanke opens the scoring for Tottenham after a Bayindir error.
• 46’: Kulusevski scores seconds after the restart with a clinical finish.
• 54’: Solanke nets his second from Spence’s assist.
• 63’: Zirkzee capitalizes on Forster’s mistake to score for United.
• 70’: Diallo narrows the gap further after Forster’s misstep.
• 88’: Son scores directly from a corner, restoring Spurs’ lead to 4-2.
• 90’+4: Evans heads in United’s third, but it’s too late for a comeback.
Tottenham will now turn their focus to the semi-finals, while Manchester United are left to reflect on missed chances and defensive errors.