Tottenham Hotspur advanced to the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, despite missing their key player and captain, Son Heung-min, due to injury.
Spurs got off to a flying start when Timo Werner found the back of the net within just five minutes, much to the delight of the home fans. The lead was soon doubled in the 25th minute by Pape Matar Sarr, who showcased his talent with a well-placed finish.
City managed to claw one back in stoppage time, with Matheus Nunes striking to reduce the deficit. However, despite a tense second half, the score remained 2-1, marking the end of City's defense of the trophy they had held in recent years.
This victory is particularly significant for Spurs, who have not enjoyed the best of times in the Premier League this season, sitting with just four wins from their first nine matches. The triumph over the current champions highlights their potential to seize opportunities amid adversity.
Captain Son, who has been sidelined since suffering an injury in a Europa League clash against Qarabag FK on September 26, returned to the pitch for a league encounter against West Ham on October 19, where he managed to score. However, Spurs' head coach, Ange Postecoglou, made the tactical decision to keep him out of the lineup for this crucial cup tie, prioritizing his recovery.
With this win, Spurs edge closer to their first piece of silverware since the 2008 Carling Cup, now known as the Carabao Cup. They are set to face Manchester United in the quarterfinals, after the Red Devils convincingly defeated Leicester City 5-2 in their own round of 16 clash.
The international break looms, scheduled to begin in two weeks, which will see the Korean national team competing in two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Kuwait and Palestine. It remains uncertain whether Son will feature in these matches due to his ongoing injury worries. Despite being initially called up for the October fixtures, he was later omitted from the squad amid concerns from Korea's manager, Hong Myung-bo.
Before the international hiatus, Spurs have three more fixtures to navigate, starting with a home match against Aston Villa this Sunday, as they look to regain momentum in their domestic campaign.