Haaland Back With A Bang As Man City Sink Spurs

Manchester City defeated Tottenham 1-0 to move into fourth place in the Premier League on Wednesday thanks to Erling Haaland’s return from injury.

With a knee injury sustained against Newcastle on February 15, Haaland missed City’s Champions League play-off second leg exit against Real Madrid and Liverpool’s Premier League defeat.

City, who had already finished third after beating Southampton on Tuesday, made history by returning with the first-half winner in north London.

After a mediocre start to the season, Haaland scored his 28th goal in all competitions this year, with 10 of those coming in his final 11 games.

This was a much-needed victory for City, who started well but fought their luck as Tottenham missed a number of second half chances.

Pep Guardiola’s side are still miles from the team that won four league titles in a row before this one.

Guardiola will find encouragement in the fact that they achieved gritty success in a time when they have done so little.

Tottenham’s two-game winning streak came to an end, keeping the consistency that has hindered them for much of the campaign.

Ange Postecoglou’s team are languishing in 13th place, with next week’s Europa League last 16 first leg against AZ Alkmaar the club’s sole focus to salvage the season.

Second youngest line-up

As City got off to a strong start, Haaland fired straight at Guglielmo Vicario.

He wasn’t to be denied for long as City took the lead in the 12th minute.

The Belgian’s cross was put on a plate for the unmarked City striker to finish from six yards after Jeremy Doku’s surge into the area opened up the Tottenham defense.

As he cut inside for a low strike that made Vicario stop well, Doku threatened to double City’s advantage.

Tottenham named their second-youngest starting lineup in a Premier League game at an average age of 23 years, 243 days, after being injured.

City’s young supporters repeatedly found it difficult to stop Postecoglou from making mistakes in their defense.

Savinho was awarded by Doku five yards from the end, but the Brazilian’s cuffed shot soared over the bar when it appeared impossible to miss.

Vicario saved a rare opportunity with a close-range strike that Haaland had saved with his legs.

Just before half-time, Kevin Danso’s header was tipped over by Ederson, giving Tottenham an almost equalizer during the course of play.

Wilson Odobert tapped a teasing cross past City early in the second half, but the forward fired wide from four yards.

Before it could arc into the net, Ederson had to scramble across the goal to stop Odobert’s deflected effort.

When Destiny Udogie found Mathys Tel in space, City had lost their way, and he should have been level. The teenager then wastes his effort to shoot wide.

In the closing moments, Postecoglou sent Son Heung-min on, but Ederson made a superb save to stop the South Korean before Pape Sarr headed over as City waited.

Source: Channels TV