Premier League: Haaland’s Heroics Propel City in ManCity vs Tottenham
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Salma Hossein
- . May 15, 2024
- . Update: May 15, 2024 9:46 pm
Erling Haaland’s second half brace secured Manchester City a critical 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, pushing Pep Guardiola’s team back on the top spot of the Premier League table. This win left City just one single game away from an historic fourth consecutive league title.
What Happened
The historic Tuesday night match in North London marked City’s second trip to the capital in three days, followed by their 4-0 win at Fulham.
Tottenham created the first markable chance within the starting six minutes. Pierre- Emile Hojbjerg’s long ball set up Brennan Johson, who found Rodrigo Bentancur. And Bantacur’s 18 yard strike forced a very smart save from Ederson, making his 250th league appearance for City.
City responded with their trademark attack. Phil Foden nearly scored at 16 minutes, only to be denied by an amazing save from Spur’s keeper Guglielmo Vicario. As the first half time of the match progressed, both the sides rolled the dice, but neither could break the deadlock.
Second Half Action
The second half started with City getting more aggressive. Kevin De Bruyne almost scored a goal right after the break, but Vicario made sure to stop him. Ederson continued to be tested, denying Son Heung- Min’s close range effort.
City’s game changer came in the 52nd minute. After Christian Romero dispossessed, Foden grabbed the opportunity, delivering a flawless cross to Bernardo Silva. Then Silva made sure to set up De Bruyne, who passed to Haaland for a very easy tap-in. This was Haaland’s 26th goal of the season, and City’s first league goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Ortega’s Heroics and the Keeper Change
The game witnessed another twist when Ederson was injured in a tussle with Romero. Despite his efforts to continue, Ederson was replaced by Stefan Ortega Moreno. Ortega’s influence was immediate and spectacular. He made a streak of crucial saves, including one stunning block against Kulusevski and a heroic stop to deny Son with only five minutes left. No doubt Ortega’s presence and performance was crucial, as it ensured City’s lead.
Sealing the Victory
City made sure to double their lead in injury time. Substitute Jeremy Doku was fouled by Porro, resulting in a penalty. Haaland stepped up and kept his cool and buried the spot kick, salting away the win and triggered an eruption of joy and celebrations among City players and fans.
This victory was momentous for City, not just for the sake of points, but also the mental boost of winning at a previously difficult venue. With Haaland’s smooth finishing and Ortega’s remarkable saves, City showed their grit and determination, keeping their title hopes not just alive but also within their reach.
