The curse has been broken. Manchester City was able to score (and win) for the first time in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, both very present as substitutes, helped their team to the next round of the FA Cup.
LOOK. De Bruyne misses a big chance, but makes up for it later
“We are playing well there, but we cannot win. Hopefully we can break that,” Pep Guardiola looked ahead. He had also not missed Manchester City’s negative series when visiting Tottenham since they moved to their new stadium in 2019. Five visits, five defeats, zero goals.
After five minutes the curse seemed to have been broken. Norwegian talent Oscar Bobb shook the nets but was a toenail offside when he ran the ball into an empty net. So no early opening goal for City, which continued to push hard. Tottenham rarely came under high pressure in the first half, but did not crack. Ultimately, goalkeeper Vicario did not have to come up with any spectacular things before halftime, although he was helped by his alert defenders who threw themselves for every ball.
© REUTERS
0-0 at half time, and the first few drops of sweat on Guardiola’s bald head. “It won’t happen again, will it?”, you saw him sigh.
He pushed his keys into the hands of Kevin De Bruyne and co-pilot Jérémy Doku. That’s a Bugatti with a lot of horsepower under the hood. Both are not in the starting line-up, only added to the team after an hour. And immediately a different dynamic in the party. More speed, more openings.
LOOK. Pep Guardiola explains why Kevin De Bruyne is not yet in the starting line-up after his injury
City came on, and they (finally) created opportunities. First Bernardo Silva kicked Vicario hard from Doku’s cross, a few seconds later De Bruyne missed an imposed chance alone in front of goal. And Doku also couldn’t make it 0-1 after he had walked everyone out. Only at the end did Nathan Aké break the spell by reacting most alertly after a corner kick from De Bruyne. It was questionable, because Ruben Dias seemed to make himself very wide in the duel with goalkeeper Vicario just before. But the goal did count. And it gives City the next round in the FA Cup. Guardiola can thank his PKs again.
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90’+6′
Yellow card for Pedro Porro
90’+6′
Yellow card for Jéremy Doku
90’+6′
End of second half
90’+1′
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is replaced by Dane Scarlett
88′
0-1 GOAL van Nathan Aké!
Then anyway! De Bruyne paints a corner in the small rectangle towards Dias, after which Aké reacts most alertly and taps the ball against the ropes. No assist for KDB, but it won’t bother him much. The VAR briefly looks at a possible mistake by Dias on the goalkeeper, but in the end the party continues. Debatable.
© REUTERS
© REUTERS
85′
Doku also gets his chance
The other compatriot also fails to score. Doku has set off at speed with only Pedro Porro on his heels, but he still kicks within reach of Vicario.
84′
Yellow card for Joško Gvardiol
82′
De Bruyne also doesn’t score!
He can’t believe his eyes. After losing the ball at the back, De Bruyne suddenly finds himself alone in front of goal. He turns and quickly kicks towards the short corner, but kicks wide. This one should have fit between the posts…
81′
Vicar redt!
Suddenly there is that big opportunity for City! Hojgbjerg smacks the ball wide of Doku’s cross, giving Silva a great opportunity. He kicks hard and low, but centrally on Vicario.
80′
No penalty
Bernardo Silva looks for the duel, breaks free and then goes over a white leg. No penalty, the referee decides.
75′
Cynical Guardiola
De Bruyne is fouled after a fairly innocent shoulder push, and our compatriot cannot laugh at that. A few seconds later, City conceded another mistake, after which Guardiola treated the referee to a cynical applause. Yellow is his share.
© REUTERS
73′
Rodrigo Bentancur is replaced by James Maddison
72′
Brennan Johnson is replaced by Oliver Skipp
70′
Yellow card for Rúben Dias
66′
He almost bursts in!
Doku immediately sees Foden running deep and yields well. His cross towards De Bruyne deviates from Van de Ven and almost caprioles over the Tottenham goalkeeper, but it does not end up between the posts.
65′
Oscar Bobb is replaced by Jéremy Doku
65′
Julián Álvarez is replaced by Kevin De Bruyne
65′
There are the Belgians!
Guardiola has seen enough. Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku are brotherly next to each other, ready to fill in. Can they break it open?
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© Action Images via Reuters
59′
Yellow card for Iyenoma Udogie
56′
Yellow card for Mateo Kovacic
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