Tottenham appeared poised to cruise to victory. Leading 2-0 after just 25 minutes, the home crowd was almost in disbelief, not least because Timo Werner had scored the first goal. Everyone knew this wasn't how the story was supposed to unfold, and so Manchester City mounted a comeback. Matheus Nunes pulled one back before halftime, and Spurs made a concerted effort to seal the deal. They created numerous chances, some of them clear-cut, yet they couldn't convert them. When substitute Richarlison failed to score from close range in the 83rd minute, it seemed inevitable that City would get a chance to salvage the game, to rescue a performance that fell short of Pep Guardiola's high standards. They did, with the ball falling to 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly after Guglielmo Vicario flapped at a corner, and his shot was cleared off the line by substitute Yves Bissouma. Spurs eventually secured the win, a result that could energize their season, and one they deserved, despite the anxiety they caused their fans. City will now look elsewhere for silverware.
The night was always going to be scrutinized, perhaps disproportionately, especially after Guardiola's comments following City's victory over Watford in the previous round. He had said he would “play the second team” in this tie; City were “not going to waste energy, for sure.” Yet they fielded a strong lineup, making six changes, including John Stones, Nathan Aké, and Ilkay Gündogan. Postecoglou was never going to start with his best XI, despite pressure from some Spurs fans who considered this game more important than Sunday's Premier League match against Aston Villa. Postecoglou omitted Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Yves Bissouma, and James Maddison from the outset. Nevertheless, it was hardly a weakened lineup. Udogie came on inside 13 minutes for Micky Van de Ven, who started at left-back and injured his hamstring in a slide tackle on Savinho. Spurs were leading at that point, a lead their committed and fast start deserved.
Brennan Johnson provided the spark with a lovely backheel that sent Dejan Kulusevski down the right, exposing City, and the low cross to Werner at the far post always looked promising. Werner executed it perfectly, getting there before Rico Lewis and finishing with a side-footed shot. Guardiola had started with Phil Foden in the No 9 role, with James McAtee working off him, and it was strange to see City so disjointed early on, struggling to connect their passes. Gündogan missed a pass to Stones on the edge of the City box, and Werner shot straight at Stefan Ortega. Spurs were in control midway through the first half when Sarr made it 2-0. Kulusevski worked a short corner with Werner, and Sarr's long-range curler surprised Ortega, who was unable to stop the shot.
At that point, Spurs stopped doing what had worked and began to make errors. City started to gain a foothold. They created chances, with Nunes almost finding Foden after outpacing Archie Gray; Foden then volleying just high after another Nunes pass. The home crowd groaned when four minutes of stoppage time were announced. Foden had just lifted a free-kick off-target after an Udogie mistake. It felt like they knew what was coming. It did when Savinho beat Udogie to cross and Nunes was alone at the far post to finish. Game on. Postecoglou could be seen shaking his head as Nunes celebrated. He knew what had been coming. He was also aware of the need for his team to bring greater energy at the start of the second half, which they did. Spurs got in behind City's high last line on several occasions before the hour mark, yet they couldn't finish. The South Stand had chanted during the first half that “Timo Werner scores when he wants.” They know it's not true. Werner wasted a one-on-one with Ortega and missed another chance. Johnson had extended Ortega, and the goalkeeper also thwarted Kulusevski as he ran clear up the inside right.
Spurs suffered another injury blow when Cristian Romero was forced off, while City lost Savinho, taken away on a stretcher after an awkward fall. On came the 19-year-old Jacob Wright. Spurs would lose Werner to a groin strain and had to deal with the knowledge that they should have been out of sight; one flash from City could ruin it all. Wright almost provided it. He took an assured touch on the edge of the area and bent his shot inches past the post.
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