It’s that time of the season where the FA Cup is just starting up and the League Cup is about to wrap up. In the first-leg of this year’s semi-finals Spurs hosted Chelsea and Burton Albion played Man City at the Etihad.
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea
1-0
Harry Kane‘s first-half penalty gave the hosts a slender lead. Referee Michael Oliver awarded the 26th minute spot-kick after consulting VAR for offside and Chelsea goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga‘s foul on the England captain.
Both sides had chances in a fiery meeting between the London rivals. Blue’s manager Maurizio Sarri will feel hopes of reaching the final are still very much alive, especially with the second leg coming at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea hit the woodwork twice in the first half, through N’Golo Kante‘s flick and again when Spurs keeper Paulo Gazzaniga turned Callum Hudson-Odoi‘s deflected shot away onto the post.
Andreas Christensen missed a golden opportunity from six yards out and Arrizabalaga produced a fine save from Kane to keep this semi-final in the balance.
Up Next:
League Cup
Chelsea v Spurs – Thursday, January 24th (2:45pm)
Premier League
Spurs v Man United – Sunday, January 13th (11:30am)
Chelsea v Newcastle – Saturday, January 12th (12:30pm)
Manchester City v Burton Albion
9-0
The hosts found the back of the net nine times as they thrashed League One side Burton Albion in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at the Etihad.
Gabriel Jesus scored four. Kevin de Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil fodder, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez also added their names to the scoresheet.
The results sees the first time in more than 31 years that City have scored more than eight goals in a single match – they beat Huddersfield 10-1 in a second-tier league game in November of 1987. It also means that the Manchester club have scored 16 goals in four days after thrashing Rotherham United 7-0 in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The second leg, which is now merely a formality, will take place at the Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday, January 23rd, with the final taking place at Wembley on Sunday, February 24th.
City will face either Spurs or Chelsea in the final. Tottenham take a 1-0 lead into their second-leg at Stamford Bridge.
Up Next:
League Cup
Burton v Man City – Wednesday, January 23rd (2:45pm)
Premier League
Man City v Wolves – Monday, January 14th (3pm)
League One
Burton v Gillingham – Saturday, January 12th (10am)
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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