Manchester City’s Nathan Ake (left) celebrates with Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Josko Gvardiol after scoring the workforce’s profitable goal towards 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 e-book 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 gained at Tottenham since they moved into their new stadium in 2019, nor even managed to attain a goal, however Ake flicked in from close-range after house keeper Guglielmo Vicario flapped at a Kevin De Bruyne nook and the ball fell free.
Tottenham may have few actual complaints as they have been second-best for lengthy durations towards Pep Guardiola’s facet and barely pressured Stefan Ortega into a save of be aware.
Three days after reaching the League Cup remaining, eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea have been held to a 0-0 draw at house 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 targets at Sheffield Wednesday though no winner as they drew 1-1 with Coventry City.
Breaking the stadium duck
Manchester City’s report 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 goal at Tottenham’s grand new area which welcomed 9,000 visiting City followers.
But when Vicario was unable to carry a ball into a crowded space underneath strain, 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 pressured 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 broad 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 damage in November may encourage the hosts who had one shot on course.
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 give up determination
After the sport, City boss Pep Guardiola mentioned he’ll miss his outdated sparring accomplice Juergen Klopp when the Liverpool supervisor calls time on his reign on the finish of the season.
Klopp shocked 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 information had been a shock, Guardiola mentioned: “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 gained eight successive FA Cup ties at Stamford Bridge however may 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 internet 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 mentioned.
