Tottenham Hotspur booked their spot in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup courtesy of a 4-3 success over Manchester United in Thursday night's last-eight contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs took the lead in the 15th minute through Dominic Solanke, with the striker smashing into the back of the net off the post after Man United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to sufficiently deal with a powerful drive from Pedro Porro.
Bayindir got his body behind the strike from Porro, but it bounced into a dangerous area, and Solanke was first on the scene, with Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim likely to be wondering why none of his players had reacted.
Tottenham's second was also poor from Man United's point of view, with Lisandro Martinez's flicked clearance landing straight at the feet of Dejan Kulusevski, who fired into the back of the net from close range.
Spurs had their third in the 54th minute, with Solanke firing into the back of the net after more disappointing work from Martinez, but it became a 3-1 match shortly after, with Joshua Zirkzee turning a Bruno Fernandes pass home after Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster had passed inadvertently to the Portugal international.
Amad Diallo then incredibly made it 3-2 when he closed down a clearance from Forster, but Son Heung-min scored straight form a corner in the 88th minute to book Tottenham's spot in the final four; Jonny Evans did register a last-gasp third for the Red Devils, but it was the hosts that advanced after a chaotic quarter-final.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Man United would have been looking to build on their win over Man City in the Manchester derby, but it turned out to be a disappointing night for the Red Devils, with Amorim finding out plenty more about his players - good and bad.
The visitors were arguably the better side in the first period, but two poor pieces of defending in the early stages of the second half cost them, and suddenly it was game over, with Tottenham leading by three goals on home soil.
Forster made it a contest with two questionable pieces of goalkeeping, but Spurs did manage to ride the storm that followed before Son netted straight from a corner to make it 4-2, giving them room for error as Man United headed a late third.
It was never going to be a smooth process for Man United, but this does feel like a step back for the Red Devils, with a number of players, including Antony and Bayindir, failing to make the most of rare opportunities to impress from the first whistle.
Man United's attention will now switch back to the Premier League, but Tottenham are in the final four of the EFL Cup, and it would be a huge moment for Ange Postecoglou if he could deliver a trophy to the club.
Spurs remain an inconsistent outfit, as further demonstrated by their issues during a bizarre second half, and it continues to be difficult to work out what to expect from them on a game-to-game basis, but Thursday was a positive night for the North London club when all was said and done, as they joined Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United in the final four.
A first major trophy since 2008 is very much on the cards.
TOTTENHAM VS. MAN UNITED HIGHLIGHTS
Dominic Solanke goal vs. Man United (15th min, Tottenham 1-0 Man United)
Solanke scores against Man United for the fourth game in a row! ⚪ pic.twitter.com/KvHcv3C1f4
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Tottenham make the breakthrough in the 15th minute of the contest, as Solanke fires into the back of the net off the post after Bayindir had palmed a strike from Porro into a dangerous position; not sure about the goalkeeping there.
Dejan Kulusevski goal vs. Man United (47th min, Tottenham 2-0 Man United)
Dejan Kulusevski doubles Tottenham's lead, what a start to the second half! ⚡️◻️
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
🎙️ "The clearance from Lisandro Martinez is quite simply appalling." pic.twitter.com/6gmXscJ665
Tottenham double their lead in the early stages of the second period, as Kulusevski smashes the ball into the back of the net from inside the box after a poor clearance from Martinez, who had flicked it straight to the attacker.
Dominic Solanke goal vs. Man United (54th min, Tottenham 3-0 Man United)
"They destroyed City and they're doing the same again against Manchester United!" 💢
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Solanke grabs a brace! 💥 pic.twitter.com/QrotOfElbD
Spurs score their third of the match and surely book a spot in the next round of the EFL Cup; it is again poor from Martinez, as Solanke is allowed to create space before firing the ball into the back of the net - two for the striker tonight!
Joshua Zirkzee goal vs. Tottenham (64th min, Tottenham 3-1 Man United)
"It's a GIFT from Fraser Forster!" 🫣🎁
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Joshua Zirkzee pulls one back for Manchester United! pic.twitter.com/GsNVdXNkQp
Zirkzee is given a gift of a goal, as Tottenham goalkeeper Forster plays it straight to Fernandes, who delivers into his teammate, and the Netherlands international cannot miss from close range. Is there a comeback on the cards?
Amad Diallo goal vs. Tottenham (70th min, Tottenham 3-2 Man United)
"This is one of the most Tottenham things you'll see!" 😱
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Amad Diallo takes advantage of a Fraser Forster blunder! 🫣 pic.twitter.com/fShVGyBmNG
Oh my goodness me! Here we go! Brilliant from Amad as the Ivorian closes down Forster and gets a block on the goalkeeper's clearance, with the ball flying into the back of the net - it is very much game on with plenty of time left here.
Son Heung-min goal vs. Tottenham (88th min, Tottenham 4-2 Man United)
WOW. WOW. WOW.
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Son scores straight from the corner! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KDhNXNL7cp
Tottenham have their fourth, as Son's corner curls straight into the back of the net - Bayindir wants a foul from Lucas Bergvall's challenge, but the referee is not interested, and Spurs are surely there now.
Jonny Evans goal vs. Tottenham (95th min, Tottenham 4-3 Man United)
This game! 🤯
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Jonny Evans heads home for Man United! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/JoteWA9nQO
Evans heads a corner from Amad into the back of the net, but surely it is too late.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DEJAN KULUSEVSKI
© Imago
Solanke scored twice and certainly deserves a mention in this category, but he was just overshadowed by his teammate Kulusevski, who was outstanding for Tottenham on a positive night for Postecoglou's team.
Kulusevski scored Tottenham's second with a powerful finish, but it was his overall work that impressed the most, with the 24-year-old causing Man United's back five so many issues with his movement and running power; he was simply terrific on the night.
TOTTENHAM VS. MAN UNITED MATCH STATS
Possession: Tottenham 47%-53% Man United
Shots: Tottenham 9-21 Man United
Shots on target: Tottenham 6-5 Man United
Corners: Tottenham 3-8 Man United
Fouls: Tottenham 9-12 Man United
BEST STAT
Tottenham scored FOUR goals but just look at that Expected Goals 👀#TOTMUN pic.twitter.com/XNPD6RG0vF
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 19, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Both teams will now switch their attention back to the Premier League; Spurs will welcome division leaders Liverpool to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, while Man United are in action on the same afternoon at home to Bournemouth.
Tottenham are currently 10th in the Premier League table, five points behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest, while Man United are 13th, six points off the Champions League spots in England's top flight.
Matt Law
