Tottenham vs. Man United score: Carabao Cup result, highlights, stats as Spurs survive wild error-filled match

It was a goalkeeper show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, but not quite the kind you might have been expecting as Spurs beat Manchester United 4-3 on one of the silliest games in recent memory.

The match featured a whopping four goalkeeping errors, two by each side, plus what was essentially an own-goal to finish it off.

In the end, Spurs would barely survive to become the fourth and final side to qualify for the EFL Cup semifinals.

The first half featured a lively but still somewhat muted back-and-forth affair. It was highlighted by a Dominic Solanke opener in the 15th minute off a poor moment by Man United backup keeper Altay Bayindir who was rotated in to give Andre Onana some rest.

Spurs would find themselves 3-0 up just 10 minutes into the second half, with Dejan Kulusevski scoring less than a minute after the restart and Solanke grabbing his brace shortly after, seemingly putting the home side well and truly through into the semifinals. Oh, if we only knew what would come.

From there Fraser Forster gifted Man United not one but two goals to see them right back in it, first passing the ball right to Bruno Fernandes on the end line to see Joshua Zirkzee score, before he was dispossessed by Amad Diallo who tackled the ball into the net.

With 20 minutes to go, United were on the hunt for a sensational equalizer, but Heung-Min Son scored an all-important fourth for Spurs by bagging an Olimpico, the corner delivery sailing over Bayindir who judged it horribly.

Spurs wouldn't go through without one more calamitous error in stoppage time, as Yves Bissouma essentially headed the ball in his own net off a corner.

Bissouma was only saved on the scoresheet by a slight deflection off the head of Johnny Evans which officially gave the United defender the goal.

In the end, Tottenham saw their names amongst the semifinalists, but they did so in as nervy and embarrassing a fashion imaginable.

The Sporting News followed the Tottenham vs. Man United match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights

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Tottenham vs. Man United final score

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, England)
Referee: John Brooks

Keep track of every game and every goal via SN's live Premier League scoreboard

Starting lineups:

Tottenham (4-2-3-1, right to left): 20. Fraser Forster (GK) — 23. Pedro Porro, 6. Radu Dragusin, 14. Archie Gray, 24. Djed Spence (Reguilon, 90') — 29. Pape Sarr, 8. Yves Bissouma — 21. Dejan Kulusevski, 10. James Maddison (Bergvall, 79'), 7. Heung-Min Son — 19. Dominic Solanke.

Man United (3-4-3, right to left): 1. Altay Bayindir (GK) — 6. Lisandro Martinez, 2. Victor Lindelof (Evans, 45'), 15. Lenny Yoro — 3. Noussair Mazraoui, 14. Christian Eriksen (Mainoo, 56'), 25. Manuel Ugarte (Garnacho, 72'), 20. Diogo Dalot — 21. Antony (Diallo, 56'), 9. Rasmus Hojlund (Zirkzee, 56'), 8. Bruno Fernandes.

MORE: Marcus Rashford 'ready for new challenge' away from Man United

Tottenham vs. Man United live updates, highlights and commentary from EFL Cup

Tottenham vs. Man United stats

FULLTIME: Tottenham 4-3 Man United

Tottenham barely survive an absolutely absurd match! The hosts went ahead 3-0 before trying extremely hard to cough it up, but Heung-Min Son's Olimpico proves the difference in the end! What a wild game!

90+4 min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT MAKE THIS UP! YVES BISSOUMA HAS HEADED A CORNER INTO HIS OWN NET!

On replay, Johnny Evans will claim it as it's clipped off his head last, but Bissouma was the one to initiate the redirection of the ball towards his own goal! Four goalkeeping errors, and now what is essentially an own-goal!

VIDEO: Watch the Man United goal in the UK

90+1 min: Tottenham make a substitution as Djed Spence is replaced by Sergio Reguilon. Bruno Fernandes is booked shortly after.

88th min: GOAL! TOTTENHAM! HEUNG-MIN SON SCORES STRAIGHT FROM A CORNER!

It's yet another truly awful goalkeeping moment, as Altay Bayindir misjudges the flight of the ball and sees it sail over his head into the top corner! That's a delicious moment for Son bagging the Olimpico, but for Bayindir, my word that's poor.

The Man United goalkeeper is screaming for a foul, but all he gets is a booking. Replays show slight contact by Lucas Bergvall on the goalkeeper, but there's absolutely nothing in that. He's just misjudged it! The comeback is in tatters!

VIDEO: Watch the Tottenham goal in the USA | Watch in the UK

79th min: A change for Spurs as James Maddison is withdrawn for James Bergvall, as Ange Postecoglou knows his midfield needs more solidity.

74th min: Chance, Man United! It's delicious from Manchester United who build possession quickly into the attacking third at pace before working it around from left to right. It ends up with Noussair Mazraoui from a tight angle, but he flashes his shot just wide of the far post!

United have their tails up and have snatched all the momentum, can they produce a sensational equalizer?

72nd min: Ruben Amorim smells blood in the water and has gone for the throat, bringing on Alejandro Garnacho to replace Manuel Ugarte. It was a wonder why Garnacho didn't start, with Antony selected from the off, but he's got his chance now.

70th min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! MY OH MY, FRASER FORSTER WITH ANOTHER DISASTROUS ERROR! And this one's even worse than the last!

The Tottenham goalkeeper takes a back-pass from Archie Gray, and he takes ages to decide what to do with the ball! In the end, Amad Diallo comes sliding in and tackles the ball straight into the back of the net before Forster could release a pass!

VIDEO: Watch Man United goal in USA | Watch in UK

67th min: Chance, Man United! Goodness me, Spurs are suddenly rattled completely out of nowhere! Fraser Forster concedes a very silly corner while in possession, and with the set-piece Amad Diallo produces a deflected shot which slowly skitters just inches wide of the far post!

What on earth are the hosts doing? They were 3-0 up and well through to the semifinals and suddenly they've put themselves under a torrent of Man United pressure!

63rd min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! Moments after being denied by a great save, Joshua Zirkzee pulls Man United one back! It's an absolutely CALAMITOUS moment for Spurs, as Fraser Forster gives the ball straight to Bruno Fernandes basically on the end line! He feeds Zirkzee right on the goal mouth for a gift of a lifeline!

Game on? Maybe?

VIDEO: Watch Zirkzee goal in USA | Watch in UK

62nd min: Chance, Man United! Joshua Zirkzee has just come on and is immediately denied by a wonderful Fraser Forster save! An excellent cross from deep in the left corner flies over the head of Archie Gray, who misjudges the flight of the ball, and it lands right on the forehead of Zirkzee who aims for the lower right-hand corner of the net. Yet Forster scrambles across so well and makes a brilliant save!

57th min: Dejan Kulusevski is absolutely skewering Manchester United today. He goes on a run down the right flank which leaves two defenders on their backside before a wild Lisandro Martinez hack pumps the ball out for a corner. He's absolutely cooking today.

54th min: GOAL! TOTTENHAM! Ruben Amorim is set to make a few attacking changes, but before he can do so, Dominic Solanke makes it 3-0! The hosts have run riot since the start of the second half!

Solanke makes a great run near the midfield stripe and Djed Spence finds him, clearly onside despite protests from the United defenders. He gets one-on-one with Lenny Yoro and beats him, putting Ruben Amorim's rotated side to bed.

The changes come too late now, as Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee, and Kobbie Mainoo all enter to replace Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, and Christian Eriksen.

VIDEO: Watch Solanke goal in USA | Watch in UK

46th min: GOAL! TOTTENHAM! Dejan Kulusevski scores 50 seconds into the second half! A lateral cross by James Madisson deflects off a Lisandro Martinez and falls right to Kulusevski's feet! He's deserved that, the best player on the pitch today so far!

It's now four games for Kulusevski in his last four games!

VIDEO: Watch Kulusevski goal in UK

2nd half kickoff: The ball is rolling as the second half is now under way. No changes for either side as we get going once again.

HALFTIME: Tottenham 1-0 Man United

There's been a lot of attacking intent by both sides, but not too much quality at the end of it, as Dominic Solanke's goal is the difference at the halftime break.

Dejan Kulusevski played well in the attacking third to get Spurs into dangerous positions, while Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund were both bright for United as well. Christian Eriksen's had two good opportunities blocked on poor low finishes, while Victor Lindelof was forced off due to another injury.

United need some inspiration in the final third to finish the good attacking moves, and there's definitely more goals in this game come the second half. The match is very much there for the taking for either side.

45+2 min: Chance, Man United! Christian Eriksen's had another brilliant chance blocked from exactly the same shooting position and almost exactly the same defender placement! It's a carbon copy of the first opportunity! Twice in the first half he's been denied!

44th min: There's a real worry here for Manchester United as Victor Lindelof, who has been beset by injuries all year long, has been forced off due to injury. Johnny Evans will enter in his place just a few ticks before halftime. Lindelof looks incredibly frustrated and disheartened.

34th min: Dejan Kulusevski, who's been bright (or as the commentator calls it, "full of beans"), gets on the ball inside the left edge of the six-yard box. Cut off from the near post, he waits for support to arrive before delivering a ball laterally to the face of goal, but it's blocked out for a corner by a sliding Lisandro Martinez.

25th min: Chance, Tottenham! And now Noussair Mazraoui does get the yellow card he probably deserved minutes ago as he got to a 50/50 ball late and put Djed Spence flat on his stomach.

On the ensuing free-kick, the ball comes to Dejan Kulusevski down the left edge of the penalty area, and his vicious tight-angle shot is saved by Altay Bayindir who covers his near post awkwardly but well enough.

23rd min: Pape Sarr is booked for a painful foul in midfield on Bruno Fernandes. He was covering the space vacated by Pedro Porro who had pushed way up the pitch.

22nd min: Chance, Man United! Christian Eriksen has a free hit at the top of the penalty area as he latches onto a lateral feed from Diogo Dalot on the left, but it's blocked by Yves Bissouma right before reaching the goal mouth!

In the aftermath, Noussair Mazraoui is lucky not to be booked for a bad and silly foul on the touchline near the corner flag that ends the attacking possession.

21st min: Pedro Porro makes an extremely awkward but effective tackle on Bruno Fernandes to keep the Man United star from having a free shot on goal! Man United play direct and over the top, and it almost works out.

15th min: GOAL! TOTTENHAM! Dominic Solanke scores the opener after a disapponting moment from backup United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir! Pedro Porro takes a shot from acres outside the top of the penalty area, and while the effort has real pace, it's not placed well and ends up in the middle of the net.

Bayindir doesn't react well, and can only parry the ball, which he does straight into the path of Solanke who remains onside and pounces for an easy finish! Ruben Amorim's squad rotation crops up as an early weakness!

VIDEO: Watch Tottenham goal in USA | Watch in the UK

12th min: Chance, Man United! Oh dear, Rasmus Hojlund is clean through on goal but can't even get a shot off! The Man United striker is played in brilliantly by a wonderful Bruno Fernandes vertical ball that sees him perfectly split the two Spurs center-backs down the middle.

Yet Hojlund doesn't have the pace or first touch necessary to get truly past the defenders, and before he can shoot he's dispossessed from behind by Radu Dragusin. A really big chance goes begging!

10th min: Manchester United have the first corner of the match, which is punched away awkwardly by Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster. The Red Devils have had the majority of the possession, but Spurs have looked very dangerous with a few counter-attack moves.

A lively start to this game, even with just the one real quality chance for either side.

2nd min: Chance, Tottenham! Yves Bissouma wins the ball in midfield and springs a Spurs counter, which is run well by Heung-Min Son. He finds Dejan Kulusevski on the left with a vertical ball, who looks to return it back to Son with a quality cutback, but it's just inches behind the South Korea international and cleared. That's close to an early goal!

Kickoff: They're under way in London at the home of Tottenham Hotspur! The 2024/25 Carabao Cup awaits the decision of who will be the last semifinal participant.

Tottenham vs. Man United: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: Easily the player with the biggest spotlight on them today will be Manchester United winger Antony, who has struggled mightily to justify his hefty price tag in his time with the Red Devils so far. It's a big call from Ruben Amorim to pick him in this spot over the likes of Alejandro Garnacho who is just coming off his Puskas Award win.

Bayindir, Lindelof, Eriksen and Antony all starting for Man United vs Spurs. Garnacho on the bench. No Rashford.

— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) December 19, 2024

30 mins to kickoff: You can find our predictions and best bets for this match here.

Both these teams have lacked any semblance of consistency this season, making this match extremely hard to predict, but we've gone for Manchester United to punish Tottenham for their weaknesses.

45 mins to kickoff: This clash is the final quarterfinal showdown with Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool already qualified for the semifinals and here are the full details to be held after this clash!

1 hour to kickoff: TEAM NEWS IS IN!

The main focus for United is the absence of Rashford entirely - but Amorim names a strong team - with Rasmus Hojlund leading the attack. Yves Bissoma and Pedro Porro start for Spurs.

Team news locked in 🔒

🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/QjA7bxwQmx

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 19, 2024

📣 UNITED! 📣#MUFC || #CarabaoCup

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 19, 2024

1 hour 20 mins to kickoff: Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News reports that Rashford has not arrived with the United squad, which was expected after reports yesterday that he had not travelled to London with the team. Neither has Matthijs de Ligt, which is a surprise.

The #mufc squad arrives at Tottenham. No Marcus Rashford, as expected. No Matthijs de Ligt either pic.twitter.com/6tZgXIdEq7

— Tyrone Marshall (@TyMarshall_MEN) December 19, 2024

1 hour 25 mins to kickoff: The home side have arrived. They haven't won here since November 3, but they're fresh off a 5-0 hammering of Southampton. Would anyone care to take a guess as to how they'll perform today? Course you wouldn't.

In the building 🏡 pic.twitter.com/x63s72ddEE

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 19, 2024

📣 UNITED! 📣#MUFC || #CarabaoCup

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 19, 2024

1 hour 45 mins to kickoff: It's an interesting quirk of fate that United's first two Carabao Cup wins this season — a 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley, and a 5-2 win over Leicester City — each came under two different managers: Erik ten Hag oversaw the first, while Ruud van Nistelrooy was in caretaker charge for the second. How will Amorim get on in his competition debut?

Both of @ManUtd’s #CarabaoCup wins this season have come under different managers!

Ruben Amorim takes charge of the Red Devils in this competition for the first time this evening. Can he replicate their previous results? 👀🏆#EFL pic.twitter.com/HPhvJYWDOo

— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) December 19, 2024

2 hours to kickoff: A major storyline from the Manchester derby was the exclusion of Marcus Rashford, whose future with the club is once again in question. Rashford himself told the media he might "look for a new challenge" this coming transfer window but also admitted he is cracking on in the near future in the hopes of getting some playing time.

The EFL Cup could have been just the chance for Ruben Amorim to hand Rashford a start and let him prove he can contribute. However, the England international has been reportedly left out of the squad entirely once again, a strong signal that Rashford's future lies elsewhere.

🚨 Marcus Rashford: “It’s disheartening to be left out of a Derby… but it’s happened, we won the game so let's move on”.

“It’s disappointing but I’m also someone as I’ve got older I can deal with setbacks. What to do? Cry about it? Or do my best the next time I’m available”. pic.twitter.com/SHbSf2EOa8

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 17, 2024

Tottenham vs. Man United kickoff time

This 2024/25 EFL Cup quarterfinal match kicks off from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. local time in London, England.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

Tottenham vs. Man United lineups, team news, starting 11

Tottenham have an increasingly lengthy injury list to trouble Ange Postecoglou. Most recently, Destiny Udogie went off injured against Southampton with quad tightness, and while it doesn't sound like he'll miss much time, he misses out tonight.

That strains the already depleted defensive depth, with Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Ben Davies all out a few more weeks. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is out through at least February with an ankle injury, while Richarlison remains out with a hamstring problem.

Tottenham starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Forster (GK) — Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence — Sarr, Bissouma — Kulusevski, Maddison, Son — Solanke.

Tottenham subs: Whiteman (GK), Austin (GK), Dorrington, Hardy, Reguilon, Olusesi, Bergvall, B. Johnson, Lankshear.

Ruben Amorim has dropped Marcus Rashford from the squad amid major speculation over the England international's future but Alejandro Garnacho returns to the bench.

Antony gets the call on the front line with Mason Mount again going down injured.

Man United starting lineup (3-4-3): Bayindir (GK) — Martinez, Lindelof, Yoro — Dalot, Eriksen, Ugarte, Mazraoui — Antony, Hojlund, Fernandes.

Man United subs: Onana (GK), Maguire, Evans, Malacia, Casemiro, Mainoo, Garnacho, Amad Diallo, Zirkzee.

Tottenham vs. Man United live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Carabao Cup match across selected areas of the world's major regions: