Spurs seal semi spot

Man City 0 Tottenham 2

Goals from Jermain Defoe and Steed Malbranque either side of Didier Zokora’s sending off gave them a hard-earned victory.

City went into the game looking to extend their 100% record in all competitions to 11 games but suffered their first home defeat Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Tottenham took the lead in the fifth minute following a swift break that caught City flat-footed.

Jermaine Jenas released Aaron Lennon with a clever through ball and he quickly delivered it into the area, where Defoe swept his close-range effort beyond Hart and into the corner.

Tottenham though were reduced to 10 men in the 21st minute when Zokora was sent off, for what ref Steve Bennett perceived was a lunge at Elano.

Ramos then decided to shake things up and brought on Teemu Tainio for a clearly disgruntled Defoe.

Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson then showed quick reflexes to turn over a header from Darius Vassell after a cross from Vedran Corluka.

But Tottenham added a second goal in the 82nd minute to make sure of their place in the last four.

Former Fulham midfielder Malbranque, drew Hart out of his goal before clipping a shot into the corner.

MAN CITY: Hart, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Garrido (Ball 77), Vassell (Mpenza 69), Johnson, Hamann (Geovanni 59), Petrov, Elano, Bianchi.

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Chimbonda, Zokora, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon (O’Hara 72), Jenas, Boateng, Malbranque (Huddlestone 88), Berbatov, Defoe (Tainio 23).

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).