Tottenham Hotspur overcame two costly errors from stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster to defeat Manchester United 4-3 on Thursday, booking their place in the League Cup semi-finals and keeping alive hopes of their first major trophy since 2008.
Spurs appeared in cruise control, leading 3-0 by the 54th minute, with Dominic Solanke scoring twice and Dejan Kulusevski adding another. However, Forster’s blunders allowed substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo to reduce the deficit, setting up a tense finale.
Despite relentless pressure from United, a late goal from Son Heung-min restored Spurs’ two-goal cushion. Jonny Evans added a final twist with a header, but Spurs held firm to advance.
Tottenham’s opener came in the 15th minute when Solanke pounced on a rebound after Altay Bayindir failed to parry a long-range shot wide. Solanke’s clinical finish set the tone as Spurs capitalised on United’s defensive lapses.
Kulusevski doubled the lead shortly after halftime, slotting home a James Maddison cut-back that Lisandro Martinez failed to clear. Solanke made it 3-0 minutes later, outmanoeuvring both Martinez and Evans to finish decisively.
Forster’s miscues sparked United’s resurgence. Under pressure from Zirkzee, Forster’s misplaced pass gifted United their first goal. Minutes later, Diallo’s high press forced Forster into another mistake, with the ball ricocheting off Diallo and into the net.
United dominated the final stages, but Spurs weathered the storm. Son’s late strike from a corner gave Tottenham breathing room before Evans’ header made it 4-3 in stoppage time. The win puts Spurs just one victory away from a Wembley final in March, with Ange Postecoglou aiming to deliver silverware in his second season, as he boldly predicted earlier this year.
Despite their inconsistent Premier League form—currently 10th with seven wins and seven losses from 16 matches—Spurs remain in contention for the League Cup alongside Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle.
For United manager Ruben Amorim, the defeat marks a setback after their impressive Premier League win over Manchester City last weekend. Missing key players such as Marcus Rashford, United struggled defensively despite moments of brilliance from Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen.
