LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur survived a Manchester United comeback to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup with a 4-3 home win.
Ange Postercoglou’s team comfortably led 3-0 after 54 minutes of action at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium through two goals from Dominic Solanke and one from Dejan Kulusevski.
However, the hosts were punished by a mistake by their goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, which allowed substitutes, Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo, to close the gap for United.
There were still 20 minutes left in the game when Diallo made it 3-2 and United came close to equalising several times before Son Heung-min beat goalkeeper Altay Bayindir with an 88th-minute corner kick.
Jonny Evans still managed to close the gap in injury time but Tottenham ensured United’s comeback did not prevent them from meeting defending champions Liverpool in the semi-finals.
Arsenal face Newcastle United in the other semi-final.
“Leading 3-0 we should have handled the game better, stalled the game but we made things difficult ourselves, but the important thing is we won and advanced.
“That’s football, we’re united. Mistakes are part of football, we try, show passion and do the job,” Solanke said.
Postecoglou’s team had previously led 2-0 before losing 4-3 to Chelsea in their last home match, seemingly repeating the situation against United.
But this time Spurs made sure they did not waste that advantage and moved closer to a first trophy since the League Cup in 2008.
Tottenham’s injury-plagued squad was still capable of dominating Ruben Amorim’s United, who made five changes to the squad that stunned Manchester City on Sunday.
Solanke put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute when Bayindir failed to clear Pedro Porro’s attempt and the Spurs striker finished.
Bruno Fernandes had several chances and Rasmus Hojlund’s effort went wide, but Tottenham comfortably controlled the game and extended their lead when Kulusevski added a goal after the break.
Solanke made it 3-0 after breaking through United’s defence and scoring his second goal in the 54th minute.
United finally found their target when Fernandes intercepted Forster’s pass and the ball reached Zirkzee to finish.
Forster once again gifted United an easy goal when his shot was intercepted by Diallo for the visitors’ second goal.
However, United’s comeback was blocked by Spurs captain, Heung-min, who deflected a corner kick straight into Bayindir’s goal.
Substitute Evans’ goal was too late for United to find another goal.