"Tottenham again ole ole" song was echoing at Etihad Stadium in Manchester when away supporters went out of it. There was very good reason for that and it's fact that Tottenham players ran riot in Manchester and won current Champion with incredible 0:4 result. It was the best Spurs performance I've seen after that 2:3 on same place when Harry Kane destroyed same oponenet. Result is not justified, City had more big chances for goal, but Spurs were far more clinical and had football master James Maddison in their squad!
Birthday boy scored first goal in 13. minute. Radu Dragusin sent long ball on right flank, it looked like Gvardiol has control over it, but Dejan Kulusevski got it, Croatian didn't foul him, Porro made good run which allowed Deki advantage and Swede noticed great running in of James Maddison and sent wonder ball inside and connected him with goal and football master easily sent ball near Ederson inside the net!
Gvardiol made bad pass in 20th minute, ball quickly came toward Son inside the box, he pretended like he is trying to make space for shot by moving right and then quickly turned around and sent ball toward James who ran inside came alone in front of Ederson and scored. It was not easy situation, goalkeeper was close to him, but football master chipped ball over him. Manchester City players looked at each other in anger and disbelief.
Crowing could start in 52. minute when Pedro Porro scored third. It was awesome action. Dejan Kulusevski took the ball, didn't let referee disrupt him, sent ball through Gundogan's legs, tricked another player, ball came to Son who skilfully sent ball for Deki again and he ran on opponent half in devastating counter attack. Solanke and Son tracked it, Dom was alone on other side and Deki sent him little to fast ball, but Dom received it. He was in dead angle on around 5 meters moved head up saw Porro who ran inside like the fastest train and did right thing which was to pass ball to him. Real Madrid target hit it powerful and sent it inside the back of the net for 0:3! Awesome action!
Fourth fell deep in stoppage time after one bad pass of City players on center. Ball came toward Timo Werner who came in with Johnson as sub. German ran like German U-Bahn near tired Walker take advantage on left side, Johnson who was only one fast enough to track that run was ready on back post. Famous Ange low ball came toward him on back post and he literally scored "touch down" goal from meter away of goal line. He tackled toward ball and was faster than opponent and it was 0:4.
That was not all what Spurs did. Son had one great shot in first half, Solanke had one chance but his effort from inside the box was deflected into corner. Son picked him for pass despite Porro was running in on right side and might be better option. There was one more promising attack, but superb Dejan Kulusevski slipped with the ball and was able only to send it toward Bissouma who kicked it over the cross bar from around 20 meters. Kulusevski had great chance in second half after yet another counter attack but his effort from 5 meters has been deflected by Ederson! It was very big chance.
Spurs played great, they were team not 11 individuals on the pitch, defended as a unit and that brought result. I must mention Vicario, Dragusin and especially Ben Davies who played superb football. Vicario saved everything, didn't let them to score goal even from 2-3 meters of offside, Radu "Dragon" Dragusin did "dracaris" clearing in second half when he tackled and sent ball over the crossbar in front of Haaland. However Ben Davies surprised me the most. He cleared some crosses inside the box like he's Nemanja Vidic prime, did superb block Haaland in first half on 0:0 and was awesome.
There were three mistakes which could lead toward goals, but didn't. Porro's bad back header toward Vicario which ended in Savinho missing of ball which Italian gathered, Udogie's bad pass which lead to dangerous attack, but ball went behind Haaland and Bissouma's bad pass which ended in great Vicario save.
Maybe you think it was battering, but it wasn't Man City had even more chances, but they sent balls over the crossbar a lot and what came toward goal was close to Vicario and Italian saved everything! Let's mention them now!
Haaland got ball with plenty of space inside the box, but did bad first touch, he tried to shot near near post, but Ben Davies blocked his attempt! Haaland shot from very good position toward near post which Venom Vicario saved with his foot! Haaland shot from good position which went over the crossbar! Fodden's attempt over crossbar from close range. Fodden's attempt from good position which went wide. All of those was from inside the box from very good positions. There was one decent low shot from 20 meters but Vicario easily saved it. There was that Savinho's chance after bad back pass of Porro, but it ended with Vicario getting ball. There was one promising attack after Udogie's wrong pass, but ball went behind Haaland and it was not even a chance. This was only first half.
In second we saw Gundogan and Haaland shooting from left side of goal while they were alone Both were saved by Vicario. There was third Haaland shot which hit top of crossbar. There was shot from 7-8 meters blocked by Porro. There were few dangerous attacks cleared by Spurs defenders. One of them was "dracaris situation" when Romanian Dragon Radu Dragusin cleared ball with tackle in front of Haaland in way that it went over crossbar! Guardiol had also one good chance but his shoot ended over crossbar and he bite his shirt after that! :) This game could go in very different way, but it didn't.
Curiosity is that Venom Vicario didn't allow them to score goal even from 1-2 offside. In first half someone did header alone in front of him from offside, but Venom took ball outside of goal and deflected it into corner! Impression is that Haaland went nervous after first 2 missed chances and completely pissed off after third and almost throw to the ground his hair tie! Worth mentioning is also fact that Kovacic, Rodri and De Brune didn't play. Last one came in 20 minutes before the end and showed how dangerous he is, but they just couldn't score last night!
This was great performance by Tottenham, we looked like team. This kind of performance return faith into this squad, coach and staff, this was serious football, exciting transition counter attacking football. Maddison, Kulusevski and Son showed again how big masters of football they are! Spurs showed once more when you give them space they will hurt you! There is a lot of pace in that attack.
I am happy especially for Dragusin who finally showed why he was the best defender in Serie A. He played really really well. I loved the way how he looked at Haaland in first half like he's count Dracula himself! :) I don't know what happen with Ben Davies, but whatever that was I hope it can continue in next games. He looked like Nemanja Vidic prime on crosses. He commanded that defense knowing what's next Man City move before they did it!
Tottenham is club which defeat Pep Guardiola the most times, Spurs are really bogey team for Manchester City and it's not wonder why away fans chanted "Tottenham again ole ole" on their exit from Etihad stadium.
You can see absolute scenes after the game: https://x.com/i/status/1860435885637947550
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