Manchester City secured their first-ever victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a late goal from Nathan Ake, earning them a place in the FA Cup fifth round. City had endured five successive defeats at this stadium in previous visits, but Ake’s late strike proved decisive.
The match saw City dominate for most of the game, with Spurs struggling to mount any significant attack threats. City had an early goal from Oscar Bobb disallowed for offside, and Spurs’ goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made a number of important saves, including one from Bernardo Silva. Kevin De Bruyne missed a golden opportunity for City after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg gifted possession to Phil Foden.
In the dramatic closing moments of the match, with a replay looking likely, Nathan Ake scored from close range to secure the win for City, sparking wild celebrations among their fans.
Manchester City arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just 70 minutes before kickoff due to heavy traffic in London but left with a well-deserved victory. Despite facing a resilient Spurs defense, City’s late breakthrough ensured their progress to the next round of the FA Cup.
The win at a previously unlucky stadium will boost City’s confidence as they continue to compete in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. The imminent return of striker Erling Haaland adds to their optimism for the season ahead.
For Spurs, the loss was disappointing, as they had hoped to force a replay. The absence of captain Son Heung-min, who is participating in the Asian Cup with South Korea, was felt keenly. Spurs will now focus on maintaining their position in the Premier League’s top five.
The return of James Maddison, who made a substitute appearance after being sidelined with an ankle injury since November, will provide a welcome boost to Spurs’ efforts in the league.