Erling Haaland returned to the starting lineup and secured Manchester City’s victory against Tottenham with a goal in the 12th minute. The Spurs put up a fight, but City held firm. With 47 points, the Sky Blues move up to fourth place in the Premier League standings.
Haaland the Hero for the Cityzens
After two consecutive defeats against Real Madrid and Liverpool, Manchester City got back to winning ways thanks to a lone goal from Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker had watched those two losses from the bench, but in his return to the starting XI, he delivered a crucial victory for his team against Tottenham.
The match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium started well for the visitors. From the outset, the “Android” showed his danger with an early chance, but Spurs’ goalkeeper came up with a vital save to deny him.
However, Haaland’s killer instinct paid off just 12 minutes into the game. Jérémy Doku received the ball on the left flank, skillfully worked his way into the box, and sent in a low cross. A slight deflection altered the ball’s path, allowing Haaland to simply tap it into the net at the far post. The Tottenham keeper, already diving to his left due to the play’s momentum, was left helpless.
Following Haaland’s goal, City controlled the rest of the first half, creating several promising attacks. However, Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made key saves, while City’s attackers struggled with precision, preventing them from extending their lead.
City Clings to a Hard-Fought Victory
The second half turned into a real struggle for Manchester City, as Tottenham relentlessly pushed forward in search of an equalizer. Ederson made crucial saves, while Spurs’ finishing woes kept City alive. The visitors barely survived until the final whistle, with the game’s climax delivering high drama.
In the 94th minute, Haaland found the back of the net once again, seemingly sealing the match. However, after a detailed VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to handball. In a physical challenge with two defenders, the Norwegian striker controlled the ball near his chest but unintentionally used his left arm, leading to the controversial decision.
Immediately after the disallowed goal, Tottenham had one last chance but failed to convert, leaving City relieved at the final whistle.
With this result, City breathes a sigh of relief, climbing to fourth place in the Premier League with 47 points. They are now just one point behind third-place Nottingham Forest, but only one and three points ahead of Chelsea (5th) and Newcastle (6th). This means City’s season finale will be crucial if they want to secure a Champions League spot.
Meanwhile, Tottenham remains in the bottom half of the table with 33 points, tied with Manchester United, but ahead on goal difference, placing them 13th in the standings.
Cover photo: X (@ManCity)
