Tottenham vs. Manchester City: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League
Manchester City's reign as Premier League champions is finished, but another season of Champions League football is all but assured. Having been unseated by champions-elect Chelsea earlier Sunday, City closed in on a top-four finish with a 1-0 victory over hosts Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Sergio Aguero scored the game's only goal in the 29th minute, finishing a fast attack with a powerful, near-post drive into the top corner. The win took City up to 70 points through 35 matches, three points ahead of Arsenal, who have two matches in hand.
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Both teams must have felt some regret entering Sunday's match, with City out of the title race and Spurs struggling to remain in the chase for the top four. Following Chelsea's win over Crystal Palace earlier in the day, Manuel Pellegrini's men were no longer able to retain their league title, but with three matches to play, a top-four finish and Champions League qualification are almost certain.
To keep City out of next season's Champions League, Liverpool, who are fifth with 61 points, must win all their remaining games (and need City to lose all of theirs) and overcome City's vastly superior goal differential.
Tottenham, meanwhile, trail fourth-placed Manchester United by seven points with three matches left and would need a miraculous turnaround to claim a top-four finish.
City host Queens Park Rangers next Sunday, needing only a single point to secure a top-four finish. Tottenham play at Stoke City on Saturday.
Spurs made a lively start to the match, creating multiple chances while City appeared sluggish at the back. In the second minute, Nacer Chadli burst free down the left before attempting a cross to an unmarked Erik Lamela in the middle of the box. But Aleksandar Kolarov blocked the pass, preventing a certain goal.
From the ensuing corner, Eric Dier headed wide of the post from an unmarked position in front of goal.
The hosts had another big chance one minute later as Lamela freed Harry Kane with a through pass. Kane slipped past the two centre-backs but pulled his shot wide of the far post.
At the other end, Aguero showed off excellent technique with a powerful volley from a Kolarov cross. But the ball sailed over the bar, and the match remained scoreless.
Tottenham nearly gifted City a goal in the 22nd minute, when goalkeeper Hugo Lloris slipped as he came out of his box to clear a long pass. Aguero tried to run onto the loose ball but went to ground as the ball trickled out for a goal kick. Replays showed Spurs defender Federico Fazio had clipped Aguero's heels, but referee Andre Marriner declined to award a penalty.
City's frustration was only momentary. In the 29th minute, the visitors went ahead following a blistering attack that covered the length of the pitch. Goalkeeper Joe Hart started the move with a long throw to David Silva on the right. Angling inside as he approached the final third, Silva passed against the grain to Aguero as the latter timed his run to perfection. With immaculate control, Aguero opened his body and smacked a first-time shot high past Lloris for a goal.
The visitors had two chances to extend their lead before half-time. In the 32nd minute, Tottenham defender Danny Rose made a crucial block to stop Fernandinho's low shot from the edge of the box. Ten minutes later, Fernandinho had another chance after being set up by Silva, but his low effort fizzed wide of the post.
Tottenham came close to an equaliser just before half-time as Ryan Mason brought down a Kane cross in the box with his thigh in the 43rd minute. But the midfielder's first touch took the ball too far from him, and Hart was able to spread himself to make a good save from close range.
After the interval, Tottenham had another good chance to draw level in the 61st minute, when a Martin Demichelis mistake sent Kane free behind City's defence. Hart came off his line quickly and made a sprawling save as Kane tried to convert from a tight angle.
City countered with an ample opportunity one minute later as Aguero and Fernandinho combined impressively along the edge of the box. Aguero received the return pass and flicked the ball past Lloris before shooting wide of the target.
Kolarov tried a shot from long distance in the 71st minute, but Lloris saved the dipping, swerving strike after initially appearing confused.
City had to make a substitution in the 76th minute as Samir Nasri—who had only entered the match three minutes earlier for Frank Lampard—left the match with an injury. Wilfried Bony replaced him.
Tottenham nearly equalised again in the 78th minute, with Kolarov blocking a shot by substitute Roberto Soldado. Paulinho came even closer in the 83rd minute, heading inches wide from a Lamela free-kick, though the linesman's flag was up for offside regardless. Moments later, Hart pushed away Paulinho's low drive from the edge of the box.
City were almost guaranteed victory, but Hart had to make one more save. In the 92nd minute, Lamela connected with a Danny Rose cross with an acrobatic volley that bounced off the pitch and appeared set for the back of the net. But Hart tipped the ball over the bar to secure his side's narrow win.
Grades
| Hugo Lloris | 7.1 |
| Eric Dier | 6.6 |
| Federico Fazio | 6.9 |
| Jan Vertonghen | 7.4 |
| Danny Rose | 7.6 |
| Nabil Bentaleb | 7.3 |
| Ryan Mason | 5.6 |
| Erik Lamela | 7.6 |
| Christian Eriksen | 6.5 |
| Nacer Chadli | 6.8 |
| Harry Kane | 6.5 |
| Roberto Soldado (for Eriksen, 59') | 5.9 |
| Paulinho (for Mason, 70') | 6.4 |
| Emmanuel Adebayor (for Chadli, 84') | No rating |
| Joe Hart | 8.0 |
| Pablo Zabaleta | 6.7 |
| Martin Demichelis | 7.3 |
| Eliaquim Mangala | 7.7 |
| Aleksandar Kolarov | 8.6 |
| Fernando | 6.9 |
| Fernandinho | 7.5 |
| James Milner | 7.1 |
| Frank Lampard | 6.9 |
| David Silva | 7.9 |
| Sergio Aguero | 7.9 |
| Samir Nasri (for Lampard, 73') | No rating |
| Wilfried Bony (for Nasri, 76') | 6.0 |
| Dedryck Boyata (for Aguero, 89') | No rating |
Reaction
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, via BBC Sport:
"I feel proud of our players. The performance was very good and we deserved much more. But the effort was brilliant. We had three or four chances in the first five minutes, but when you play Manchester City, you need to score when you get those chances.
…
Joe Hart was brilliant today. He was the man of the match, and the difference between the teams.
We had a chance to score from a corner, and there was a good counter attack from City and finish from Aguero. Our mentality is to attack the opposing goals. I think we were a little unlucky. Aguero is a brilliant player. The chance that he had, he scored. But we are disappointed.
"
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, via BBC Sport:
"We have showed what we're about today. We have not played well—and we have done what teams have done to us.
Sergio can always get us a goal, we managed to get the ball up to him and then we've defended for our lives.
Congrats to Chelsea on winning the title—it is well deserved. To lead from the front and stay there—we've done that before and it's difficult—is impressive. But they know we will be back stronger next season.
"
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, via BBC Sport:
"I said before we were going to see a beautiful game because both teams play offensive football so I expect the fans enjoyed the game. It was a close game and Sergio scored a great goal. I am happy about that.
You must remember against Tottenham that Chelsea conceded five goals, we have a clean sheet. Tottenham create chances with offensive players, but I think we have as many chances as Tottenham. We have to finish the season now and then we will analyse it.
I think it's important to finish as near the top as possible and see where we need to improve. Maybe Chelsea are more consistent this year and they won the league but we scored more when we did it.
"
Follow @MiguelCominguez
