London (AFP)

Manchester City and Leicester qualified small (1-0) for the English Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday against two D2 clubs, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham, while Tottenham were out by Norwich.

The men of Pep Guardiola, who appear to be scarecrows of the competition, after the elimination of Liverpool by Chelsea Tuesday (2-0), were serious, without more, facing the 12th of Championship which won only a match over the last 9 days.

Muzzled in the first period - 0 shots on target, a rarity for the Citizens - they were almost never worried by an opponent who practically waited the last ten minutes to try everything for all.

Unfortunately for the "Owls", Sergio Agüero, well found in the penalty area by a pass on the ground by Benjamin Mendy, had taken advantage of a hand foul of goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith to open the score after the locker room (1-0 54e).

In added time, Raheem Sterling, who entered shortly before, missed a huge opportunity alone against the goalkeeper and remains looking for his first goal in 2020.

Continuing immediately with Sky Blue in the league, Leicester, also had the greatest difficulty in the world to enforce logic against Birmingham (1-0).

Already struggling in the league, the Foxes had to wait to be eight minutes from the final whistle to find the opening by the head of their lateral defender Ricardo, receiving a cross at the far post (1- 0.82e).

- Spurs released on tabs -

In the third match of the evening, José Mourinho's Spurs, who are already dragging their legs in the league, let themselves be drawn in an overtime against the Norwich red lantern to finally be kicked out (1-1, 3- 2 to tab).

Tottenham opened the scoring with a header from Belgian Jan Vertonghen, found at the far post on a free kick, just before the quarter-hour mark (1-0, 13th).

But as far too often in this season, the London club have gradually left control of the match to their opponent, exposing themselves to some disappointment.

She ended up arriving on a shot from Kneny McLean that the third Spurs goalkeeper, Michael Vorm, established in the absence of Hugo Lloris, released for the greatest happiness of Josip Drmic who followed well (1-1, 79e).

The evening qualifiers, however, joined Arsenal in the quarterfinal on Monday, as did Newcastle, Chelsea and Sheffield United who had imitated him on Tuesday, while Manchester United faced Derby County (D2) on Thursday.

The draw for the quarterfinals was carried out in the evening and the poster will be the match between Leicester 3rd in the championship with Chelsea, the 4th.

Manchester City will move to Newcastle and Arsenal to Sheffield United, while Norwich will receive the winner of the last knockout round.

The matches will take place over the weekend of March 20-22.

Quarter-final draw:

Sheffield United - Arsenal

Newcastle - Manchester City

Norwich - Derby / Manchester United

Leicester - Chelsea

© 2020 AFP