Tottenham 0-1 Manchester City: Nathan Ake the hero as Pep Guardiola’s side progress to FA Cup fifth round
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Updated 26/01/2024 at 22:32 GMT
Manchester City required a late winner from Nathan Ake to see off Tottenham and advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Pep Guardiola’s side had the better of the chances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Oscar Bobb had an early goal ruled out for offside, while Julian Alvarez and Kevin De Bruyne missed big opportunities before Ake headed in an 88th-minute winner.
Nathan Ake of Manchester City celebrates with team mates Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City after scoring their sides first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match.
Image credit: Getty Images
Nathan Ake bundled in a late winner as Manchester City beat Tottenham 1-0 to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Ake bundled home from a corner in the 88th minute to score City’s first ever goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, from what was their 102nd shot at the ground across all competitions.
Spurs claimed the goal should have been disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, but their appeals were ignored after a VAR check.
FA Cup holders City – who had an early Oscar Bobb goal disallowed – had shaded Friday’s encounter – with substitute Kevin De Bruyne having passed up a golden opportunity six minutes before Ake’s winner.
While City’s chances of retaining the Treble stay alive after snapping a five-game losing streak at Spurs, Ange Postecoglou’s chances of winning silverware in his first season at Tottenham are over.
Bobb tapped in from close range inside five minutes, only for the offside flag to cut short City’s celebrations, with VAR confirming the youngster had strayed just offside before latching onto a loose ball in the six-yard box.
Yet the goalmouth action was lacking until, after the interval, Micky Van de Ven made a fantastic block to deny Julian Alvarez.
Spurs finally forced Stefan Ortega into a save five minutes later, but the momentum swung in City’s favour when Pep Guardiola introduced Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku shortly after the hour.
De Bruyne should have put City ahead following a calamitous mistake from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the 82nd minute, only for the Belgian to hammer wide with only Vicario to beat.
But Ake proved City’s unlikely hero when he was on hand to poke in from point-blank range after Ruben Dias did enough to prevent Vicario from making clean contact on an incoming corner, as the holders took their place in round five.
Talking Point – City break their duck
In a quite remarkable statistic, City had never scored at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium prior to Friday’s match, in five previous visits.
Their hoodoo looked set to continue – with the game seemingly heading to a replay – until their late pressure finally told. Ake’s goal was City’s 18th shot of the game, and their 102nd at Spurs’ ground in total.
Player of the Match – Nathan Ake (Man City)
It was another impressive all-round display from Ake, who was confident and composed when playing the ball out against Spurs’ high press, but equally as combative and assertive with the defensive side of his game. He reacted sharply for the winner, and he quietly continues to be one of City’s most consistent performers.
Player Ratings
Tottenham: Vicario 5, Porro 6, Romero 7, Van de Ven 8, Udogie 7, Hojbjerg 6, Bentancur 6, Johnson 7, Kulusevski 6, Werner 6, Richarlison 6. Subs: Maddison 5, Skipp 6, Scarlett 6.
Man City: Ortega 7, Walker 8, Dias 7, Ake 8*, Gvardiol 5, Silva 7, Rodri 7, Kovacic 6, Foden 7, Alvarez 5, Bobb 6. Subs: De Bruyne 6, Doku 6.
Match Highlights
5’ – Offside: Spurs 0-0 Man City: Bobb taps into an empty net after a bit of pinball in the Spurs area. However, his celebrations are quickly cut short by the offside flag. VAR is checking it, though. And it looked tight.
7’ – No goal! Spurs 0-0 Man City: Well, after two minutes, the offside decision does stand, with Bobb's left boot having been adjudged as offside. An early let off for Tottenham!
48’ – Chance! Spurs 0-0 Man City: Oh. My. Word. How is that not 1-0 to Man City? Well, what actually looked like an awful miss from Alvarez at first glance, was actually brilliant defending from Van de Ven. Alvarez was played in by Bobb’s cross, with the Argentine setting himself with an excellent first touch. He looked all set to hammer home, but Van de Ven lunged across to divert it wide.
82’ – Miss! Spurs 0-0 Man City: How is that not 1-0 to City?! Another terrible mistake from Hojbjerg sees Foden pick up the ball in the Spurs box and play in De Bruyne, but with tons of time, De Bruyne slams his strike wide of Vicario's right-hand post. Romero did well to get across and apply some pressure, but De Bruyne should have scored!
88’ – Goal! Spurs 0-1 Man City (Ake): City take the lead! Well, with their 101st attempt at this stadium, City finally break their duck! It's Ake who has prodded home after Vicario was unable to get to a corner. The Spurs goalkeeper is claiming he was fouled by Dias, but it looked soft. Will VAR intervene??
90’ – Goal stands! Spurs 0-1 Man City (Ake): The goal will stand! City have the lead, and finally - finally! - they have scored at this stadium.
Key Stats
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