Spurs progressed to the final eight of this season’s Carabao Cup after edging out Manchester Metropolis on the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
Targets from Timo Werner and Pape Sarr contained in the opening half an hour have been sufficient to see Ange Postecoglou’s aspect by way of what was an thrilling, open contest on Wednesday night.
Matheus Nunes pulled one again for Metropolis simply earlier than the break however the hosts held agency within the second half and maybe ought to have been out of sight as their hopes of a primary trophy since 2008 stay alive.
We’re into the quarter finals of the @Carabao_Cup! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/pU9Gq1Flxs
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 30, 2024
Pep Guardiola fielded for a number of academy stars in Metropolis’s line-up, whereas Postecoglou opted for expertise and went with a robust line-up.
And inside 5 minutes, it was a call that appeared to repay. A pacey, fluid counter assault noticed Dejan Kulusevski launched down the best earlier than the Sweden worldwide performed an inch-perfect cross into the trail of Werner.
The German made no mistake as he arrowed the ball into the again of internet to present Spurs the right begin.
But it surely bought worse earlier than it bought higher. Micky van de Ven hobbled off the pitch clutching his hamstring after 10 minutes after sliding right into a sort out with Savinho.
The Dutch worldwide appeared visibly emotional as he walked down the tunnel, changed by Future Udogie.
Werner once more had an opportunity with a right-footed strike after an Ilkay Gundogan mistake however his shot was straight at Stefan Ortega.
Maybe unsurprisingly, Metropolis dominated possession however supplied little attacking risk, with Vicario not often troubled within the Spurs purpose.
Then, on 25 minutes, Pape Sarr, who had been booked two minutes earlier, had doubled Spurs’ lead when, from a brief nook, Kulusevski discovered him on the sting of the field and he bent a gorgeous first-time effort that flew previous Ortega at his close to submit.
Pape Matar Sarr DOUBLES Tottenham’s lead 😨🔥 pic.twitter.com/TIDVl0ZSot
— Sky Sports activities Soccer (@SkyFootball) October 30, 2024
Shortly after, Phil Foden crashed a first-time volley excessive over the bar when maybe he ought to have carried out higher.
Foden once more cleared the bar when he was unable to maintain his free-kick from the sting of the realm down.
Metropolis had pegged their opponents again for many of the half however they needed to wait till the fourth minute of added time to register their first and solely shot heading in the right direction of the half.
Nevertheless, one was all they wanted to half the deficit when Nunes met Savinho’s far-post cross to rifle house on the half-volley.
Guardiola made two adjustments on the break, with Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol changing Gundogan and Ruben Dias.
However regardless of the Metropolis adjustments, it was Spurs who had the primary probability after the break when Brennan Johnson drew a sensible cease from Ortega.
Werner then squandered a wonderful probability to revive the host’s two-goal lead when he ran away from the customer’s backline solely to shoot extensive of the purpose.
Kulusevski additionally missed an excellent alternative when a lay-off to a teammate was maybe the extra smart choice.
Bissouma clears the ball OFF THE LINE! 😨
An unbelievable goal-line clearance to disclaim O’Reilly. pic.twitter.com/ZHtzYrZZn2
— Sky Sports activities Soccer (@SkyFootball) October 30, 2024
Regardless of being a purpose down, Guardiola opted to not flip to Erling Haaland on the Metropolis bench, even after Savinho was stretchered off on the hour mark following what gave the impression to be an ankle damage.
The winger’s alternative, 19-year-old Jacob Wright, was inches away from discovering the equaliser himself when he curled an effort narrowly extensive shortly after approaching.
Guardiola once more rang turned to his substitutes, handing a first-team debut to Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, however, for everybody else in Metropolis colors, it wasn’t to be an evening to recollect.
Richarlison ought to have wrapped up the sport when he pounced on an error from a throw-in, however once more a Spurs participant might solely discover the palms of Ortega.
Metropolis then piled on the strain late on however the Spurs defence remained stable.
Yves Bissoumi blocked Nico O’Reilly’s goal-bound effort on the road as Postecoglou’s males held on to safe a well-known victory.