Manchester City 2, Tottenham 2
VAR controversy again for Manchester City as their late winner is chalked off again thanks to the new handball rule
City players wore training tops with Leroy Sane’s number (19) on the back in solidarity with their injured team mate who suffered a an ACL injury in his right knee.
City were in their pomp in the first half and should have made more of their shots on target but for some smart saves by Hugo Lloris and a bit of luck with the crossbar.
Rodri was hauled down by Erik Lamela with no penalty given and no reaction from the VAR team.
Tottenham scored with their only two shots on target, the second one was a header converted by Lucas Moura 15 seconds after he came on as a substitute in the second half.
Sergio Aguero had a spat with Pep Guardiola after he was substituted in the second half. It was soon forgotten after Jesus scored, and the Argentine appeared to make up with his manager, but seconds later it was going to definitely knocked off the news agenda after VAR ruled Gabriel Jesus’ winner out.
Gabriel Jesus thought he had won the game with a 92nd minute injury time winner from 10 yards after Aymeric Laporte flicked on Kevin De Bruyne’s corner. The goal was ruled out for a handball by Laporte after a VAR check leaving the Etihad deflated yet again after a Spurs visit.
CHANGES FROM WEST HAM 0, MAN CITY 5
IN: Nicolas Otamendi, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero
OUT: John Stones (thigh injury), David Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus
PLAYER RATINGS – Man City 2, Tottenham 2
Ederson: 6. Could do little with the surprise shot by Erik Lamela but was left wanting for the corner that was converted by Lucas Moura.
Kyle Walker: 6. Showed energy to get up the pitch and put crosses in but was culpable for missing Erik Lamela’s corner which was converted by Lucas Moura.
Nicolas Otamendi: 7. Little to do as Spurs toiled, comfortable with balls into the City area. Had a second half header hooked off the line by Danny Rose.
Aymeric Laporte: 6. Retreated and gave Erik Lamela space to shoot and score. Showed off his passing range but City were wasteful.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 6. Spent a lot of time raiding up the left flank. Tested Hugo Lloris twice with efforts. Went down with a left hamstring issue very late in the game after City had made all three subs.
Rodri: 7. Better at the physical stuff early on, hauled down by Erik Lamela but no penalty. Linked midfield up with attack very well. Had a second half rising shot tipped away by Hugo Lloris.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8. Superb curling cross for Raheem Sterling’s opener and crossed for Aguero’s goal to put City in the lead again. Very difficult to pick up by Spurs and created several more chances and had a couple of shots go close himself.
Ilkay Gundogan: 6. Missed with great chance laid on by Kevin De Bruyne. Had to sit deeper after Rodri went off.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Harried the Spurs defence with pressing across the front three. Created space for De Bruyne. Had the crowd on its feet with show of trickery at the end of the first half. Game opened up for him in the second half and he hit the bar with a flick.
Raheem Sterling: 7. Dangerous coming in off the left flank, early shot blocked by Kyle Walker-Peters. Stole in for the opening goal off a header. Also tried to turn creator too with passes into dangerous areas.
Sergio Aguero: 7. Easy flick to convert Kevin De Bruyne’s cross to put City back in the lead but was given a lecture by an angry Pep Guardiola, who had to be restrained by Mikel Arteta, after he was substituted in the second half.
Gabriel Jesus (on for Sergio Aguero 66): 7. Incredible work rate after he came on with City chasing another goal. Headed just wide late in the game and a dramatic winner was chalked off for a handball by Aymeric Laporte.
David Silva (on for Rodri 78): Too late to mark
Riyad Mahrez (on for Bernardo Silva 80): Too late to mark
GOALS – Man City 2, Tottenham 2
Man City 1, Tottenham 0: 20. Kevin De Bruyne’s curling right wing cross met by Raheem Sterling who converted it with a header from 3 yards out #mcfc #mcitot
Man City 1, Tottenham 1: 23. Erik Lamela has a go from 25 yards out through a crowd of bodies after Sissoko’s cross and beats Ederson #thfc #mcitot
Man City 2, Tottenham 1: 35. Sergio Aguero with a flick to turn Kevin De Bruyne’s right wing cross into the goal from 5 yards out #mcfc #mcitot
Man City 2, Tottenham 2: 56. Erik Lamela’s corner was converted by Lucas Moura who had just come on as a substitute, with Kyle Walker failing to meet the ball #thfc #mcitot
MATCH STATS – Man City 2, Tottenham 2
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodrigo (David Silva 78), De Bruyne (C), Gundogan, Bernardo Silva (Mahrez 80), Sterling, Aguero (Jesus 66)
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Fernandinho, Cancelo, Foden
Booked: Sterling 26 (grappling Harry Winks)
Goals: Sterling 20, Aguero 35
Tottenham: Lloris, Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Rose, Winks (Moura 56), Ndombele, Sissoko, Eriksen (Skipp 90+1), Lamela (Lo Celso 85), Kane
Tottenham Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Dier, Davies
Goals: Lamela 23, Moura 56
Referee: Michael Oliver