Tottenham Hotspur battled against Manchester United on Thursday evening in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, with Spurs edging out their rivals 4-3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This victory marks the first time since 2021 the club has reached the semi-finals, much to the delight of their fans.
Spurs, led by manager Ange Postecoglou, came out strong, opting for a starting lineup featuring goalkeeper Fraser Forster, defenders Pedro Porro, Dragusin, Gray, and Djed Spence, along with midfielders Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, and James Maddison. The attack saw Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, and Son Heung-min all taking the field.
Just 14 minutes in, Tottenham took the lead. Porro fired off a powerful shot, which was parried by Manchester United's goalkeeper Altay Bayindir right to Solanke, who pounced effortlessly to open the scoring. United's defense looked shaky, and Pape Sarr received a yellow card shortly after, ruling him out of the upcoming semi-final first leg due to suspension.
Tottenham continued to assert their dominance. Around the half-hour mark, Kulusevski tested Bayindir with another well-placed effort after some smart interplay. Despite United's attempts to regroup, the first half concluded with Spurs maintaining their one-goal advantage.
Just one minute after halftime, the advantage doubled for the home side when Kulusevski found the net again, capitalizing on another defensive miscue. Ten minutes later, Solanke showcased his skills by dribbling past United's defender Lisandro Martinez and firing home, pushing the score to 3-0.
Manchester United, under pressure, finally responded when Joshua Zirkzee, who came on as a substitute, connected with Bruno Fernandes’ pass following another mistake from Forster. The goal offered United a glimmer of hope.
But Tottenham’s goalkeeper wasn’t out of the spotlight just yet. Forster failed to clear the ball decisively, allowing Amad Diallo to level the score at 3-2 with just 20 minutes remaining, igniting the visitors' hopes. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s Maddison ended his match with a yellow card, thereby joining Sarr on the sidelines for the semi-final.
Despite the resurgence from United, Spurs quickly fought back, with Son netting directly from a corner kick, resulting in the score becoming 4-2 for Tottenham. This goal, scored with only two minutes before regular time, seemed like the icing on the cake. But the drama didn't end there.
United managed to pull back another goal through Jonny Evans, who capitalized on confusion during the defending side of the match to head home from another corner kick, drawing the score tighter at 4-3. The late goal brought the crowd to its feet, urging Manchester United to keep the pressure on.
Both teams pushed for more goals as the final whistle neared, but Tottenham held on to their lead. This thrilling performance saw them advance to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, sparking belief among fans for the possibility of silverware this season. The victory not only boosted Tottenham's confidence but also raised questions about the future of United's manager, Ruben Amorim, considering the magnitude of the loss.
Spurs have struggled to find silverware since they last lifted the League Cup trophy back in 2008. If this match serves as just the inspiration needed, the squad remains hopeful as they eye the potential to end their long drought.
Tottenham's victory sets the stage for intense competitiveness as they approach the semi-finals, with fans eager to see their team break the trophy-less streak. Although the performance showcased some areas needing improvement, it also revealed the flair and determination within the squad. There’s much to be excited about as preparation for the next round begins.
