Manchester City Break Spurs Drought with Late Ake Winner in FA Cup Clash

In a riveting FA Cup fourth-round clash, Manchester City finally shattered their winless streak at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, securing a historic victory with a contentious late goal from Nathan Ake in the 88th minute. The long-anticipated breakthrough not only marked City’s first-ever win at the venue but also propelled them into the FA Cup fifth round, showcasing their determination to add more silverware to their impressive collection.

The game unfolded as a tense battle, with City coming out of the gates flying. In the opening minutes, Oscar Bobb thought he had given City the lead, tapping in from a Kyle Walker cross, but VAR ruled the goal out for a marginal offside. The visitors continued their relentless pressure on Spurs’ goal throughout the first half, with Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, Bobb, and Rodri all having attempts blocked.

Despite dominating the match, City found themselves frustrated by the resilient Spurs defense, with missed opportunities from Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, and substitute Kevin De Bruyne in the second half. As the clock ticked towards full-time, it seemed City might have to settle for a replay, having been unable to find the breakthrough.

However, the narrative took a dramatic turn in the 88th minute when Ake capitalized on a goalmouth scramble, tapping home from a Kevin de Bruyne corner. The goal, surrounded by controversy as Spurs players pleaded for a foul in the build-up, marked City’s first-ever goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after five successive defeats.

The win holds additional significance for City, as they not only end a barren run at Spurs’ ground but also maintain their impressive form in various competitions. Manager Pep Guardiola expressed his satisfaction, praising the team’s performance throughout the game.

“Today we performed incredibly well. Everything pleased me, from minute one to the end,” said Guardiola. The victory extends City’s winning streak to seven games in all competitions, positioning them just five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

While City celebrated their historic triumph, Spurs, missing their talismanic captain Son Heung-min, faced a disappointing exit from the FA Cup. Manager Ange Postecoglou acknowledged the gap between his team and the likes of City, emphasizing the early stages of their development.

“They have got eight, nine years on us. I kind of hope that people have a little bit of perspective of the team we’re trying to be. It won’t happen in six months,” said Postecoglou. Despite the setback, Spurs now turn their attention to maintaining their position in the Premier League.