Tottenham 4-3 Man United: Spurs reach semi-final as goalkeeping errors litter SEVEN-goal thriller, with Fraser Forster and Altay Bayindir at fault for two goals each

Ninety-five days after Ange Postecoglou reminded his doubters that he never won a trophy in his second season, Ossie Ardiles feels his knees starting to shake.

Ardiles was one of the Tottenham legends in the VIP seats, watching Postecoglou’s team reach the last four of the Carabao Cup in typical style, racing into a three-goal lead against Manchester United before hitting the panic button and clambered through it.

Two howlers in possession from goalkeeper Fraser Forster invited United back into the draw. First a misplaced pass to Radu Dragusin in his own six-yard area, allowing Bruno Fernandes to pounce and prompting Joshua Zirkzee to pull one back.

Then Forster took a poor touch to control a back pass from Archie Gray and it took him so long to get his feet back in the right place and tackle the clearance that Amad Diallo was able to attack his kick.

The rebound flew into Diallo’s net. United famously felt a backlash and Tottenham were gripped by fear, seemingly unable to remember what to do as shots crossed Forster’s goal.

A thrilling drive from Diallo from 25 yards was simply booted away by the former England goalkeeper.

It was a frantic finish when Spurs should have gone ahead until Son Heung-min calmed the nerves when he swerved from a corner in the fourth straight in the 88th minute.

Altay Bayindir claimed he was fouled by Lucas Bergvall, who jumped over him and deflected the United goalkeeper’s left arm, but the referees did not see the foul and there is no VAR in the Carabao Cup.

Jonny Evans headed in from a United corner to reduce the score to 4-3 in injury time, but Tottenham held on.

It’s a big statement for Postecoglou in his quest for Tottenham’s first trophy since they won the competition in 2008.

Ruben Amorim may have been impressed by the spirit of the battle, but ultimately had to accept defeat in his first domestic cup match.

Amorim explained Rashford’s absence as a ‘selection’ and that he had chosen the players he believed were ‘ready to face’, although the United boss did take the opportunity to make changes for his first national cup match.

Five of those who started the Manchester derby were substituted, including just a second start for Leny Yoro, the teenage midfielder. Alejandro Garnacho was back in the team.

Tottenham, meanwhile, were as strong as they could be from the start as the injury crisis continued.

Here were two teams looking at the competition from different perspectives. Spurs would take what Manchester United have written off as an abject failure since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson and see the five knockout trophies as a decade of resounding success.

Postecoglou’s team made the better start and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 15th minute. It came from a free-kick, which was taken short and went down the left to Son and then back over the edge of the penalty area to Pedro Porro, who took the goal despite being almost thirty yards away.

Porro sweetly tapped in and the ball whistled through a busy penalty area. Bayindir probably saw the shot emerge late and could only parry the shot and only push it back into his goal mouth.

Dominic Solanke was the only player to anticipate the possibility of a rebound. In a flash, an excellent finish, sharp on the half-volley, inside from the post, with Bayindir not getting a chance.

United’s players looked hopefully at a flag, but it was not there. There would also be no VAR intervention, which is not used in the Carabao Cup.

Tottenham gained confidence, started to stitch together passes more fluidly and forced the visitors to defend. Yves Bissouma, back after a one-match suspension, made his mark in midfield.

Djed Spence, who had to wait two and a half years for his first Spurs start, made his second in five days. This time replacing Destiny Udogie at left back and proving to be an attacking threat.

United resisted. Bayindir made amends with a save at his near post to deny Dejan Kulusevski, who took a short pass from a free kick and turned Bruno Fernandes into the penalty area as if he wasn’t there.

The Swedish international probably should have scored. From a certain angle he opted for power at the nearest post. Bayindir held his ground and made the block.

Manuel Ugarte made another crucial interception, racing back to clear Kulusevski’s low cross. Amorim’s back three spent most of the half as a back five and his team were limited in advancing flickers on the counter-attack.

Christian Eriksen registered their first few tries. One was blocked by Bissouma, another whistled over from a free kick that came in from the left and skimmed over the roof of the net on the way.

Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund shot wide from distance, as United created some pressure just before half-time. They took advantage of the space opened up by Porro at right back, always dangerous with Diego Dalot on the overlap.

But they suffered a setback when they lost centre-back Victor Lindelof to a new injury.

Lindelof has struggled to regain fitness this season after a toe problem and looked utterly dejected as he trudged off in stoppage time at the end of the first half and was replaced by Jonny Evans.

Tottenham compounded their problems by targeting more sloppiness in United’s defense and extending their lead in the opening seconds of the second half.

James Maddison tore past Heung-min Son on the overlap. Lisandro Martinez was in the right place to intercept Maddison’s low cross, but his free ball was terrible. With the outside of his boot he passed the ball straight to Kulusevski, who cheerfully fired it into the net from close range.

Solanke made it three with a fine solo goal, his ninth of the season. His willingness to go behind is crucial for Tottenham and here he broke away into a left channel, before going square past Martinez and Evans and finishing low inside the post with his right foot.

Amorim sent on Zirkzee, Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo, Spurs fell asleep and Forster, who had made a fantastic save from Zirkee’s header, revived the tie with errors with the ball at his feet.

And Son settled it with a bizarre goal.