Manchester City’s Nathan Ake (left) celebrates with Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Josko Gvardiol after scoring the staff’s successful purpose in opposition to Tottenham within the 4th spherical of the FA Cup on January 26, 2024
| Photo Credit: Reuters
FA Cup holders Manchester City left it late to ebook their place within the fifth spherical with Nathan Ake’s scrappy 88th-minute effort clinching a 1-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Friday.
City had by no means received at Tottenham since they moved into their new stadium in 2019, nor even managed to attain a purpose, however Ake flicked in from close-range after residence keeper Guglielmo Vicario flapped at a Kevin De Bruyne nook and the ball fell free.
Tottenham might have few actual complaints as they have been second-best for lengthy durations in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s aspect and barely compelled Stefan Ortega right into a save of observe.
Three days after reaching the League Cup closing, eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea have been held to a 0-0 draw at residence by Aston Villa whereas it additionally ended 0-0 at Ashton Gate between second-tier Bristol City and Premier League Nottingham Forest.
There have been objectives at Sheffield Wednesday though no winner as they drew 1-1 with Coventry City.
Breaking the stadium duck
Manchester City’s file at Tottenham has been one thing of an anomaly contemplating their success in all places else.
They had misplaced their final 4 Premier League video games there with out scoring and likewise suffered a 1-0 defeat there within the Champions League semi-final of 2019.
By the time the newest duel reached the dying minutes, efforts by Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne meant City had gone unrewarded for 101 efforts at purpose at Tottenham’s grand new area which welcomed 9,000 visiting City followers.
But when Vicario was unable to carry a ball right into a crowded space beneath stress, Ake pounced.
City had dominated the primary half with Oscar Bobb having an effort dominated out early for offside whereas Tottenham, often so attack-minded, have been compelled to defend desperately.
The second half was extra even till City upped the ante by sending on De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku with 25 minutes remaining. Silva was denied by Vicario and De Bruyne fired inches extensive after a mistake by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Not even the arrival of James Maddison off the bench for his first look since sustaining an ankle harm in November might encourage the hosts who had one shot on the right track.
It was the primary time Tottenham had failed to attain in a aggressive match since supervisor Ange Postecoglou took cost.
“We worked hard to stay in the game and conceded so late. But they were the better side,” Postecoglou conceded. “They make you suffer at points so we had to work hard and for the most part we defended well.”
I’ll sleep higher, Guardiola on Klopp’s stop choice
After the sport, City boss Pep Guardiola stated he’ll miss his outdated sparring associate Juergen Klopp when the Liverpool supervisor calls time on his reign on the finish of the season.
Klopp surprised the soccer world on Friday when he introduced this could be his final season on the Anfield membership he took over in 2015 and led to a number of trophies.
Asked if the news had been a shock, Guardiola stated: “I am a little bit, he’s an absolutely incredible manager and I know I don’t know him closely but he’s an incredible person. I had a feeling that he’s leaving part of us too at Man City as Liverpool have been our biggest rival in his years.
“Personally he has been my biggest rival from when he was at Dortmund and I was at Bayern Munich. He will be missed, personally I will miss. I am pleased because without him I will sleep a little bit better the night before we play against Liverpool! But I wish him all the best.”
Chelsea held
Chelsea had received eight successive FA Cup ties at Stamford Bridge however might discover no well beyond Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez because the guests held out for a replay at Villa Park.
Villa had the ball within the web within the twelfth minute however Douglas Luiz’s effort was dominated out for handball.
“Of course we wanted to win. We were not clinical enough. But we created chances and we need to keep believing and now we move on,” Chelsea supervisor Mauricio Pochettino stated.
Source: www.thehindu.com
