WHAT A GAME, what an incredible game.
All hail the bravery of Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglu for coming here with his injury ravaged squad and going toe-to-toe with the Treble winners.
And plaudits too for the incredible Manchester City who played some wonderful football in the first half and could have had this game out of sight.
In the end Jack Grealish thought he had won it with his first goal since April in the 81st minute.
But Spurs would not give in and in the last minute of normal time Dejan Kulusevski powered into the City box to meet Brendan Johnson’s cross and headed in off the underside of the bar for the equaliser.
What a contest it had been, one which City had largely dominated but almost threw away.
It was a spectacular, breathless first half which City could have led by 6-1.
Son Heung-Min scored at both ends, Phil Foden ended a great pin-ball move for City’s second while the champions also hit the woodwork twice and saw goal machine Erling Haaland miss two sitters.
Despite those injuries that saw him fielding two full-backs at centre back Postecoglu was not going to compromise his attacking beliefs.
At times they reminded you of Rocky against Ivan Drago, being pummelled but continuing to swing punches.
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The first blow though came from Tottenham with a wonderful goal on the break in the sixth minute.
It started with a City corner and seconds later was in the City net.
Bryan Gill made a great turn and delivery to set the move going from inside the D on the edge of the Tottenham box and they were off and running.
Or off and sprinting with Kulusevski playing the final ball to Son who still had much to do with the speedy Jeremy Doku in close attendance.
But he powered past him and blasted a shot under Guglielmo Vicario’s dive.
What a start but within three minutes Son was scoring at the other end to as he inadvertently kneed Bernardo’s free kick past his own goalkeeper.
Those of a certain vintage will remember City’s Tommy Hutchinson doing likewise, scoring at both ends in this fixture, only this time in an FA Cup Final back in 1981.
City went for the throat and should have been ahead in the 13th minute when Spurs were dispossessed trying to play out from the back and Bernardo squared for Haaland in front of a gaping goal.
He put it wide. He never puts it wide.
Doku is a player that draws you to the edge of your seat and when he burst forward and shot he rattled the underside of the bar with the Spurs goalkeeper beat.
City went ahead on 31 minutes with one of those slick one touch moves that can unpick the best defences.
Haaland found Doku who anticipated Julian Alvarez’s run and when he played a short square ball to the incoming Phil Foden the England international tucked the ball away side footed.
City came again with another chance for Haaland which this time he blazed over the top.
You had to double-check the scoreboard to be sure City were just 2-1 up at the break and it would need a fine full length save to deny Bernardo within 30 seconds of the restart.
Spurs then went more rope-a-dope than all out swinging as they had a bit more control of the ball and when City got sloppy they struck on 69 minutes.
Alavarez gave the ball away it was fed to Son who rolled it into the path of Giovani Lo Celso to curl home from 20 yards in off the far post.
It was game on now.
Guardiola’s men had been shaken back into and when Yves Bissouma tried to run the ball out his half he was dispossessed by Rodri who fed Haaland.
The Norwegian’s square ball was delivered on a plate for Grealish to turn in.
What a feast but Spurs were still hungry and got their reward.
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Even then there was controversy when Haaland was fouled but picked himself up to play the ball through for Grealish only for Anthony Taylor to blow for a foul.
Goodness me, what a show.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
