Sam Darnold has inspired confidence in his coach and teammates throughout this career-changing season. With the Vikings facing another late deficit, they had no doubt he’d deliver.

Darnold connected with a well-covered Justin Jefferson with 3:51 left for his third touchdown pass of the game, and Minnesota outlasted Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 on Sunday to keep pace with Detroit for the top spot in the NFC.

After the Seahawks took the lead on Smith’s third TD pass, Darnold led a 30-second drive that was aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty. He stepped up in a collapsing pocket and launched a deep ball that Jefferson hauled in just short of the goal line with two defenders closing in.

“There wasn’t really one guy — and I know I’m not speaking just for myself — (who didn’t think) we’re going to go down and we’re going to get a touchdown,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said.

“And I think the level of confidence that that group has in their quarterback and the level of confidence the quarterback has in the 10 guys in the huddle is significant. And that’s how you’re able to go do that in that moment on the road at this place where you can’t hear yourself think.”

Tottenham Hotspur survived a furious Manchester United comeback to reach the League Cup semi-finals with a 4-3 home victory in a gripping tie littered with bizarre errors on Thursday.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were cruising against a lacklustre United with Dominic Solanke’s double and a goal for Dejan Kulusevski putting them 3-0 up after 54 minutes.

But the home crowd were left chewing their fingernails as two terrible mistakes by their keeper Fraser Forster allowed substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo to give United hope.

There were still 20 minutes left when Diallo made it 3-2 and United were close to equalising on several occasions before Son Heung-min appeared to have sealed it in odd fashion, deceiving United keeper Altay Bayindir directly from a corner.

There was still time for Jonny Evans to head a third for United in stoppage time but a relieved Tottenham hung on to secure a two-legged semi-final against holders Liverpool.

Arsenal face Newcastle United in the other semi-final.

“Being 3-0 up we could have dealt with the game better, killed some time but we made it hard for ourselves, but the important thing is we won and we’re through,” Solanke said.

“That’s football, we stick together. Mistakes are a part of football, we dug in, we showed spirit and got the job done.”

Postecoglou’s side let a 2-0 lead slip to lose 4-3 at home to Chelsea in their last home game and for a while it looked as though their innate ability to shoot themselves in the foot was coming back to bite them.

In Johannesburg, these soccer players are preparing for the biggest game of their lives.

This time, however, the fans went home happy and Postecoglou moves a step closer to making good on his reputation for securing silverware in his second season at clubs and delivering a first cup for Spurs since they won the League Cup in 2008.

Tottenham are at full stretch because of injuries but still dominated Ruben Amorim’s side which showed five changes to the starting lineup that stunned Manchester City on Sunday but still had no place for want-away forward Marcus Rashford.

Solanke put the hosts in front in the 15th minute when Bayindir fumbled a well-hit shot by Pedro Porro and the striker fired in the rebound off the post.

Bruno Fernandes had a couple of efforts and Rasmus Hojlund volleyed wide but Tottenham were comfortable and in cruise control straight after the interval when Lisandro Martinez could only turn a James Maddison cut-back into the path of Kulusevski who made no mistake.

Solanke was then allowed to dribble across the area before sliding a shot inside the post in the 54th minute and the tie looked over as a contest.

But Forster then played a casual pass out of his area and Fernandes intercepted and the ball reached Zirkzee to tap in.

Forster then compounded that error by taking an age to make a routine clearance and Diallo slid in to charge down his kick and divert the ball into the net.

Tottenham looked a bundle of nerves as United swept forward but captain Son restored calm with an inswinging corner that went over the head of Bayindir to ripple the net.

Substitute Evans’ riposte came too late to save United who will regret the way they started the tie.

Marko Arnautovic and Kristjan Asllani scored in the first half as Inter Milan progressed to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia after claiming a 2-0 victory over Udinese at a rainy San Siro on Thursday.

A heavily rotated Inter side dominated proceedings and opened the scoring on the half-hour mark when Udinese gave the ball away in midfield and Mehdi Taremi’s through-ball found Arnautovic who finished low into the net.

The Austrian, who has had limited playing time this season, had earned Inter a penalty in the opening stages for a handball by an opposing defender that was later overturned after a VAR review.

“Asllani and I are among those who are on the bench a lot and to have a chance is a joy, then who scores is not important, the important thing was to win and go to the quarters,” Arnautovic, 35, told reporters.

“The whole team has always given me the motivation to give everything for Inter. It hasn’t been an easy period in recent weeks, but I have a contract with Inter, I want to give everything for this team, because they all know that I love it.”

The hosts doubled their lead just before halftime when Asllani scored directly from a corner kick, after a lengthy delay due to a medical emergency in the stands.

In Johannesburg, these soccer players are preparing for the biggest game of their lives.

Play had been halted for some six minutes before applause rang out from fans when the person being treated by medical staff was taken away on a stretcher.

In the second half, Inter sought to inflict more damage, and Taremi hit the woodwork with their best chance.

Lautaro Martinez, Inter’s top scorer last season, came on after an hour but also failed to find the net, extending a goal drought that has lasted more than a month.

Udinese looked toothless and had just one attempt on target in the game that saw striker Alexis Sanchez make his first start for the club since his return in the summer after 13 years.

Nine-time Coppa winners Inter will host Lazio in the next round in February.