Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham stun Man City in massive upset

Ange Postecoglou is having a tough start to the Premier League season but Tottenham have stunned England’s best team in a huge upset.

Matthew Sullivan

2 min read

October 31, 2024 - 10:28AM

Football

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Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have defeated Manchester City 2-1 in a massive upset in the Carabao Cup on Thursday morning.

Two first half goals to Timo Werner (fifth minute) and Pape Matar Sarr (25th minute) put the Spurs in front early, before Matheus Nunes scored for Man City just before halftime.

No goals were scored in the second half as Tottenham held on for the victory in the fourth round clash of the annual domestic knockout competition.

It’s a stunning result considering just two days earlier, Tottenham had suffered a brutal loss to Crystal Palace, handing the lowly side their first win of the Premier League season.

Tottenham sits eighth on the Premier League ladder after nine games, and Postecoglou will need to turn their campaign around quickly to keep hopes of Champions League or Europa League qualification alive.

Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after teammate Pape Matar Sarr scores their team's second goal. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

It’s the first time Tottenham have beaten Manchester City during Postecolou’s tenure as manager and the Spurs moved a step closer to ending their 16-year trophy drought.

Postecoglou and City boss Pep Guardiola were seriously animated on the sideline during the game.

Guardiola couldn’t resist taking a glance at his counterpart with his head in his hands when Nunes scored in stoppage time in the first half.

Guardiola said post-game Tottenham “have always been tough since Ange has been manager”.

“They are so, so aggressive, dynamic — physicality, good patterns. This is a really good team, it’s an incredible test for us.”

Star striker Erling Haaland didn’t play for Man City.

Ange Postecoglou: Are you not entertained? (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a winning start as interim Manchester United manager by beating Leicester 5-2 to reach the League Cup quarter-finals.

Arsenal and Liverpool were among the other sides to book their place in the last eight, but Chelsea were beaten 2-0 at Newcastle.

A United legend as a player, Van Nistelrooy was thrust into the role of interim manager after the Red Devils sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday following a dreadful start to the season.

Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim is the man the English giants have targeted to take over but are still in negotiations with the Portuguese champions to agree compensation for the 39-year-old.

Casemiro’s stunning effort into the top corner opened the scoring before Alejandro Garnacho swept home Diogo Dalot’s cross to please a jubilant Van Nistelrooy on the touchline.

Bilal El Khannouss quickly pulled a goal back for the much-changed Foxes. Bruno Fernandes’ deflected free-kick restored United’s two-goal cushion before Casemiro slammed home his third goal in two games.

Conor Coady grabbed another consolation for Leicester but United were not to be denied just a second win in nine games.