Harry Kane brace has blown the Premier League title race open with a 3-2 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, giving their hopes of reaching the top four a vital shot in the arm.
Dejan Kulusevski fired the visitors ahead, only to be pegged back by Ilkay Gundogan. Harry Kane restored Tottenham’s lead and then had a goal disallowed by VAR.
VAR awarded the City a penalty in the dying minutes following a handball by Cristian Romero, which Riyad Mahrez dispatched.
However, Kane won the game for Antonio Conte’s with a precise header in stoppage time.
Starting Lineup:
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson;
Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo;
Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan;
Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling.
TOTTENHAM (3-4-3): Hugo Lloris;
Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Ben Davies;
Emerson Royal, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ryan Sessegnon;
Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min, Harry Kane.
Goals:
0-1. The visitors take the lead with a clinical break, and Kulusevski opens his Tottenham account with a simple finish. Kane releases Son behind the City line with a sublime through ball. The South Korea international races through on goal before he unselfishly tees up Kulusevski to sweep into an empty net.
1-1. Gundogan pounces on a spill by Lloris from Sterling’s cross and steers his effort home. Sterling raids down the left flank and curls a dangerous cross towards the near post. Lloris comes out to claim the delivery amid pressure from De Bruyne, but he spills it straight to Gundogan, who dispatches his strike into the back of the net.
1-2 Tottenham. The visitors restored their lead as Kane scores from close range from Son’s cross. The South Korean is afforded space and time on the left flank to deliver a cross into the box. Kane times his run to perfection to latch on to the delivery before guiding a right-footed strike past Ederson. Game on.
2-2 City. They have their equaliser as the winger fires home from 12 yards. Mahrez hammers his effort high into the top-right corner with a crisp left-footed strike, making no mistake. A vital moment in the title race.
2-3 Tottenham. Kane haunts City once more with a brilliant header at the back post to put Tottenham in front for the third time. Kulusevski sprints down the right side into space, allowing him to deliver a cross. Kane rises above Walker and guides a precise header away from Ederson into the right corner of the net.
So, what’s next for Manchester City and Tottenham?
Manchester City is next in action against Everton in the Premier League next Saturday.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspurs travel to face Burnley in their next outing on Wednesday.
Likewise, for more football news like this, click here.
