Late Ake winner ensures Man City knock out Spurs
Nathan Ake's late goal gave Manchester City their first victory in six visits to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a place in the FA Cup fifth round.
![Man City - Figure 1](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/96x96/p079635f.png)
City looked likely to have to settle a replay after missing a succession of chances before Ake scored their first goal at this stadium after five successive defeats with two minutes left as Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario failed to hold Kevin de Bruyne's corner under pressure from Ruben Dias.
It was a bitter blow to Spurs after a defiant rearguard action but just reward for City, who had been the better side only to miss the opportunities that had come their way before Ake bundled home from close range.
Spurs barely registered an attack threat, while City had an early Oscar Bobb strike ruled out for offside, Vicario also saving well from Bernardo Silva. De Bruyne was uncharacteristically wasteful with a golden opportunity after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had gifted possession to Phil Foden.
In a dramatic finale, with a replay looking certain, Ake struck to spark wild scenes of celebration among the 9,000 City fans who had made the journey to north London.
How did you rate Spurs' performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Manchester City's performance? Send us your views hereFollow reaction to all Friday's four FA Cup gamesMan City's late show seals victoryManchester City only arrived at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 70 minutes before kick-off because of the heavy Friday night traffic in London - then left it late to clinch a win they thoroughly deserved on the balance of play.
![Man City - Figure 2](http://m.files.bbci.co.uk/modules/bbc-morph-sport-player-rater-view/4.0.12/images/placeholder.png)
Spurs were caught up in a rush of Manchester City pressure for much of the game but held out despite being forced back. It almost worked by earning a replay but Pep Guardiola's side are always likely to produce one moment that makes the difference. And so it proved here.
It may not have had the beauty that characterises so many of their goals, as Ake scored amid a near-post scramble, but this did not stop joyous scenes after the final whistle, with manager Guardiola especially animated.
City's triumph will taste even sweeter because it came at a stadium that had brought them nothing other than misery until this FA Cup fourth-round tie.
There is a clear sense that City are kicking into top gear, with some of their early play scintillating, giving off the formidable air that is their trademark at this stage of the season.
The impending return of striker Erling Haaland will only add to their confidence as they chase the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. For now, this is a win they will relish.
BBC Sport has a dedicated Spurs page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it hereAll the best Manchester City news and views in one placeSpurs left frustrated as Maddison returnsSpurs would have been fortunate to come away with a replay from a game in which they were second best but to come so close and go out of the FA Cup will leave manager Ange Postecoglou and his players nursing real disappointment.
![Man City - Figure 3](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/96x96/p0796142.png)
They relived their 1981 FA Cup final win over Manchester City, dramatically secured by Ricky Villa's mazy dribble to win a Wembley replay, when four members of that team - Osvaldo Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, Graham Roberts and Paul Miller - were paraded at half-time.
There was to be no repeat here. Further glories will have to wait as the avenue for another trip to Wembley was closed off by this impressive City side, with Spurs' failure to score ending a run of 35 games without a blank and highlighting the absence of talismanic captain Son Heung-min, who is at the Asian Cup with South Korea.
Micky van de Ven was outstanding in defence while Vicario was secure until he could not hold on to De Bruyne's corner, giving Ake the chance to pounce. Spurs hoped in vain that the video assistant referee might detect a foul by Dias on Vicario but the decision to give the goal was correct.
Spurs must now turn their attentions to staying in touch with the Premier League's leading pack; they currently lie fifth. The return of James Maddison as a substitute after being out with an ankle injury since November will be a boost to that effort but this is a loss that will hurt.
![Man City - Figure 4](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/96x96/p07961sy.png)
Player of the match
FodenPhil Foden
with an average of 6.77
Squad number37Player namevan de Ven
Squad number17Player nameRomero
Squad number38Player nameUdogie
Squad number23Player namePorro
Squad number13Player nameVicario
Squad number16Player nameWerner
Squad number30Player nameBentancur
Squad number21Player nameKulusevski
Squad number22Player nameJohnson
Squad number5Player nameHøjbjerg
Squad number10Player nameMaddison
Squad number4Player nameSkipp
Squad number44Player nameScarlett
Squad number9Player nameRicharlison
Squad number47Player nameFoden
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number6Player nameAké
Squad number11Player nameDoku
Squad number2Player nameWalker
![Man City - Figure 5](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/96x96/p0795yxq.png)
Squad number52Player nameBobb
Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number18Player nameOrtega
Squad number24Player nameGvardiol
Formation 4-2-3-1
13VicarioBooked at 88mins23PorroBooked at 90mins17Romero37van de Ven38UdogieBooked at 59mins30BentancurSubstituted forMaddisonat 73'minutes5HøjbjergSubstituted forScarlettat 90+1'minutes22JohnsonSubstituted forSkippat 72'minutes21Kulusevski16Werner9RicharlisonSubstitutes4Skipp6Dragusin10Maddison11Gil12Emerson Royal20Forster33Davies44Scarlett58SantiagoFormation 4-2-3-1
18Ortega2Walker3Rúben DiasBooked at 70mins6Aké24GvardiolBooked at 84mins16Rodri8KovacicBooked at 56mins47Foden20Bernardo Silva52BobbSubstituted forDokuat 65'minutesBooked at 90mins19ÁlvarezSubstituted forDe Bruyneat 65'minutesSubstitutes5Stones10Grealish11Doku17De Bruyne21Gómez27Nunes31Ederson76Susoho82LewisReferee:Paul Tierney
![Man City - Figure 6](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/94AD/production/_127816083_bbc_header_grey_8-1x-1.jpg)
Attendance:60,872
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 0, Manchester City 1.
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 0, Manchester City 1.
Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur).
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pedro Porro.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur).
Offside, Manchester City. Jérémy Doku is caught offside.
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Dane Scarlett is caught offside.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Dane Scarlett replaces Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
![Man City - Figure 7](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/BBBD/production/_127816084_bbc_footer-1920x38-1x-1.jpg)
Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 0, Manchester City 1. Nathan Aké (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the top left corner following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rodri.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Cristian Romero.
Attempt missed. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne following a corner.