Harry Kane and Son Heung-min made history as Tottenham pulled off a stunning 3-2 victory over champions-elect Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City came into what was the biggest match of the weekend, having not lost in their last 15 Premier League games, whereas Tottenham Hotspur had lost each of their last three league contests. However, the Lilywhites began the game with a bang, as Dejan Kulusevski finished from close range after some brilliant link-up between Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
Manchester City pressed in search of an equaliser, with Joao Cancelo and Ilkay Gundogan coming close. At the same time, Spurs continued to pose a threat on the break, with Emerson Royal seeing a shot go over at the other end. The Premier League leaders levelled things up just after the half-hour mark, as Gundogan capitalised on a spill from Hugo Lloris to bury the ball into the net.
While the Cityzens dominated possession, Tottenham were a constant danger when they hit them on the counter. Son had a shot saved in the second half before he set his partner-in-crime, Kane, up as the Englishman volleyed home to put the Londoners in front again. The two combined again soon after in a deadly move, but Kane’s effort was saved by Ederson, while the England captain also had a goal chalked off for offside in the build-up.
At the other end, Lloris made fine saves to deny Gundogan and Cancelo to keep his team in front, while Eric Dier and Cristian Romero produced several crucial interventions to hold the champions at bay. However, Pep Guardiola’s side were handed a way back into the game in stoppage time when Romero was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box by VAR and Riyad Mahrez made no mistake from the spot to reinstate parity.
But there was more late drama on offer as deep into added time, Kane was at hand to get on the end of a cross from Kulusevski to guide the ball into the back of the net and win it for Tottenham. It was a stunning display of counterattacking display from the north Londoners, who completed a league double over Manchester City, in the process, ending their recent slump.
The victory also means that they are only four points behind Manchester United in fourth place, with two games in hand. On the other hand, Manchester City saw their lead at the top of the table reduce as second-placed Liverpool had defeated Norwich City earlier on Saturday. Here are our ratings for both sets of players after an exhilarating encounter at the Etihad on Saturday night.
Manchester City
Ederson Moraes: 6/10
There was not much the Brazilian could have done to stop any of the three goals that Tottenham scored. However, in between those moments, he produced a couple of saves to keep Manchester City in the contest, with a sprawling stop to deny Kane at 2-1 being a particular highlight.
Kyle Walker: 6.5/10
The right-back was a solid performer for City against his former club, with his recovery pace coming in handy on multiple occasions to thwart Spurs on the break. However, he was beaten in the air by Kane for the winning goal, which eats into his rating.
Ruben Dias: 4/10
A sub-par display from the Portuguese international, who was guilty of playing Son onside in the move for the first goal and was caught out again for the second, while he was also not marking the right target for the match-winner. It was one of his poorest displays in Manchester City colours.
Aymeric Laporte: 5/10
Like his defensive partner, Laporte, too, found it difficult to cope with the constant counter-attacks from their visitors. He was beaten by Kane for the second goal with ease and did not look comfortable at all.
Joao Cancelo: 7/10
João Cancelo for Man City in the first half vs. Tottenham:
◉= Most touches (74)
◉ Most final third passes (36)
◉ Most duels contested (7)
◉ Most shots (4)
◉= Most take-ons (2)
◉= Most tackles (2)Heavily involved. pic.twitter.com/dHApZswOUm
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 19, 2022
The Portuguese caused Tottenham all sorts of troubles with his piercing forward runs, especially in the first period, when he was involved in everything positive that City did. Cancelo had a couple of shots drift wide of the mark in the first half, and he forced Lloris into a save in the second.
Kevin De Bruyne: 6/10
Not the Belgian’s most effective performance, but he still asked questions of the Tottenham defence with his teasing balls into the box, which his teammates failed to capitalise on.
Rodri: 5/10
While he did go about his job of recycling possession effectively, Rodri found it hard to deal with Kane when he dropped deep to get on the ball and dictate play. The Spaniard also struggled to impose himself when asked to take up higher positions as City pushed for a way back.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7/10
Reinstated to the lineup, the German showed his typical endeavour as he made late runs into the box to add a goal threat. Gundogan struck the woodwork in the first half before equalising for Manchester City. He then drew a top save from Lloris in the second half.
⚽️ Ilkay Gundogan – most career goals, by opponent
5️⃣ West Brom, TOTTENHAM
4️⃣ Borussia M’gladbach pic.twitter.com/1SBMc6Vr6l— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) February 19, 2022
Bernardo Silva: 5/10
There were some moments when his movement and touches left the Tottenham defence in a lurch. However, the Portuguese star could not influence the games in the manner he can do, while his use of the ball in some key moments was questionable.
Phil Foden: 5/10
Like Silva, the youngster also had one or two moments of class, but he was largely ineffective on the night, failing to test Lloris regularly or create any meaningful opportunities for those around him.
Raheem Sterling: 6/10
The ex-Liverpool star caused problems to the Spurs backline with his driving runs and played a hand in the first equaliser, as it was his cross that Lloris spilt for Gundogan to score. However, Sterling’s influence waned with time.
SUBSTITUTES
Riyad Mahrez: 7/10
Oh Mahrez SMASHED this in! #MCITOT pic.twitter.com/iQfphey4P5
— DB (@bigdaveeighty2) February 19, 2022
Mahrez replaced Sterling in the 67th minute. He scored a nerveless penalty under high pressure to equalise for City in stoppage time.
Tottenham Hotspur
Hugo Lloris: 6/10
The Tottenham captain was at fault for Manchester City’s first goal as he could not collect Sterling’s low cross cleanly, allowing Gundogan to pounce. However, he redeemed himself with a fantastic save to deny the German star in the second period. No chance for the penalty.
Cristian Romero: 8/10
Barring the late handball that resulted in a penalty, it was a stunning defensive display from the summer signing as he made numerous blocks and interceptions to keep the home team at bay. Romero also produced a crucial goalline clearance late in the game.
Cristian Romero between the Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City playere:
1st in accurate passes (35/38)
1st in clearances (7)
1st in header clearances (5)
1st in accurate long passes (4/6)
1st in interceptions (2)This via @argentidata. pic.twitter.com/PiMLNkTIXL
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) February 19, 2022
Eric Dier: 8/10
Back into the lineup after recovering from an injury, his return turned Tottenham into a much more solid defensive unit than the mess that was on display against Wolves last week. Dier won his duels in the air and on the ground and cleared everything that came in his path.
Ben Davies: 8/10
Manchester City tried to target the Welshman with their pressing, but Davies held his composure and played some good forward passes from the back, including one into Kane, which started the move for the first goal. Defensively, he stood up to the challenge and made some key blocks.
Emerson Royal: 5.5/10
The Brazilian had a few positive moments going forward but struggled to keep Cancelo under wraps on the evening as City enjoyed a lot of joy on his flank. He did show some improvement after the half-time break, though.
Rodrigo Bentancur: 6/10
The winter arrival found it hard to cope with the pace and intensity of his City counterparts at times, and he was pressed into making some sloppy passes. But, Bentancur did not lose heart and got stuck in, getting in some crucial tackles.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 7/10
Where are the Hojbjerg haters now? I’ve been saying that he’s the centre of our team. pic.twitter.com/iUtURm7GQt
— BentanCOYS (@AccessSpurs) February 19, 2022
Like Bentancur, there were misplaced passes here and there, but his experience shone through as Hojbjerg worked his socks off to disrupt his opponents while always trying to get the team pushing forward when he got on the ball.
Ryan Sessegnon: 6.5/10
The youngster did not have the best of the first half but grew into the game with time and played a huge role in Tottenham’s second goal of the game. Sessegnon showed a good work rate and was involved in some good defensive moves to keep his team ahead before being taken off.
Dejan Kulusevski: 9/10
Making his first start for Tottenham, Kulusevski was off to a flier, putting his team in front with a composed finish. The Swede never stopped running, constantly providing an outlet for Spurs when they broke forward before producing an inch-perfect cross for Kane to win it for the Lilywhites in stoppage time.
Harry Kane: 10/10
⭐️ Man of the Match, @SpursOfficial’s Harry Kane
38 touches, 3 in opposition box
20/29 passes completed
1 chance created
3 shots, all on target
2 goals (16th & 17th this season, 7 PL) – as many as in other 13 apps v Man City pic.twitter.com/oq52IXlaek— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) February 19, 2022
All eyes were on the England captain heading into this game as he faced Manchester City for the first time after his failed move in the summer. And Kane showed what Guardiola’s team missed out on, as he put on a masterclass of a display that brought his goalscoring and playmaking abilities to the fore.
Constantly dropping deep to get on the ball and set the wide players on their way, Kane’s pass to Son in the build-up for the first goal was crucial. He then created another great chance for the South Korean in the second half with a stunning ball before getting himself on the scoresheet. Kane also had a strike saved, and another chalked off for offside before he won it late in injury time with a towering header.
Son Heung-min: 9/10
Simply too hot to handle for Manchester City on the break as he raced past Ruben Dias before setting Kulusevski up for the goal unselfishly. Son then drew a save from Ederson in the second half before setting Kane up for Spurs’ second. He created another chance for his strike partner, which Ederson stopped. Son and Kane moved to the joint top of the table for goal combinations in the Premier League (36) with Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
Record, equalled. ?
Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son level the all-time record for Premier League goal combinations! ? pic.twitter.com/SHIj8ubniV
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 19, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Lucas Moura: N/A
On for Son in the 80th minute and worked hard.
Matt Doherty: N/A
He replaced Emerson in the 83rd minute and produced an important block to deny Bernardo Silva.
Davinson Sanchez: N/A
The Colombian was sent on in place of Sessegnon in stoppage time.
