Tottenham Hotspur edged out Man United in an unforgettable EFL Cup quarter-final clash that swung from a comfortable lead to nerve-wracking chaos. A 4-3 scoreline under the lights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium secured Spurs a spot in the semi-finals, where Liverpool now await.
This match had everything: clinical finishing, sloppy goalkeeping, and enough drama to leave Spurs fans questioning their heart rates. While Solanke delivered a poacher’s masterclass, Fraser Forster’s errors nearly derailed the evening. Let’s have a look at the match report.
The opening 45 minutes saw Tottenham take control after a nervy start. Solanke opened the scoring in the 15th minute, reacting sharply to an unconvincing stop from Bayindir to fire home off the right post. Maddison’s short free-kick routine to Son, who found Bissouma to set up Porro’s shot, created the opportunity and that was a textbook poacher’s finish from Tottenham’s number nine.
United attempted to fight back, with Christian Eriksen pulling the strings in midfield and managing three shots, more than anyone else in the first half. However, a lack of composure from Antony and Rasmus Højlund let Tottenham off the hook. Meanwhile, Spurs’ midfield and defence looked worryingly disconnected, leaving acres of space for Eriksen to operate – a glaring weakness Ange Postecoglou must address.
Dejan Kulusevski, a constant menace down the right, forced a fine save from Bayindir, while United’s defence flirted with disaster as Martinez narrowly avoided an own goal. Despite Spurs’ slim xG of 0.46 at halftime, they led 1-0, with United’s wastefulness proving costly.
Fans were barely back in their seats when Spurs made it 2-0. Kulusevski smashed home after a Maddison cutback was poorly dealt with by Lisandro Martínez, whose failed clearance looked more like a backheel assist for the Swede. Spurs fans, who know all too well the uncertainty of a two-goal lead, celebrated cautiously.
Then came the third, and what a goal it was! Djed Spence, playing out of position at left-back, delivered an exquisite long ball to Solanke. The striker controlled brilliantly, shifted past Martínez, and rifled a shot into the bottom-left corner. It was a moment of pure class from both players. Spence, with two assists in two starts, has made a remarkable impact despite being deployed on his weaker side.
But Tottenham being Tottenham, the three-goal cushion was far from secure.
Fraser Forster, who had been steady in Vicario’s absence, pressed the self-destruct button. A reckless short goal-kick allowed Bruno Fernandes to set up Joshua Zirkzee for a tap-in all before fans could even finish appreciating his insane save just seconds prior. Minutes later, Forster took an eternity on the ball, allowing Amad Diallo to block his clearance straight into the net. Spurs’ three-goal lead had evaporated, and the atmosphere turned from celebratory to sheer panic.
With United pressing for an equaliser, captain Son Heung-min provided a moment of magic. Curling a corner straight into the net, he punished Bayindir’s woeful misjudgement to restore a two-goal lead. Yet, Spurs’ set-piece struggles reared their head again in stoppage time as Jonny Evans nodded home from a corner, reducing the deficit to 4-3.
Thankfully for Spurs fans’ blood pressure, the final whistle arrived before another twist could unfold.
Djed Spence: A revelation
Spence’s performance was a massive positive for Tottenham vs Man United. His assist for Solanke’s second goal was a thing of beauty, highlighting his vision and confidence. Playing as a right-footer on the left isn’t easy, but Spence is proving his mettle and giving Ange Postecoglou plenty to think about.
Solanke proves his worth
Solanke’s brace was a masterclass in centre-forward play. His movement, finishing, and link-up play were all top-notch. He has now scored in four consecutive games against Manchester United and both his goals were a reminder of the value of a proper number nine, and he rightly claimed the Man of the Match honours.
Forster’s nightmare
Fraser Forster went from hero to zero in record time. Two howlers turned a comfortable evening into a nail-biter, and his decision-making will undoubtedly invite more pressure in future matches. Forster must shake off this performance quickly, or his confidence – and Spurs’ EFL Cup hopes – may suffer.
Midfield-Defence Disconnect
Tottenham’s midfield and defence continue to look like distant relatives. There’s an unusually large gap between Spurs’ midfield and defence, even when they are not in possession. It’s highly irregular, especially when holding a lead. While it can be advantageous during counterattacks, it leaves them vulnerable when losing the ball.
Opposing wingers or midfielders find it far too easy to exploit this space and play passes into central areas. We saw this repeatedly, with Eriksen having ample room to take shots. This gap needs urgent fixing, especially with Liverpool looming in both the league and the semi-finals.
Kulusevski: The new Vice-Captain?
Dejan Kulusevski showed yet again why he’s a key part of this Spurs side. His energy, creativity, and scoring touch have always been pivotal in the build-up. Is it time to hand him the vice-captaincy?
Even with an xG of just 0.67, Spurs managed to pull off four goals, showcasing clinical finishing. Meanwhile, United, with an xG of 2.56, failed to capitalise on their chances. The focus now shifts to Liverpool in the Premier League – a clash that will provide a preview of the semi-final ahead.
One thing is certain: Spurs fans can’t take much more of this chaos. But then again, what’s Tottenham without a bit of drama?
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