Soccer

Tottenham edge Manchester United in League Cup thriller

Spurs were in cruise control when Solanke rifled home his second before United launched comeback

Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke scoring. Photograph: Daniel Hambury/EPA
Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke scoring. Photograph: Daniel Hambury/EPA
Thu Dec 19 2024 - 22:29
EFL Cup: Tottenham Hotspur 4 (Solanke 15, 54, Kulusevski 46, Son 88) Manchester United 3 (Zirkzee 63, Amad 70, Evans 90+4)

Dominic Solanke’s brace helped Tottenham edge a rip-roaring Carabao Cup quarter-final tie with Manchester United by a 4-3 score and take a big step towards winning a first trophy since 2008.

Spurs were in cruise control when Solanke rifled home his second in the 54th minute to add to his first-half opener and Dejan Kulusevski’s effort 46 seconds into the second half.

Tottenham’s backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster pressed the self-destruct button, though, as his two errors set up a nervy finale.

First Man United substitute Joshua Zirkzee tapped in after Forster’s pass out from the back had been intercepted before Amad Diallo blocked his clearance to make it 3-2 with 20 minutes left.

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Ange Postecoglou’s men were teetering on the brink of collapse at this point, but captain Son Heung-min scored directly from a corner with two minutes left despite protestations from Altay Bayindir.

It ensured Jonny Evans’ stoppage-time header was a mere consolation as Spurs march on towards the semi-finals, with Ruben Amorim left to pick the bones out of the third defeat of his short tenure.