3 months ago
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Nathan Ake scored Manchester City's first goal in six attempts at the Tottenham Hotspur StadiumNathan Ake's late goal gave Manchester City their first victory in six visits to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a place in the FA Cup fifth round.
City looked likely to have to settle a replay after missing a succession of chances before Ake scored their first goal at this stadium after five successive defeats with two minutes left as Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario failed to hold Kevin De Bruyne's corner under pressure from Ruben Dias.
It was a bitter blow to Spurs after a defiant rearguard action but just reward for City, who had been the better side only to miss the opportunities that had come their way before Ake bundled home from close range.
Spurs barely registered an attack threat, while City had an early Oscar Bobb strike ruled out for offside, Vicario also saving well from Bernardo Silva. De Bruyne was uncharacteristically wasteful with a golden opportunity after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had gifted possession to Phil Foden.
In a dramatic finale, with a replay looking certain, Ake struck to spark wild scenes of celebration among the 9,000 City fans who had made the journey to north London.
How did you rate Spurs' performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Manchester City's performance? Send us your views hereFollow reaction to all Friday's four FA Cup gamesMan City's late show seals victory
Manchester City only arrived at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 70 minutes before kick-off because of the heavy Friday night traffic in London - then left it late to clinch a win they thoroughly deserved on the balance of play.
Spurs were caught up in a rush of Manchester City pressure for much of the game but held out despite being forced back. It almost worked by earning a replay but Pep Guardiola's side are always likely to produce one moment that makes the difference. And so it proved here.
It may not have had the beauty that characterises so many of their goals, as Ake scored amid a near-post scramble, but this did not stop joyous scenes after the final whistle, with manager Guardiola especially animated.
City's triumph will taste even sweeter because it came at a stadium that had brought them nothing other than misery until this FA Cup fourth-round tie.
There is a clear sense that City are kicking into top gear, with some of their early play scintillating, giving off the formidable air that is their trademark at this stage of the season.
The impending return of striker Erling Haaland will only add to their confidence as they chase the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. For now, this is a win they will relish.
BBC Sport has a dedicated Spurs page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it hereAll the best Manchester City news and views in one placeMore to follow.
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Tottenham Hotspur
Squad number13Player nameVicario
Squad number23Player namePorro
Squad number17Player nameRomero
Squad number37Player namevan de Ven
Squad number38Player nameUdogie
Squad number30Player nameBentancur
Squad number5Player nameHøjbjerg
Squad number22Player nameJohnson
Squad number21Player nameKulusevski
Squad number16Player nameWerner
Squad number9Player nameRicharlison
Squad number4Player nameSkipp
Squad number10Player nameMaddison
Squad number44Player nameScarlett
Manchester City
Squad number18Player nameOrtega
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Squad number6Player nameAké
Squad number24Player nameGvardiol
Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number47Player nameFoden
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number52Player nameBobb
Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number11Player nameDoku
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Line-ups
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
13Vicario23PorroBooked at 90mins17Romero37van de Ven38UdogieBooked at 59mins30BentancurSubstituted forMaddisonat 73'minutes5HøjbjergSubstituted forScarlettat 90+1'minutes22JohnsonSubstituted forSkippat 72'minutes21Kulusevski16Werner9RicharlisonSubstitutes
4Skipp6Dragusin10Maddison11Gil12Emerson Royal20Forster33Davies44Scarlett58SantiagoMan City
Formation 4-2-3-1
18Ortega2Walker3Rúben DiasBooked at 70mins6Aké24GvardiolBooked at 84mins16Rodri8KovacicBooked at 56mins47Foden20Bernardo Silva52BobbSubstituted forDokuat 65'minutesBooked at 90mins19ÁlvarezSubstituted forDe Bruyneat 65'minutesSubstitutes
5Stones10Grealish11Doku17De Bruyne21Gómez27Nunes31Ederson76Susoho82LewisReferee:Paul Tierney
Attendance:60,872
Live Text
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 0, Manchester City 1.
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 0, Manchester City 1.
Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur).
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur).
Offside, Manchester City. Jérémy Doku is caught offside.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Dane Scarlett is caught offside.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Dane Scarlett replaces Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 0, Manchester City 1. Nathan Aké (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the top left corner following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rodri.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Cristian Romero.
Attempt missed. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
