As a resurgent Spurs held out, the Premier League winners once again suffered an early departure from a competition they used to dominate.

When Manchester City played Tottenham in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, Pep Guardiola used a number of young and fringe players. Despite the fact that his team had a lot of quality and experience, they fell 2-1 in north London, finishing second.Tottenham seized the lead with just six minutes remaining in play. Brennan Johnson flicked the ball forward after Archie Gray’s pass into the channel, sending Dejan Kulusevski reeling. Timo Werner was able to surge past Stefan Ortega after the Swede scampered to the byline and crossed low.

The visitors fell behind two goals halfway through the first half. Kulusevski set up Pape Matar Sarr on the box’s edge with a straightforward corner routine, and he curled his shot at the near post from 25 yards out.

Shortly before halftime, Matheus Nunes sprinted down the outside of Gray and fizzed a tease cross through the six-yard box, narrowly missing Phil Foden’s toes. This was City’s first chance. Savinho, however, twisted around Destiny Udogie and sent a beautiful cross up for Nunes to convert at the back post, giving City a lifeline in the last minute of first-half stoppage time.

Dominic Solanke spun away from two City players and sent Werner through against Ortega on the other side of halftime, but Werner missed his touch and his feeble shot flew beyond the far post, putting Tottenham out of sight. A few minutes later, when Kulusevski was as clear on goal, Ortega stuck up a strong hand to thwart him.  With Josko Gvardiol passing the ball straight to Richarlison, who inexplicably fumbled his lines when confronted by Ortega at close quarters, Guardiola’s team was in serious danger of being knocked out in the final ten minutes.

When Guglielmo Vicario flapped at a corner and the loose ball fell pleasantly for Nico O’Reilly, City had one more chance left. However, Yves Bissouma deflected the young player’s strike off the line, and the home team prevailed through six minutes of extra time.

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Goalkeeper & Defence

Stefan Ortega (6/10):

May come in for criticism for allowing Sarr’s strike to beat him at the near post, but he was a tad unsighted and the shot had such power behind it that it wasn’t a simple effort to deal with. Made some fine saves during the second half when Spurs threatened to run away with the game.

Rico Lewis (4/10):

The main reason Lewis’ blushes will be spared in the grander scheme of the game is Werner’s characteristic wastefulness. The German forward had the young full-back on toast for the most part.

John Stones (5/10):

As calm as ever when playing out from the rear, especially when Solanke is applying a lot of pressure. Spurs’ relentless and swift assaults in transition put him through his paces to counterbalance that.

Ruben Dias (6/10):

A last-minute addition to the line up after Akanji had to pull out. City’s best defender in the first half before he was taken off at the break for Gvardiol.

Nathan Ake (5/10):

caught well up the field before Tottenham’s first goal. After Gvardiol was brought in, he moved to center-back for the second half before being replaced in the closing minutes.

Midfield

Ilkay Gundogan (5/10):

As intelligent a player as the German is, he didn’t suit marshalling the midfield from the deepest position, continually losing runners in a testing first half. Replaced by Kovacic for the second 45.

James McAtee (5/10):

Maybe too much time was spent blocking the left-hand channel by standing in the same places as Nunes, the winger. showed off his lightning-fast reactions in moments of skill, but someone wearing a Spurs shirt would usually challenge him hard.

Nico O’Reilly (6/10):

The only City midfielder who felt comfortable enough to seize the ball and drive with it into the final third should have done it more often when Tottenham’s defense became obstructive. In a promising showing, Bissouma came very close to scoring with a goal-line clearing.

Attack

Savinho (7/10):

Stifled in the early stages before growing into the game once City found themselves two goals down. Didn’t really trouble Van de Ven during the Dutchman’s short time on the pitch before injury ended his evening. Had more joy taking on Udogie, though Savinho’s own night ended with him getting stretchered off after the hour mark.

Phil Foden (4/10):

Listen, it’s obvious Foden isn’t Haaland, but he also isn’t useful as a striker, full stop. Didn’t link up with his wingers at all and was hooked for Bernardo after 58 minutes.

Matheus Nunes (7/10):

The usually out-of-favour Portuguese has made the most of his recent excursions in a City shirt. Had the beating of Gray frequently given the teenage right-back was left to fend for himself. Capped off a fine first half with a well-taken goal.

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Subs & Manager

Mateo Kovacic (6/10):

Slightly more mobile than Gundogan alone in defensive midfield, though he was largely powerless to stop Tottenham’s counter-attacks.

Josko Gvardiol (5/10):

Likewise brought more mobility and fresh legs to the contest. Similarly had to do a lot of chasing going back towards his own goal.

Bernardo Silva (6/10):

City’s brightest spark during the last third of the game, even if that’s not saying too much. His impact was dampened after Richarlison was substituted on for Tottenham and provided Udogie with extra protection.

Jacob Wright (6/10):

Came on for Savinho for his second senior appearance of the season. Flashed a shot narrowly wide with one of his first touches.

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (6/10):

Made his senior debut for the final 17 minutes in place of Ake.

Pep Guardiola (5/10):

The Catalan was open about his main priority being to get City to the November international break, with good performances and winning results hopefully to follow. City failed on all three accounts in north London.