Manchester City left it late to snatch a 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur in Friday’s FA Cup fourth-round encounter.
The Blues' struggles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are well documented and until the latter stages this looked set to be another shutout for Pep Guardiola's side, but Nathan Ake's 88th-minute goal ensured the visitors progressed to the fifth round.
City thought they’d found the opening goal after just five minutes when Oscar Bobb poked the ball in from a few yards out. Guglielmo Vicario had got a hand to Phil Foden’s initial effort, but the follow-up from Bobb was ruled offside, following a lengthy VAR check.
Scoring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been an issue for City and they haven't managed it in five previous visits. By the end of the first half it was over 90 shots at the ground without a goal. Bobb went closest again in the opening 45 minutes when his goal-bound effort was blocked by Pedro Porro almost on the line, but it was rare opening for either side.
Two weeks without a game showed, as the teams lacked rhythm. Spurs were limited to breakaway chances and didn’t produce a shot in the first half, while City exchanged some nice passing moves but failed to fashion any clear-cut openings after Bobb’s disallowed goal.
The match opened up a tad after the break, with Micky van de Ven producing a great block to deny Julian Alvarez’s shot inside the box, minutes before Stefan Ortega flew out of his goal to close down Brennan Johnson’s tentative attempt - Spurs' only shot of the match.
The last meeting between the teams ended with players from both sides being separated after the full-time whistle, and there were some fiery challenges on Friday. But that was the only sort of heat on show in this uninspiring affair.
The managers made attacking changes in an attempt to add some flair to a mundane contest, and the introductions of Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku had a bigger impact than the return of James Maddison.
The changes gave City added momentum in the latter stages of the game, with efforts from Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne. The former saw his powerful shot held by Vicario, while De Bruyne uncharacteristically failed to hit the target from the edge of the box after City won possession high up the field.
In the 86th minute, Doku raced through and fired at Vicario, before Silva fired over from outside the box. Just as the game looked set for a replay, Ake popped up with a late, vital goal in somewhat controversial circumstances.
De Bruyne arced in a corner that Vicario, flapped at with Ruben Dias in his path. It allowed Ake to prod the ball into the net and, despite the remonstrations of the home team, Paul Tierney ruled that no foul had been committed and the goal should stand.
The late goal ensured there will be no replay in two weeks' time, as Spurs crashed out of the cup. Here’s how we rated the City players…
1. Stefan Ortega- 6
Had a quiet night in north London but made a good stop to deny Johnson early in the second half.
2. Kyle Walker- 7
Provided an attacking option in the wide areas and put in some good crosses. Tottenham didn't get much joy down Walker's flank.
3. Ruben Dias- 6
Didn't look particularly assured at the back and was booked for repeated fouls. However, he helped guide City to an important clean sheet.
4. Nathan Ake- 7
Defended well and was solid in possession. His late toe-poke proved decisive in the cup tie.