Heung-Min Son's goal directly from a corner kick helped secure Tottenham's 4-3 victory over Manchester United in an eventful Carabao Cup quarter-final.
A Dominic Solanke brace and Dejan Kulusevski's strike seemed to be setting up a comfortable evening for Tottenham, but two errors from goalkeeper Fraser Forster put United back in the game.
A sloppy first pass allowed Joshua Zirkzee to pull one back before Amad Diallo finished off his clearance to set up a nervy finish.
But United's hopes of an extraordinary comeback were dashed when Son scored straight from a corner kick in another moment of goalkeeper terror, this time from visitors' goalkeeper Altay Binder.
Jonny Evans scored another goal for United in extra time, but it wasn't enough to prevent Ange Postecoglou's men joining Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle in the semi-finals.
The hosts took the lead through Solanke in the 15th minute after deputy goalkeeper Altay Binder failed to convert a James Maddison free-kick, and the former Bournemouth striker made no mistake with the rebound.
Solanke scores against Manchester United for the fourth match in a row! ⚪ pic.twitter.com/KvHcv3C1f4
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Kulusevski then parried a shot from the United goalkeeper, deftly going past a defender before his powerful shot was blocked.
The Swedish striker was at the heart of another close attack for the Red Devils as a clever combination with Heung-Min Song eventually found its way, with Manuel Ugarte blocking a pass that narrowly missed the target.
The 24-year-old scored his goal, his fourth in as many games, less than a minute into the second half as Maddison's pass was poorly handled by Lisandro Martinez, allowing the Spurs man to capitalize on another goal. United's mistake.
Dejan Kulusevski doubles Tottenham's lead, what a start to the second half! ⚡️◻️
🎙️ “The removal of Lisandro Martinez is simply terrible.” pic.twitter.com/6gmXscJ665
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
For the second time this season, Spurs took a 3-0 lead over United as Solanke beat the offside trap before getting past Martinez and Evans before slotting home his second goal with ease.
“They destroyed City and are doing the same again against Manchester United!” 💢
Solanke scores two goals! 💥 pic.twitter.com/QrotOfElbD
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Substitute Joshua Zirkzee produced United's first chance of the second half by heading goalwards and forcing Forster into a powerful save.
But the goalkeeper's joy was short-lived, as he carelessly lost the ball to Bruno Fernandes, who passed to Zirkzee to score an easy goal to reduce the deficit.
“It's a gift from Fraser Forrester!” 🫣🎁
Joshua Zirkzee scores a goal for Manchester United! pic.twitter.com/GsNVdXNkQp
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
This goal threatened to destabilize Tottenham and motivate United, as substitute Amad Diallo saw a deflected shot miss the post after a series of corner kicks.
The score quickly became 3-2 in the most bizarre way and it was all of the hosts' own doing. A set of sloppy passes put Forster under pressure before Amad closed the ball down for the veteran keeper and turned it inside to send shockwaves around north London.
“This is one of the coolest things you will see in Tottenham!” 😱
Amad Diallo takes advantage of Fraser Forster's fatal mistake! 🫣 pic.twitter.com/fShVGyBmNG
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Hearts continued to scream as the final ten minutes approached, especially when Forster bizarrely chose to block Amad's long-range shot with his feet rather than his hands.
But United's hopes of an unlikely comeback were ended when Son scored from a rare Tottenham corner, the ball evading Beander in another moment to forget in the Carabao Cup tie.
amazing. amazing. amazing.
The son scores directly from the corner! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KDhNXNL7cp
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
Just when you thought the game was over, Evans headed home the third goal for United, but it wasn't enough to stop Spurs taking the lead as Postecoglou kept his promise to win the title in his second season in charge.
This game! 🤯
Jonny Evans returns to his home at Manchester United! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/JoteWA9nQO
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 19, 2024
