LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City exacted some measure of revenge on Tottenham for their Champions League exit as Phil Foden's first Premier League goal earned a 1-0 win to move them back top of the table on Saturday (April 20).
Pep Guardiola's men edge one point ahead of Liverpool once more with four games of a titanic title race left for both sides.
For all their Champions League heroics to get to the semi-finals this season, Tottenham still have much to do to qualify for the competition next season as they could easily end the Easter weekend outside the top four should Arsenal and Chelsea beat Crystal Palace and Burnley at home respectively.
City's quest for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies was ended by defeat on away goals to Spurs on Wednesday, despite winning a thrilling quarter-final, second leg 4-3.
However, they remain on course for a first ever treble of domestic trophies in England as they survived a nervy finale thanks to another blistering start.
City have made a habit of firing out of the blocks this season and just like in midweek to kickstart a kamikaze encounter, they struck within five minutes.
Foden was making just his second Premier League start and immediately justified Guardiola's faith in the 19-year-old by heading home Sergio Aguero's nodded pass across goal from Bernardo Silva's cross.
Â
Â
However, history could easily have repeated itself as after four goals were shared in the opening 11 minutes on Wednesday, Spurs had numerous chances to strike back.
Son Heung-min had already forced Ederson in a smart save from a narrow angle before City scored and the Brazilian goalkeeper had to rush from his goal once more to deny Christian Eriksen an equaliser on 15 minutes.
Two minutes later the Dane played provider with a glorious ball to free Son in behind the City defence.
However, the South Korean, who scored twice in midweek to end City's European dreams for another season, was caught up just in time by Aymeric Laporte, who made a perfectly timed last-ditch tackle.
Despite Tottenham's chances on the break, it was the hosts who were still dominating territory and possession with Bernardo Silva a constant threat.
The Portuguese's outstanding season was rewarded as he was named alongside teammates Aguero and Raheem Sterling in the six-man shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award and Jan Vertonghen was fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty when he appeared to trip Silva inside the area.
Spurs were without captain Hugo Lloris through injury and his understudy Paulo Gazzaniga looked nervous early on, but the Argentinian goalkeeper got down to save Silva's next effort.
Guardiola's decision to leave Kevin de Bruyne out for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between the sides was doubly questioned after the Belgian bagged a brilliant hat-trick of assists in midweek.
However, Guardiola's reasoning for being cautious with his playmaker after an injury-plagued season was understandable as de Bruyne limped off again just before the break and may well now miss the rest of the campaign.
Both sides suffered from their midweek exertions and the blazing sun as the second-half meandered along at a much more subdued pace.
Spurs had a big penalty appeal of their own turned down when Kyle Walker handled inside the area against his former club.
Sterling briefly thought he had completed a hat-trick in stoppage time on Wednesday with the goal that would have sent City through to the Champions League last four until VAR ruled the goal out for offside.
And the England international could not believe his misfortune once more when Gazzaniga stuck out an outstretched leg to prevent Sterling sealing a vital three points from Leroy Sane's cut-back.
Instead, City had to suffer through the closing stages knowing one mistake could cost them the title.
But they held on as Spurs suffered an eighth straight away defeat to English opposition.
Singapore S.League 2019 table, full stats, livescores. League, teams and player statistics. Check S.League 2019 page and find many useful statistics with chart.
By Martyn Herman. April 23, Reuters - Christian Eriksen's 88th minute goal finally broke Brighton and Hove Albion's brave resistance to give Tottenham Hotspur a precious 1-0 victory in their quest for a top-four finish in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Eriksen's late goal secures precious win for Tottenham | The
Cristiano Ronaldo isn't just one of the greatest on the pitch; he's the G.O.A.T. off it, too. Take a trip inside the mad world of CR7's brands.
'Until next year' - Ronaldo hints he's staying put as Madrid
Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex Sport > Football > C1 > Liverpool > Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex By 24matins.uk with AFP, published 1 June 2019 at 22h59 BST , updated on 2 June 2019 at 1h32 BST .
Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex
Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool will reportedly go head-to-head in a bid to sign Ajax star Hakim Ziyech. The 26 year-old Moroccan playmaker has been linked with a move to the Premier League following his recent rise. Ziyech
The Premier League is Not, in Fact, a League - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2009/03/15/the-premier-league-is-not-in-fact-a-league/
Those of us round long enough to remember the Ipswichs, Blackburns and QPRs of old running rampant in the early days of the Premier League may have winced listening to Setanta's commentators gag with delight as Dossena's lobbed long ball made it Liverpool 4, Manchester United 1.
The Sports Football News page - Rediff.com
Home » News » Sports » £100m too cheap, but hard to keep hold of Hazard, admits Sarri £100m too cheap, but hard to keep hold of Hazard, admits Sarri On April 9, 2019 7:18 am In Sports by
It will be hard to keep Hazard: Sarri - nation.com.pk
Jesus Shines As City Regain Top Spot, Eriksen Fires Spurs Manchester City swept back to the top of the Premier League as Gabriel Jesus struck twice in the champions' 3-1 win over Everton, while
Gabriel Jesus shines as Manchester City regain top spot
Warriors v Hougang United LiveStream Short Preview Outsider and one of the leaders will play in this match (ranked 9 and 2 in the zone Promotion to AFC Cup). Recent
Toyota operating profit growth to drop this year on revenue slip
Giroud demands important role at Chelsea next season
Poor show but Emery backs Mustafi LONDON • Unai Emery bizarrely insisted Shkodran Mustafi "has been consistent all season" after his abject display against Crystal Palace ensured the top-four race remained wide open.
Unai Emery backs Arsenal's Mustafi ahead of Wolves
Juventus sources have reportedly denied growing speculation manager Massimiliano Allegri will depart the club to be replaced by former boss Antonio Conte. Per Football Italia, Agnelli and Allegri
Flipboard: Serie A champions Juventus deny approaching
VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football
Soccer: Italy upset Australia with Bonansea double - gcf-vn.org
Maurizio Sarri puzzled by Chelsea collapse, says sorry to
0 comments:
Post a Comment