Manchester City 3, Tottenham 3
Manchester City drew their third Premier League game in a row after Dejan Kulusevski’s 90th minute equaliser ensured Tottenham left the Etihad Stadium with a point.
It was the third time in three consecutive seasons that Kulusevski had scored away to the reigning champions – a feat matched only by Danny Murphy who did so for four seasons.
But there was controversy in injury time when referee Simon Hooper appeared to play advantage for a foul on Erling Haaland but stopped the game when the Norwegian put Jack Grealish clean through after shrugging off the challenge.
A run of only three points in three games have left City in third place in the Premier League – three points behind leaders Arsenal and one point behind Liverpool – as today’s 3-3 draw followed a 1-1 draw against Liverpool and a 4-4 draw at Chelsea.
Heung-min Son was behind both goals in the opening nine minutes of a pulsating encounter – scoring his 8th goal against City in 18 appearances after City were caught on the break before netting his first own goal in 387 appearances for Spurs after he put Julian Alvarez’ teasing cross past his own goalkeeper.
There was also a collectors item for Erling Haaland – a glaring miss from 8 yards out after City had won t he ball back high up and Bernardo Silva set up the big Norwegian.
Jeremy Doku also hit the woodwork before Phil Foden put City into he lead after an intricate passing move involving Erling Haaland and Doku and ending with a one touch layoff by Julian Alvarez into the path of Foden who couldn’t miss from close range as he notched his 7th goal of the season.
Alvarez hit the post soon afterwards as City looked well worth their lead but couldn’t extend it.
Spurs went for more midfield solidity, bringing on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on at half time for Bryan Gil but they might have been further behind soon after the restart after Bernardo Silva’s shot was saved by Guglielmo Vicario.
City’s first change saw Doku replaced by Jack Grealish after 52 minutes.
Brennan Johnson had a shot saved by Ederson while Grealish’s first cross was deflected too high for Haaland.
But City were casual again when Alavarez’ loose pass to Erling Haaland was read by Spurs who swiftly counter attacked and Giovani Lo Celso’s low finish past Ederson after 69 minutes.
Phil Foden was replaced by Rico Lewis as City tried to get more control of midfield as Spurs continued to threaten the City goal.
City had been stuck in a rut in the second half but a mistake by Yves Bissouma allowed Rodri to rob the ball off him and thread the ball through to Haaland whose cutback was perfect for Jack Grealish to put City back into the lead with 9 minutes to go.
It was a sign of how close the game was that Pep Guardiola decided the try and shut up shop by using two final substitutions – bringing Nathan Ake and Mateo Kovacic on for Josko Gvardiol and Alvarez.
But there was more drama when Brennan Johnson’s left wing cross found Kulusevski whose looping header went in off the crossbar past a bamboozled Ederson in the 90th minute.
And referee Simon Hooper was castigated for stopping play when Erling Haaland got up after being fouled and put Grealish clean through with a defence splitting pass deep into injury time.
And there were shouts for a penalty after Manuel Akanji and Hojbjerg went down in the Spurs area right at the death – a VAR check swiftly ruled out wrongdoing and there were boos after the final whistle from the home support who were already infuriated after the earlier incident.
City cannot afford remain winless for much longer but two further blots on the City copybook saw Rodri and Grealish collect their 5th bookings of the season which will them miss the crucial game at Aston Villa.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Tottenham 3
Ederson: 6. Stunned by early Son goal, saved from Brennan Johnson and an offside Destiny Udogie by coming off his line but could have done better for the other goals.
Kyle Walker: 6. Played high up and also defensive against the tricky Bryan Gil. Was not close enough to close Brennan Johnson down for Dejan Kulusevski equaliser.
Manuel Akanji: 6. Tasked with looking after Son and found him a tricky man to mark.
Ruben Dias: 6. Up for the battle. Slid in to prevent a cross from reaching Son.
Josko Gvardiol: 6. Caught out by fast break and struggled against the speedy Brennan Johnson and a meatier battle with Dejan Kulusevski in the second half.
Rodri: 7. Got over early wobbles to start tying up midfield, Spurs put him under pressure when they could but he responded by winning the ball high up and putting them under pressure. Some great defensive shielding work too. 5th booking of the season will see him miss the Aston Villa game though. Could have put City ahead again but blazed over.
Julian Alvarez: 8. His teasing free kick set up the early equaliser. Pressed hard and laid off the ball that set up City’s second goal. Also hit the post.
Bernardo Silva: 8. Set up Erling Haaland for what should have been a goal after Julian Alvarez won the ball and was superb in the small spaces, but one loose pass enabled a Spurs attack which will have encouraged them. Had a trick shot with outside of boot saved early in second half. Went on the right flank after Phil Foden came off.
Phil Foden: 7. Gave Kyle Walker some protection against Bryan Gil on the City right flank but equally well watched when he got on the ball. Quick reactions to put City ahead after getting into the right place during a City move and continued to attack the right flank in the second half but faded.
Jeremy Doku: 6. Outpaced by Heung-min Son for the opening goal and occasionally struck by the speed of this game. He struck the crossbar and back post with a rasping effort and was also involved in the Phil Foden goal.
Erling Haaland: 7. Contrived to send a great chance wide from 8 yards in early chaos with the goal at his mercy and skied another chance set up by Julian Alvarez’ pressing. Turned provider late on to feel Jack Grealish but worryingly didn’t get any of his total of 5 shots on target.
Jack Grealish (on for Jeremy Doku, 52): 7. Will miss a return to Villa Park after picking up his 5th booking of the season. Cool finish to put City in front again. Was clean through in injury time when put through by Haaland before play was controversially halted.
Rico Lewis (on for Phil Foden, 73): 6. Slotted into midfield. Set up Rodri for a shot which was blazed over. Looked decent.
Nathan Ake (on for Josko Gvardiol, 87): No time to mark.
Mateo Kovacic (on for Julian Alvarez, 87): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, Tottenham 3
Man City 0, Tottenham 1: 6. City done on the break again, big pass from Dejan Kulusevski at left back to Heung-min Son who raced past the retreating Jeremy Doku and finished past Ederson.
Man City 1, Tottenham 1: 9. Julian Alvarez’ curling free kick was sent into his own goal by Heung-min Son, coming off his knee as everyone went for the ball.
Man City 2, Tottenham 1: 31. Phil Foden slotted City back into the lead from close range after reacting immediately to Julian Alvarez’ layoff following a move involving Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku.
Man City 2, Tottenham 2: 69. Giovani Lo Celso equalised with a low shot past Ederson after a loose pass by Julian Alvarez for Erling Haaland was intercepted by Spurs who counter attacked.
Man City 3, Tottenham 2: 81. Jack Grealish put City ahead again with a cool finish from 10 yards after Erling Haaland turned provider with a cutback following a through ball by Rodri who won the ball high up.
Man City 3, Tottenham 3: 90. Dejan Kulusevski beat Nathan Ake in the air to head home Brennan Johnson’s left wing cross – it looped in off the crossbar after leaving Ederson rooted.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Tottenham 3
Man City: Ederson, Walker (c), Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol (Ake 87), Rodri, Alvarez (Kovacic 87), Bernardo Silva, Foden (Lewis 73), Doku (Grealish 52), Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Phillips, Stones, Gomez, Bobb
Bookings: Rodri 35 (foul on Pedro Porro); Grealish 61 (dissent); Gvardiol 84 (foul on Oliver Skipp); Haaland 90+5 (dissent)
Goals: Son 9 og; Foden 31; Grealish 81
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Royal, Davies, Udogie, Gil (Hojbjerg 46), Bissouma (Richarlison 87), lo Celso (Skipp 79), Johnson (Donley 90+5), Kulusevski, Son
Tottenham Subs not used: Forster, Austin, Veliz, Santiago, Dorrington
Bookings: Udogie 38 (foul on Phil Foden); Porro 75 (foul on Jack Grealish); Kulusevski 90+2 (foul on Jack Grealish), Royal 90+4 (foul on Erling Haaland)
Goals: Son 6; Lo Celso 69; Kulusevski 90
Referee: Simon Hooper