In a fast-paced match resembling a five-a-side game, Manchester City went from dominating Tottenham to making careless mistakes that would likely annoy Pep Guardiola more than the unusual call made by referee Simon Hooper in extra time, when he allowed play to continue before ultimately awarding a foul on Erling Haaland after he assisted Jack Grealish.
Haaland and his teammates’ actions of surrounding the referee may result in an FA charge against City for not being able to manage their players. However, the most significant aspect for the title race is how the defending champions have fallen three points behind Arsenal after 14 games.
Dejan Kulusevski emerged as the savior for the visiting team. In the chaotic final minutes of the match, Brennan Johnson dribbled down the left side and placed the ball into City’s territory. The Swedish midfielder managed to outmaneuver Ederson with his shoulder, equalizing the score to 3-3.
The draw means Ange Postecoglou’s side halt, admirably, a run of three consecutive defeats, and the champions have dropped six points from the last nine available. The last time they failed to win in three consecutive Premier League matches occurred March-April 2017 and so City can be characterised as having a wobble by their supreme standards.
On Wednesday, they will face Aston Villa without Rodri and Jack Grealish, who are suspended for receiving a booking on Sunday. Guardiola may be disappointed with Grealish, as his yellow card was for kicking the ball in frustration. Grealish had come on for Jérémy Doku, who seemed to have gotten injured, adding to City’s setbacks.
However, Grealish did earn all the points for his team in the merit column by scoring a goal in the 81st minute. The player, who wears the number 10 jersey for City, does not often score enough goals, and this was his first of the season. This goal was a result of Postecoglou’s determination that his style of play, known as “Ange-ball,” will not be influenced by the opposing team.
Yves Bissouma was close to achieving his goal when he was robbed by Rodri. Rodri’s pass went directly to Haaland, who had been wasteful throughout the game. Haaland then passed the ball to Grealish, who scored. However, City’s performance was weak, as they were unable to maintain their lead. In a frantic finish during extra time, Haaland believed he had set up Grealish for another opportunity.
After a strong start by Tottenham, they capitalized on a textbook breakaway strike to break through City’s high line. Kulusevski skillfully curved the ball over the champions’ defense for Son Heung-min, who was in a race with Doku. Despite Doku’s quick pace, he lacked the determination to compete and Son easily defeated Ederson.
The game got off to a great start, but just three minutes later, City managed to equalize in the ninth minute. It was a straightforward play, with Julián Álvarez sending a free-kick from the right which grazed Haaland’s forehead and deflected off Son before ending up in the back of the net, leaving Guglielmo Vicario helpless. In the chaotic moments that followed, City had a chance to take the lead with a 2-1 scoreline. After a pass from Vicario to Emerson, the defender struggled when pressured by Bernardo Silva. The ball was then passed to Haaland who was in a prime position to score, but he failed to capitalize on the opportunity.
The strategy devised by Postecoglou involves utilizing high defensive lines, aggressive pressing, and attacking with a sense of urgency. However, his team has been struggling to maintain possession near their own goal and relying on counterattacks for success. This is a tactic that City is known for, even against the most well-organized opponents. Tottenham’s first goal was scored on a quick counterattack, and they came close to scoring again using the same approach. Johnson outran Rúben Dias on the right side, but unlike Doku, Dias did not give up and his recovery effort was commendable. Shortly after, Guardiola’s emotions shifted drastically as he watched Silva make a mistake and pass the ball directly to Bryan Gil, who had a clear opportunity to score near the goal.
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After City scored, it was a result of a smooth play at home that culminated in Doku hitting the ball against Tottenham’s crossbar. In this instance, the Belgian player assisted Álvarez, who then passed to Phil Foden for the goal past Vicario.
The match became an exciting display of attacking plays and opportunities for City, putting Tottenham in a desperate defensive mode. However, they struggled to keep up with the constant onslaught due to a lack of players. This led to Bissouma passing the ball to Álvarez, who then passed it on to Haaland, resulting in a potential 3-1 score. Unfortunately, the skilled striker missed the shot, visibly disappointed with himself.
Postecoglou frequently showed a default expression of disappointment, especially when City narrowly avoided defeat. However, this is just one of their many areas of expertise. At half-time, the Australian may have changed his expression to one of relief as Tottenham were only trailing by one goal, leaving room for hope. Postecoglou denied being angry and instead attributed Tottenham’s improved performance in the second half to a conversation with the team. Additionally, the substitution of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg for Gil helped solidify Spurs.
The city also reduced their speed and this resulted in Giovani Lo Celso scoring the equalizer, as Álvarez’s casual flick was careless and taken by Ben Davies, who passed it to Son, who then passed it to the Argentinian player. The shot from a distance was then curled into the bottom corner, off the edge of Ederson’s right post.
Grealish believed he had secured victory, but Kulusevski’s interference changed the outcome. This led to a thrilling and contentious finale, starting with Emerson Royal’s tackle on Haaland. It’s likely that this situation is far from over.
Source: theguardian.com
