Tottenham Hotspur 4, Manchester United 3 (Carabao Cup Quarter Final)
Dominic Solanke scored twice in a seven goal thriller at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs dumped Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup.
Solanke scored either side of Dejan Kulusevski to give Spurs a towering 3-0 lead which threatened to evaporate thanks to two horrendous Fraser Forster errors which led to goals by Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo.
Son Heung-min scored a late disputed goal direct from a corner – with no VAR to review a claimed foul on Altay Bayindir before Jonny Evans gave United injury time hope with an even later header before Spurs could claim the win in a hugely entertaining game for neutrals.
After a week of speculation in which Marcus Rashford seemed to admit that his future may lie away from United the 27-year-old found himself exiled from the match day squad again.
Alejandro Garnacho, who was also absent from the United squad for their derby win at Manchester City, was named on the bench as United made five changes from the weekend’s famous victory.
Altay Bayinder, Victor Lindelof, Leny Yoro, Christian Eriksen, and Antony replaced Andre Onana, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount, and Amad Diallo.
Spurs were serious about winning a trophy this season and only made two changes from their last game and took the lead after 15 minutes of their Carabao Cup quarter final against United.
Dominic Solanke scored his 4th goal in a row against United after Altay Bayindir spilled a 25 yard strike from Pedro Porro which seemed to swerve in the air at the last second.
Christian Eriksen’s low shot was blocked by Yves Bissouma who also headed away the follow-up while the Dane’s free kick skimmed the roof of the net later.
But United suffered a second blow when Lindelof went down injured before half time and was replaced by veteran Jonny Evans.
Things got worse at the start of the second half – seconds after the restart Son Heung-min slid in James Maddison whose cross into the six yard box was intercepted by Lisandro Martinez but Dejan Kulusevski was at hand to tap in the loose ball from close range.
Dominic Solanke scored his second of the night after 54 minutes after he cut inside unopposed after beating the offside trap with Martinez culpable again.
Antony, Rasmus Hojland, and Eriksen were immediately replaced by Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee, and Kobbie Mainoo as Ruben Amorim reacted immediately.
Zirkzee had a header saved by Fraser Forster but the Spurs keeper blotted his copybook – immediately gifting the United man with an unlikely goal after his attempt to play out of the back was intercepted by Bruno Fernandes who cut the ball back to the Dutchman who didn’t miss a second time.
And it was panic stations soon after as Zirkzee’s cutback was passed out of play just the other side of his own keeper’s post by Bissouma as Spurs’ nerves started fraying under pressure.
Forster duly delivered on that Spursiness with another horrendous error with Amad profiting after the hapless keeper took his eye off the ball after receiving a backpass.
United then had 20 minutes to draw level and Mazraoui had to shoot wide as no United striker had gambled.
Forster did somewhat redeem himself with 8 minutes to go, a bizarre goal line clearance from Amad’s long range effort when he could have stooped to save it.
But the game just became even more controversial after 88 minutes when Son’s looping corner went straight in.
United players claimed interference on Altay Bayindir, who was booked for protesting, from Lucas Bergvall but without VAR there was no way of reviewing the goal.
Jonny Evans headed a third United goal in the fourth of six minutes of injury time for the Reds from an Amad corner to reduce the deficit again but they could not level the scores in what was a completely mad game.