Sávio scores on debut as Tottenham rout Charlton in Carabao Cup tie

Tottenham beat Charlton at home in the Carabao Cup on 26 August 2026 as new signing Sávio scored on his debut and Spurs advanced with an emphatic victory.

Tottenham arrived at the new season seeking a lift after a 3-0 defeat at Brentford and a season in which they managed only four home wins, the last of which — over Everton on the final day last term — helped them avoid relegation. With no European football this term and the manager keen for a cup run, Roberto Di Zerbi fielded a lineup that mixed returning players and youngsters to begin the club’s clean-up operation.

Charlton suffered two early setbacks when centre-halves Collins Sichenje and Billy Koumetio were forced off injured in the 15th minute, Sichenje leaving on a stretcher, and the 6,000 travelling fans were vocal despite those blows. Spurs dominated possession but offered little threat until around the half-hour mark; Bentancur operated in the No 6 role flanked by Lucas Bergvall and Mateus Fernandes as Di Zerbi’s starting shape, and Charlton tested goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky through Greg Docherty’s long-range drive and Nathan Asiimwe’s headers.

The deadlock was broken by 19-year-old Mikey Moore when he drifted inside from the right and produced a left-footed strike from the edge of the area that beat Tiernan Brooks, the finish praised for its purity. Moore’s strike followed a growing tempo from Spurs after Kinsky’s save from Archie Gray, and Moore — whose only other Spurs goal came against Elfsborg in the Europa League in January 2025 and who earned a comparison to Neymar from James Maddison — drew prolonged applause from the home crowd.

Mistimed defending inside the Charlton box allowed Spurs to extend their lead when Lucas Bergvall saw a shot blocked and Timothy Ouma hesitated; Dominic Solanke reacted to sweep a clinical finish into the bottom corner. After the interval Di Zerbi introduced Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso; Danso’s first touch was a header from Mateus Fernandes’s free-kick that beat Brooks, leaving him bloodied after an aerial collision with Charlton substitute Danny McNamara.

Roberto Di Zerbi then sent on his £75m signing from Manchester City for his debut and Sávio made an immediate impact, scoring 11 minutes after coming on with a glide inside from the right and a fizzing low shot into the near corner. He later cut inside, feinted past one defender and escaped another before a shot struck his teammate Ben Davies and went in, adding to Spurs’ tally.

Charlton salvaged a late consolation when substitute Lloyd Jones headed home from a corner, but Spurs’ collection of goals ensured a comfortable progression. In other second-round action Bradford City beat Burnley 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes, with Bantams keeper Jon McCracken saving from Jacob Bruun Larsen after Zeki Amdouni had hit the post; Burnley head coach Nicky Hayen had made nine changes from Sunday’s defeat to West Brom and Bradford have kept four clean sheets in a row, earning a last-32 trip to Leyton Orient.

Standout third-round ties include Liverpool v Tottenham, Ipswich v Arsenal, Manchester United v Brighton, Coventry v Aston Villa and holders Manchester City v Norwich, with ties to be played in the weeks commencing 7 and 14 Sept.