TOTTENHAM 1, MANCHESTER CITY 0 (UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL FIRST LEG)
Son Heung-Min scored a 78th winner for Spurs to beat Manchester City after the late loss of captain Harry Kane to an ankle ligament injury.
Embed from Getty ImagesSergio Aguero had a first half VAR penalty saved by Hugo Lloris but Spurs took full advantage of a mistake by Fabian Delph to score late in a physical and niggly encounter.
It was City’s first defeat since January 29 at Newcastle but of their run-in it was the last fixture they could afford to lose as they could turn the result around next week at the Etihad.
Manchester City’s quadruple dream is still alive after the first of three games in 10 days against Spurs but they can’t afford any more slip-ups.
Pep Guardiola sprang a few surprises with his team selection but his gamble didn’t come off as his makeshift City side were disrupted by an energetic Spurs.
Guardiola’s last away win in a Champions League quarter final or semi final away game was in 2011.
He made a surprise pick at left back, selecting Delph in City’s problem left back position instead of Benjamin Mendy.
Danilo missed out after replacing Kyle Walker, who had a tight hamstring, at half time at Wembley.
Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Gabriel Jesus were also replaced by Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez, and Sergio Aguero.
Arguably Guardiola’s best player of recent weeks – Bernardo Silva – joined City’s walking wounded with a slight thigh strain picked up in training and wasn’t risked tonight.
Sergio Aguero was fit enough to be risked after missing out on a couple of games after feeling a muscular problem.
Both sides went at each other from the start with a high energy pressing game with plenty of physical challenges flying in.
Dele Alli shot over the bar early after a Danny Rose pass released Moussa Sissoko who found his team mate.
And the game was stopped for a VAR check for a handball after Raheem Sterling’s shot struck Danny Rose who had little time to react to the City winger’s fierce shot.
The penalty was duly awarded under the new UEFA handball rules and Rose was booked for his intervention.
Costly Sergio Aguero penalty miss for Man City in the first half
Aguero stepped up but his spot kick was saved by Hugo Lloris at a saveable height to his left.
City still dominated possession with over 70% in the first quarter of the game, though.
Ederson had to save with a dive to his left from Harry Kane while later on Heung-Min Son was waiting for a pass which failed to come from Kane.
Sterling stopped Son for a free kick on the edge of the penalty area which appeared to continue into the area.
Rose’s whipped in free kick was collected by Ederson though.
Sterling forced Lloris into a save after Aguero put him through with a dinked ball after the break.
Son had Ederson scrambling twice as Spurs continued their high energy game against lacklustre City in the second half.
Fabian Delph’s full blooded challenge on Kane, who had gone in just as hard on the City player, left the England captain hobbling and unable to continue after landing awkwardly on his ankle.
Spurs lose Harry Kane and Dele Alli to injury but win the game though Son Heung-Min
Lucas Moura replaced Kane in the 58th minute but without Kane to hold up the ball the home side started to lose their momentum.
Jesus replaced Aguero with 20 minutes to go as City improved greatly with Spurs tiring since the loss of Kane.
But it was Son who lifted the home crowd with Eriksson’s ball beating a sluggish Delph and the South Korean forward controlled the ball on the touchline and turned before drilling it past Ederson for his 18th strike of the season.
VAR allowed the goal to stand and City had 12 minutes to get back to parity.
Harry Winks was withdrawn for Victor Wanyama and Fernando Llorente replaced Alli with 3 minutes to go after the England midfielder went off injured.
De Bruyne and Leroy Sane were brought on with less than 2 minutes to go for David Silva and Mahrez but it was far too late for the two City players to affect the game which was disrupted after their arrival by a pitch invader.
The return leg will be interesting without Kane and possibly Alli, and City cannot afford any more poor results for the rest of the season if they are to fulfil their quadruple dream.