Match report: Haaland double puts City on brink of title
By Martyn Herman
Erling Haaland’s double put Manchester City within touching distance of an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 away on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
The Norwegian tapped home his side’s opener early in the second half and settled City’s nerves in stoppage time when he blasted home a penalty for his 27th league goal of the season.
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City had failed to earn a point or score a goal in their first four league visits to Tottenham’s new stadium but ended that jinx in timely fashion to the joy of their supporters.
Pep Guardiola’s City have 88 points to Arsenal’s 86 and will be guaranteed to make history if they beat West Ham United at home on Sunday when Arsenal host Everton.
It was far from a vintage City performance and they almost conceded an equaliser to Son Heung-min late on, just before Haaland made sure they kept their destiny in their own hands.
Defeat ended Tottenham’s slim hopes of finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League, although it was a result welcomed by some sections of their fans who were loath to see their team offer up a huge title gift to arch-rivals Arsenal.
Some Tottenham fans even indulged in the Poznan, which is a trademark of City’s fans, while chants of “Are You Watching Arsenal” echoed around the stadium in the latter stages.
City are now unbeaten in 22 league games and have again shown they are the masters of pacing a title chase.
Yet they were strangely lethargic in the first half and were given an early fright when Ederson, who was later forced off after a blow to the head, had to tip Rodrigo Bentancur’s fierce rising drive over the crossbar.
City were stuck in second gear and their best chance before the interval was courtesy of a horrible clearance by Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg that fell for Phil Foden but his volley was superbly saved by Guglielmo Vicario.
Such was the tepid nature of the first half that for the first time this season in the Premier League there was not time added on at the end of the opening term.
City celebrate Haaland’s second goal.Getty
City might have begun to fear that their Tottenham curse was striking again when Kevin De Bruyne’s snap shot was superbly saved by Vicario just after the interval but they could finally breathe a sigh of relief soon afterwards.
De Bruyne was just onside as he was played in on the right and his low pass was tapped in by Haaland.
Still City looked edgy though and their hearts were in their mouths as the clock ticked down when Son seized on a mistake and ran through with only Stefan Ortega to beat but the substitute keeper made a superb save.
And when Jeremy Doku was fouled by Pedro Porro and Haaland rammed home his penalty, the away fans could finally relax.
Because this result has confirmed that Villa will play Champions League for the first time since 1983. That’s more than 40 years, people. But Unai Emery has led this side through an impressive season and they are now guaranteed to finish fourth, meaning a certain spot in the group stage of Europe’s top-tier club tournament.
Haaland is also making it abundantly clear that Guardiola has told the team they must not celebrate because they still have that final match to play, against West Ham at home on Sunday.
The goal machine, meanwhile, has 63 from 65 games for City. This season he has 27 from 30, which was seen as sparse by his 2022-23 standard of 36 goals from 35 appearances. But he still leads the golden boot standings by six goals.
Haaland celebrates after scoring his penalty.Getty
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Ortega named player of the match
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In case you missed his save to deny Son, this is it.
“He’s incredible,” Haaland tells Optus Sport. “He’s so good, and he’s such a good guy as well. Proper German.”
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7.10am on May 15, 2024
A brief recap
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Courtesy of Associated Press ...
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City beat Tottenham 2-0 on Tuesday and moved to within one win of a record fourth-straight Premier League title.
The three-time defending champion will go into the final round of games on Sunday with a two-point lead on second-place Arsenal.
City host West Ham, while Arsenal are at home against Everton.
Haaland fired Pep Guardiola’s team ahead from close range in the 51st minute at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he converted Kevin De Bruyne’s cross from close range.
He struck his second from the penalty spot in the first minute of stoppage time after Pedro Porro had brought down Jeremy Doku.
City’s win also meant Aston Villa secured fourth place and qualification for the Champions League ahead of Tottenham in fifth.
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Spurs are out of the top-four race
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And that means not qualifying for Champions League in Postecoglou’s first season in charge. That honour will go to Villa, who are now out of reach.
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Full-time: Tottenham 0-2 Manchester City
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Pep might not have understood the English phrase “squeaky bum time” but he sure understands the sentiment.
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6.57am on May 15, 2024
City wind down the clock
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Alvarez lines up for a corner in no hurry. He opts for a short corner to Doku, also in no hurry. They dribble the ball around in Tottenham’s goal third. Moore tries to make the most of his debut via a run upfield as Spurs aim for a consolation goal.