Spurs survive Red Devils fightback in Carabao Cup play-off frenzy

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Heung-Min Son’s goal straight from a corner helped secure Tottenham’s 4-3 victory over Manchester United in a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie.

Dominic Solanke’s brace and Dejan Kulusevski’s effort looked set to set up a comfortable evening for Spurs, but two mistakes from goalkeeper Fraiser Forster brought United back into the game.

A sloppy first pass allowed Joshua Zirkzee to reduce the deficit before Amad Diallo closed his post to set up a nervy finish.

But United’s hopes of an extraordinary comeback were dashed when Son headed straight from a corner in another goalkeeping horror moment, this time from visiting keeper Altay Bayindir.

Jonny Evans headed another for United in added time but it was not enough to prevent Ange Postecoglou’s men joining Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle in the semi-finals.

The home side took the lead through Solanke on 15 minutes after assistant goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to get hold of James Maddison’s free-kick, and the former Bournemouth striker made no mistake from the rebound.

Kulusevski then pulled off a save from the United stopper, turning brilliantly past a defender before his sharp drive was parried away.

The Swedish striker was at the center of another close shave for the Red Devils as a clever combination with Heung-Min Song finally found his way, with his pass blocked by Manuel Ugarte who narrowly missed the goal

And the in-form 24-year-old had his goal, his fourth in as many games, less than a minute into the second half as Maddison’s cut-back was mishandled by Lisandro Martinez, allowing the man of the Spurs take advantage of another. United error.

For the second time this season, Spurs won 3-0 against United as Solanke sprung the offside trap before slotting past Martinez and Evans before grabbing the second with ease.

Substitute Joshua Zirkzee produced United’s first chance of note in the second half, driving the ball towards goal and forcing a strong save from Forster.

But the goalkeeper’s joy was short-lived as he carelessly gifted the ball to Bruno Fernandes, who found Zirkzee to finish easily to reduce the deficit.

That goal threatened to unsettle Spurs and encourage United, with substitute Amad Diallo seeing a deflected effort narrowly miss the post after a succession of corners.

Soon it was 3-2 in the most extraordinary way and everything was done by the locals. A series of sloppy passes put Forster under pressure before Amad latched onto the veteran stopper’s clearance and deflected it to send shockwaves through north London.

Hearts continued to rage as the final 10 minutes approached, particularly when Forster oddly opted to keep out Amad’s long-range strike with his feet rather than his hands.

But United’s hopes of an unlikely comeback were ended when Son found the net from a rare Spurs corner, flicking the ball past Bayandir in another goalkeeping moment to forget in this Carabao Cup tie.

Just when you thought the action was over, Evans headed in a third for United, but it wasn’t enough to stop Spurs progressing as Postecoglou keeps his promise of a trophy alive in his second season in charge .



 
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