Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the Carabao Cup second round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, with new signing Savio capping a comfortable night by scoring just minutes into his debut.
The Brazilian winger, signed from Manchester City for a reported £85 million, struck in the 82nd minute and was involved again as Ben Davies deflected his effort in for the fifth goal three minutes later.
The match had looked like a routine cup night almost from the first whistle, with Mikey Moore breaking the deadlock in the 41st minute and Dominic Solanke adding a second on the stroke of half-time to silence any nerves in north London.
The cushion allowed manager Roberto De Zerbi to rotate heavily after a demanding start to the campaign, and his changes paid off almost instantly.
Match Stats and Milestones
Kevin Danso stepped off the bench in the second half and needed just one touch to make it 3-0, finding the net in the 67th minute with what reports described as his first contribution of the night.
Moore’s early strike and Solanke’s clinical finish gave Tottenham control, but it was the flurry from the substitutes that turned a professional win into a statement one. The home side’s late flurry summed up the depth De Zerbi now has at his disposal.
Savio’s arrival from Manchester City had only been confirmed the day before the fixture, yet he looked immediately at home in the front line, gliding past markers before finishing low to make it 4-0.
Lloyd Jones pulled one back for Charlton in the 87th minute, but Spurs had the last word when Davies turned Savio’s effort past his own goalkeeper.
| Moment | Player | Minute |
|---|---|---|
| 1-0 | Mikey Moore | 41′ |
| 2-0 | Dominic Solanke | 45+’ |
| 3-0 | Kevin Danso | 67′ |
| 4-0 | Savio | 82′ |
| 4-1 | Lloyd Jones | 87′ |
| 5-1 | Ben Davies (deflected off Savio) | 85′ |
Tactical Shape and Squad Context
De Zerbi fielded a side blending Premier League regulars with fringe players hungry to impress, and the system stayed true to his preferred 4-2-3-1. Solanke led the line, Moore operated just behind, and the full-backs pushed high to overload Charlton’s low block. For more detail, see BBC Sport.
The visitors sat deep for long spells, which only opened spaces for the kind of cut-back moves that produced the opener.
Behind the scenes, the £85m move for Savio dominated the build-up, with reports from ESPN and The Athletic framing the Brazilian as a direct replacement for the wide creativity Tottenham lacked in tight games last season.
Danso’s introduction alongside him suggested De Zerbi sees both as immediate rotation options rather than slow-burn projects, especially with the Premier League and Europa League fixtures stacking up.
What’s Next for Spurs
The result sends Tottenham into the third round of the Carabao Cup, where the draw will take place later this week.
De Zerbi is expected to revert to a near full-strength XI for the Premier League trip that follows, but the performances of Moore, Danso, and Savio give him genuine selection headaches.
Charlton, meanwhile, exit the competition at the second-round stage and return to Championship action with a clearer picture of the gap they need to close.
For Savio, the debut goal was the perfect answer to questions about his
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FAQs
When did Spurs vs Charlton take place?
The Carabao Cup second-round tie was played on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, with kick-off at 7:45pm at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. For more detail, see BBC Sport.
Who scored for Tottenham against Charlton?
Mikey Moore (41′), Dominic Solanke (45+’), Kevin Danso (67′), and Savio (82′) all found the net, with Ben Davies adding a fifth via a deflection off Savio.
What was Savio’s transfer fee?
Reports link the Brazilian winger’s move from Manchester City to Tottenham at a fee of around £85 million, confirmed a day before the cup tie.
Who is Tottenham’s current manager?
Roberto De Zerbi is in charge of the Tottenham first team and oversaw the 5-1 win over Charlton in the Carabao Cup.
What is next for Tottenham in the Carabao Cup?
Spurs have advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup, with the draw scheduled to take place in the coming days.
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