London, January 26 (Lotus365 News) - In a thrilling FA Cup clash, Manchester City secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur, with Nathan Ake's scrappy 88th-minute goal proving decisive. The FA Cup holders had struggled to score at Tottenham's stadium since 2019 but broke the drought as Ake capitalized on a loose ball following a Kevin De Bruyne corner.
City's dominance was evident throughout the match, and Pep Guardiola praised his team's performance, stating, "Today we performed incredibly well. Everything pleased me, from minute one to 95 minute. We are trying to defend the title, and coming here is difficult."
In a separate encounter, Chelsea, eight-time FA Cup winners, were held to a goalless draw at home by Aston Villa, setting the stage for a replay at Villa Park. Despite creating chances, Chelsea couldn't find a way past Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.
Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry City battled to a 1-1 draw, with Djeidi Gassama's late equalizer securing Sheffield Wednesday another opportunity against their second-tier rivals.
In a closely contested match, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest also played out a 0-0 draw at Ashton Gate.
Guardiola acknowledged the challenge of playing at Tottenham and lauded his team's courage with and without the ball. City had dominated the first half, and Ake's goal eventually sealed their victory.
On the other hand, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed frustration at his team's lack of clinical finishing but emphasized the need to keep believing and move forward.
The FA Cup action continues to deliver surprises and excitement, and Lotus365 News remains your source for the latest updates on football and sports.
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