Nathan Ake’s 88th-minute strike secures City’s progression, ending a five-game losing streak at Spurs’ stadium

Manchester City’s long-running struggle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finally came to an end as they triumphed 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round, thanks to a dramatic late goal from Nathan Ake. The win, secured in the 88th minute, was City’s first-ever goal in Tottenham’s new stadium, ending a five-match losing streak that had seen them fail to score.

The match was a tense affair, with City creating plenty of chances but struggling to break the deadlock. Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Jeremy Doku all missed significant opportunities. City’s best chance early on was ruled offside by the slimmest of margins after Oscar Bobb’s close-range rebound.

For much of the game, Tottenham had little control, with City finding spaces in the middle of the park. Without Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr, Spurs’ midfield looked vulnerable, and City exploited it well, with Mateo Kovacic frequently driving the ball forward. However, Spurs’ defence held strong, with key interventions from Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro preventing City from scoring.

As the game wore on, the tension grew. City continued to press, but Tottenham managed to hold them off, with the crowd becoming more engaged. With the clock winding down, Guardiola’s side finally broke the deadlock. After a scramble in the box following a corner, Ake pounced on a loose ball and poked it home, sparking wild celebrations.

Tottenham’s appeals for a foul on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario were rejected after a VAR review, and the goal stood. This victory keeps City’s treble hopes alive, and they will now progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

In other FA Cup news, Chelsea will face a replay against Aston Villa, while Nottingham Forest also had to settle for a draw at Bristol City.