After winning 1-0 away, Manchester City broke their all-time record at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a tap-in goal in the 88th minute, advancing them into the FA Cup fifth round.
Pep Guardiola’s team had not scored in their previous five trips to the Spurs stadium, and it appeared as though that unfavorable record would continue until Ake scored from close range following Guglielmo Vicario’s flap at a corner from Kevin De Bruyne.
After a dull first half, all eyes had been on De Bruyne and Tottenham playmaker James Maddison. The former helped break the deadlock, but it was an unusual goal from City that propelled them to their seventh consecutive victory.
After this cup loss, Ange Postecoglou’s squad won’t likely have many complaints, and the club’s trophy drought will most likely continue into the seventeenth year.
Last month, these clubs drew 3–3 at the Etihad, but playmakers Maddison and De Bruyne had to settle for a bench spot while the team’s top scorers, Son Heung-min and Erling Haaland, were both missing.
The history of City’s dismal performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is well known, and in the fifth minute, Oscar Bobb’s goal on the goal line nearly gave Guardiola’s team their first ever victory there.
Vicario had stopped Phil Foden from close range, and Bobb pounced. But, VAR determined that Bobb, a rookie player for City, was slightly offside, and the score stayed 0-0.
After the break, Tottenham finally gave the opposition a scare when Julian Alvarez had a chance to score, thanks to a crucial save by Micky van de Ven.
Timo Werner put Brennan Johnson through for a goal, but Stefan Ortega, City’s backup goalkeeper, was fast to react and dive at the forward’s feet.
The home fans was energized once more, but when De Bruyne entered the game with 65 minutes remaining, Guardiola went to his best player.
Eight minutes later, Postecoglou did the same, and Maddison was hailed as a hero when he returned. However, his first action was to bring Silva down in the penalty area.
Before Spurs, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in particular, got two appeals, referee Tierney dismissed them.
(Livescore)
