Son Heung-min stunned fans with a direct goal from a corner kick, a rare and remarkable feat. With this, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United to secure a spot in the Carabao Cup semifinals.
On the morning of December 20 (KST), Tottenham triumphed 4-3 in the 2024–2025 EFL Carabao Cup quarterfinals against Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Son started as the left winger in Tottenham’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
In the 15th minute, Pedro Porro launched a daring long-range shot from over 30 meters out, which United’s goalkeeper Altay Bayındır deflected. However, Dominic Solanke capitalized on the rebound, scoring the opening goal with a sharp right-footed shot.
Early in the second half, James Maddison received a pass from Son on the left and delivered a low, quick cross. Although Manchester United’s defense initially blocked it, Dejan Kulusevski seized the loose ball and tapped it in, extending Tottenham’s lead to 2-0.
In the 54th minute, Solanke again made his mark, controlling a long pass inside the box before dribbling and firing a low right-footed shot into the net, pushing Tottenham to a commanding 3-0 lead.
Manchester United retaliated in the 63rd minute, pressuring Tottenham’s goalkeeper Fraser Forster into a mistake. Bruno Fernandes calmly passed to Joshua Zirkzee, who finished with his left foot into an open net.
Just seven minutes later, Forster mishandled a back pass, and Amad Diallo’s aggressive challenge caused the ball to ricochet into Tottenham’s net, narrowing the score to 3-2.
Manchester United continued their relentless pursuit. Tottenham attempted to regain control by substituting Lucas Bergvall for Maddison, but the match remained tense.
The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when Son delivered a jaw-dropping goal directly from a corner kick. Taking the kick from the left, Son’s expertly curled shot found the net, leaving United’s goalkeeper helpless and sealing Tottenham’s victory. Son celebrated with outstretched arms, basking in the glory of his incredible achievement.
In the fourth minute of added time, United’s Jonny Evans scored a consolation goal from a corner, but Son’s brilliance ensured Tottenham’s 4-3 victory.
Tottenham now advances to the semifinals, keeping their hopes of a trophy alive. With their last League Cup win dating back to 2007, the Carabao Cup presents a golden opportunity for Tottenham, currently sitting 10th in the Premier League, to claim silverware.
Tottenham’s semifinal rivals will include Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle United.
According to football analytics platform FootMob, Son recorded one goal, three shots, one chance created, one successful dribble, and two tackles during the 90 minutes, earning a match rating of 7.9, the third highest in the team.
The UK’s Express praised Son’s performance, noting, “Though he drifted in and out of the game, he was always threatening when on the ball and ultimately resolved the match with a late goal,” awarding him a score of 8. Kulusevski and Solanke, who each received a 9, were the only teammates rated higher.
Fans who watched the match couldn’t contain their excitement, leaving comments such as, “That corner kick was incredible. There’s no type of goal Son can’t score now,” and “I saw it live—absolutely amazing. Gave me chills.”