Sheffield United 1-0 Tottenham: Iliman Ndiay fires Blades into FA Cup quarter-final with win over Spurs

A late goal from Iliman Ndiaye helped Sheffield United beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Bramall Lane and progress to the FA Cup quarter-final.

It was an evenly contested first half, with both sides moving the ball patiently as they looked to create openings. Neither side looked to go direct but rather build up slowly from the back.

Spurs moved the ball well at times but failed to create anything clear cut. Lucas Moura clipped in a cross from the right-hand side which bounced off the top of the crossbar and back into play and that was about the best chance of the first half for Spurs.

The hosts failed to capitalise on a defensive error just before half time. Spurs got it all wrong at the back with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s header going straight into the path of Ismaila Coulibaly who could only blast his effort wide of the goal. A huge opportunity for the 22-year-old but it went begging.

Spurs started the second period with much more attacking intent, pushing forward and looking to impose themselves on the game. They sustained attacks, keeping the hosts penned in their own half but much like in the first half, Spurs didn’t ever really come close to scoring.

Sheffield United started to grow back into the game just before the hour mark, firing a series of crosses into the box as they looked to open the scoring. Tommy Doyle was able to get on the ball in space with more frequency and started to dictate the tempo for his side.

With the game looking like it was heading towards extra time, substitute Iliman Ndiaye popped up with a superb goal to put the hosts ahead. The 22-year-old was able to get on the ball in the box and wonderfully slalom past a couple of challenges before rifling his effort past Fraser Forster and into the back of the net.

Tottenham poured forward in search of an equaliser to take the game to extra time but it wasn’t to be for the North London side and it is Sheffield United who progress to the quarter-final of the FA Cup where they will face Blackburn Rovers.

TALKING POINT – AN OPPORTUNITY WASTED

Tottenham will be bitterly disappointed to go out of the FA Cup in the fifth round for the third consecutive year, but this season in particular feels like perhaps an even bigger opportunity than usual has been missed. With the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal already out of the competition, Spurs, had they progressed, would have been one of the three favourites to lift the trophy alongside the two Manchester clubs. Tonight’s defeat means that in the last five seasons, Spurs have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Everton, Norwich and Crystal Palace. Spurs’ last major trophy came back in 2008 when they won the League Cup under Juande Ramos and it feels like another big chance to end that drought has gone begging tonight.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – TOMMY DOYLE (SHEFFIELD UNITED)

Truthfully, the award could have went to several Blades players tonight, including the whole defence. However, Tommy Doyle was a class act in midfield for his side. His passing was crisp and accurate, his long passes helped his side switch the play and he worked remarkably hard off the ball doing his defensive duties. He made three tackles, five clearances and two interceptions. He didn’t stop running all night and thoroughly deserves to have been on the winning team.

PLAYER RATINGS

Sheffield United: Foderingham 8, Basham 8, Ahmedhodzic 8, Robinson 8, Osborn 7, Brooks 7, Doyle 9, Coulibaly 8, Baldock 7, McAtee 7, Sharp 7 Subs: Berge 6, Lowe 6, Ndiaye 8, Fleck N/A.

Tottenham Hotspur: Forster 6, Davies 6, Dier 7, Sanchez 6, Sarr 6, Porro 6, Hojbjerg 6, Perisic 7, Son 6, Richarlison 6, Lucas 6 Subs: Danjuma 6, Kane 6, Skipp 6, Kulusevski 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

39′ CROSSBAR! – Lucas Moura’s cross from the right-hand side clips the top of the crossbar and is back in play. That’s the closest either side has been to opening the scoring.

43′ A BIG CHANCE MISSED! – Tottenham get it all wrong at the back and the ball bounces to Ismaila Coulibaly who goes one-v-one but he can only fire his effort wide of the target! Hojbjerg will be mightily relieved that his short header was not punished.

79′ GOAL – SHEFFIELD UNITED – He’s been on the pitch a matter of minutes! Ndiaye finds space in the box on the left-hand side of the box, takes it past a few Spurs defenders before smashing it home at the near post!

90′ THAT WAS THE CHANCE! – A cross comes in to Harry Kane for a free header but the England striker can only power it down into the ground and wide of the target.

KEY STAT

Tottenham Hotspur go out of the FA Cup at the fifth round stage for the third consecutive season.