Tottenham’s Late Heroics Rescue Win Over Coventry in Carabao Cup Thriller
Tottenham Hotspur pulled off a dramatic late turnaround to secure a 2-1 victory over Coventry City in the third round of the Carabao Cup. It wasn’t a performance to be proud of for much of the game, but late goals from substitutes Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson saved the day for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Coventry, the Championship team that nearly doubled their lead several times, was unfortunate not to capitalize on their strong performance. Brandon Thomas-Asante gave them the lead in the second half, and Spurs struggled to respond for much of the game. Ellis Simms also came close twice to doubling Coventry's advantage, as Tottenham looked vulnerable. Despite their shaky start to the season and a host of changes from their previous match against Arsenal, Spurs found themselves on the back foot.
Also Read:It wasn’t until the introduction of James Maddison, Son Heung-Min, and Dejan Kulusevski late in the game that Spurs began to show signs of life. Djed Spence’s equalizer came in the 88th minute, as he poked home a crucial goal after Kulusevski set him up. Just moments later, Rodrigo Bentancur sent Brennan Johnson through on goal, and the Welsh winger coolly slotted home the winner in stoppage time. Johnson’s goal was a moment of redemption after he had faced online abuse following Spurs’ defeat in the North London Derby just days earlier. His response on the field silenced critics and gave Tottenham a much-needed win.
Ange Postecoglou praised his team’s “spirit and character,” particularly in the final stages, which have been absent in Tottenham’s previous matches this season. However, he conceded that the team had struggled for large parts of the game. Spurs were often outplayed by a spirited Coventry side, particularly in the midfield, where new signings Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall made their first starts but couldn’t match the tempo Coventry set.
Postecoglou’s decision to rotate his squad, making eight changes from the Arsenal game, was a gamble. While it allowed key players to rest ahead of a congested schedule, the second-tier side dominated for large periods. The inclusion of youngsters and fringe players like Djed Spence, who came on as a substitute to make a decisive impact, proved crucial in the end.
Spurs’ fans will be relieved to see their team progress to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, a competition they haven’t won since 2008. Postecoglou is well aware of the pressures at Tottenham, where silverware has been elusive for over a decade. With the Premier League presenting a tough challenge, this competition offers a more realistic chance at a trophy, one that Postecoglou might need to secure in his second season to maintain his impressive streak of title-winning second years in charge.
While Tottenham’s victory brought joy, it also highlighted some ongoing concerns. They struggled to convert possession into meaningful chances for most of the game, a pattern that has plagued their early-season form. Fraser Forster’s performance in goal raised eyebrows, with some questioning whether he’s the right backup for Guglielmo Vicario. Still, the focus for now is on the relief of a late win and the hope that Spurs can build on this momentum as they push forward in multiple competitions.
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