Manchester City`s losing run at Tottenham is over. Its defense of the treble is very much alive. Nathan Ake struck in the 88th minute to secure a 1-0 win in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday. Defending champion City lost all of its previous five visits to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and failed to score. It looked like being another frustrating night until Ake`s late intervention. Even then, VAR had to confirm the goal after Spurs players complained goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was fouled by Ruben Dias before Ake poked home following a corner. "We trusted the way we played, we created multiple chances and had the belief to keep going even though we weren`t scoring," Ake said. "I thought it was never going to come."

Victory meant City`s defense of its trophy treble remained intact after winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup last season. Guardiola joked at the end of last season that he longed to finally score at Tottenham`s new stadium. He must have thought his team`s barren run would continue after failing to capitalise on a host of chances. Substitute Kevin De Bruyne missed the best of them when firing wide from inside the box. Oscar Bobb was denied an early goal, which was ruled marginally offside, and Julian Alvarez`s close-range shot was deflected wide after the break. Elimination from the cup likely ends Tottenham`s chances of a trophy.