James Maddison netted a brace as Tottenham secured a commanding win against Manchester City. This marks the first time since 2006 that the latter has suffered five consecutive defeats.
Pedro Porro netted a third goal, followed by Brennan Johnson’s last-minute strike, capping off a remarkable evening that marked the conclusion of City’s 52-match unbeaten streak at the Etihad Stadium. This run has persisted since just before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The City has experienced its most significant home defeat since suffering a 5-1 loss against Arsenal, Tottenham’s north London rivals, back in 2003.
This marked the first occasion that Pep Guardiola’s team suffered three consecutive Premier League defeats, just two days after he secured a two-year contract extension.
In a surprising turn of events, Guardiola suffered a historic defeat at home, marking the first time in his managerial career that he lost by four goals.
Tottenham supporters reveled, playfully chanting, “You’ll be sacked in the morning,” directed at Guardiola as they celebrated Porro’s goal.
Tottenham’s recent performance marked a remarkable turnaround. The team journeyed north, missing their two primary central defenders. With five teenagers occupying the bench, they faced the challenge head-on, especially after suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Ipswich just two weeks prior.
However, Ange Postecoglou’s team navigated their challenges with a resilience that City seemed to lack. The team experienced their most significant home loss since a 5-2 setback against Leicester in September 2020, a match in which Maddison contributed to the scoring for the Foxes.
The nature of the defeat underscored the impact of injured midfielder Rodri, who was honored with an elaborate pre-match celebration during his first return to the stadium following his Ballon d’Or victory.
Manchester City is in second place, but Liverpool can extend its lead at the top to eight points with a victory against Southampton this Sunday.
Tottenham has ascended to sixth place in the standings, trailing Manchester City by four points.
Unfamiliar territory for Guardiola
Guardiola is navigating unprecedented territory in his career.
He is currently experiencing an unprecedented streak of consecutive losses. In his last three matches, he has suffered defeats by margins of three and four goals, a trend that follows a significant loss to Sporting in the Champions League earlier this month.Although the Tottenham fans’ taunts may have been unfamiliar to him, the 53-year-old is evidently firmly entrenched in his position.
Finding answers to his team’s lackluster performance proves to be a challenging endeavor.
Rodri’s absence is undoubtedly a crucial element in the current situation. The team appears significantly diminished without their key midfielder, starkly contrasting their previous performances.
The absence of Mateo Kovacic left the back four exposed, revealing vulnerabilities compounded by their own mistakes.
At one moment, Ilkay Gundogan appeared to be struggling as he sprinted in slow motion, desperately attempting to thwart another rapid counterattack from Tottenham.
The hosts found some solace in their visitors displaying similar inconsistencies. Tottenham capitalized on their opportunities, while City struggled to convert theirs.
Haaland had a prime opportunity to give the home side the lead, yet inexplicably, he struggled to control Josko Gvardiol’s cross. Instead of taking a first-time shot, his attempt was thwarted, resulting in a blocked effort.
Savinho could not connect with the Norwegian, missing a clear opportunity to send Haaland through on goal with a simple pass. Haaland sought to convert a low cross delivered by the Brazilian in a previous attempt, but Guglielmo Vicario expertly denied his shot.
The Tottenham custodian made a crucial save against a second-half attempt from substitute Kevin de Bruyne. As the blue seats began to empty in large numbers, Spurs center-back Radu Dragusin showcased the determination of the visiting team by sliding in to prevent Haaland from scoring a late tap-in.
Historic night for Tottenham
The significant pre-match embrace between Guardiola and Postecoglou showcased the coaches’ camaraderie, with both men smiling warmly.
At the final whistle, the Australian smiled while Tottenham reveled in their most significant away victory against City.
The transformation of a team that suffered a home defeat to struggling Ipswich to delivering a stunning upset against four-time champions on their ground raises questions. Nonetheless, this match will be remembered in the annals of Spurs history.
Once viewed as a potential liability, City full-back Josko Gvardiol has emerged as a critical player to exploit.
Dejan Kulusevski expertly maneuvered past his defender, delivering a precise cross that allowed Maddison to execute a flawless first-time finish just 13 minutes into the match.
Seven minutes later, Croatia’s defender Gvardiol executed a blind pass from the touchline, sending the ball into the field’s interior. After delivering a pass to captain Son Heung-min, Maddison received the ball and continued his run, executing a skillful finish on the return pass.
Dominic Solanke delivered a remarkable pass, setting up Porro to unleash an unstoppable shot that effectively sealed the game just seven minutes into the second half.
Tottenham exhibited remarkable tenacity in the closing moments, successfully fending off Manchester City. As the final whistle approached, the atmosphere among their supporters shifted from anxiety to a palpable sense of triumph.
Johnson’s tap-in marked the culmination of a remarkable evening for Tottenham.
