Tottenham Hotspur eliminated Manchester City from the EFL Cup in a thrilling third-round match, winning 2-1 to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Spurs capitalized on City’s rotated lineup as manager Pep Guardiola opted for a heavily changed team. In contrast, Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, fielded a strong eleven, demonstrating his commitment to adding silverware in his second season.
The game started with Tottenham taking the lead just six minutes in. Brennan Johnson set up Dejan Kulusevski with a well-timed pass, and Kulusevski’s low cross found Timo Werner, who finished confidently past Manchester City’s goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega. By the 25th minute, Spurs doubled their lead through a well-executed corner routine. Kulusevski delivered the ball to the edge of the box, where Pape Matar Sarr curled his shot into the net, leaving City on the back foot.
However, just before halftime, City managed to pull one back. Savinho evaded Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie and delivered a cross to the far post, where Matheus Luiz converted, giving City hope as they went into the break 2-1 down.
In the second half, Tottenham had an opportunity to extend their lead when Dominic Solanke set up Werner, but the striker’s heavy touch caused his shot to go wide. Both teams continued to create chances but were unable to find the net again, as defensive efforts and missed opportunities kept the score unchanged. Yves Bissouma’s late intervention helped Tottenham secure their place in the quarterfinals and close out a hard-fought victory.