Tottenham edged Manchester United 4-3 in a chaotic Carabao Cup quarter-final, a match defined by goalkeeping blunders and defensive lapses that left fans from both sides alternating between despair and exhilaration.
The two inconsistent teams showcased the reasons behind their frustrating campaigns with error-strewn performances in a dramatic encounter in north London. Spurs surged into a 3-0 lead, only to allow Ruben Amorim’s United side to claw back to 3-2, as stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster twice fumbled disastrously under pressure. First, his poor pass in the box was intercepted by Bruno Fernandes, allowing Joshua Zirkzee to score. Then, Forster was chased down by Amad Diallo, whose persistence forced the ball into the net.
United’s own stand-in keeper, Altay Bayindir, had a nightmare of his own. After a weak parry gifted Dominic Solanke the opener, Bayindir’s evening worsened when he allowed Heung-Min Son’s corner to sail directly over his head and into the net, handing Spurs their crucial fourth goal.
Despite the cushion, Spurs couldn’t avoid late drama. Deep into stoppage time, a defensive lapse from a set-piece allowed Jonny Evans to head in for United, ensuring the final moments were as chaotic as the rest of the match.
While Tottenham secured their place in the semi-finals, both sides will be left reflecting on the defensive and goalkeeping errors that turned a high-stakes clash into a near-comedy of mistakes.
