Man City 3-3 Tottenham: Dejan Kulusevski’s 90th-minute equaliser earns Spurs amazing draw in thrilling game | Football News

Dejan Kulusevski conjured up a 90th-minute equaliser to earn Tottenham a 3-3 draw towards Manchester City in a thrilling game on the Etihad Stadium.

Jack Grealish had regarded to have come off the bench to win it for the Premier League champions however in a game of excessive drama, Tottenham, who had led early on by means of Heung-Min Son, mustered a second equaliser to finish their run of three consecutive defeats.

The match had all of it from the outset, Son scoring at each ends earlier than Phil Foden appeared to place City in management. But Erling Haaland wasted probabilities and Pep Guardiola’s aspect additionally struck submit and bar earlier than Giovani Lo Celso made them pay halfway by means of the second half.

Grealish thought he had determined it late on however Kulusevski had the ultimate say to reward Ange Postecoglou’s entertaining strategy. Spurs transfer again as much as fifth in the desk, whereas City miss the possibility to maneuver again to second and are actually three factors off leaders Arsenal.

The leisure was the main target however there was time for late refereeing drama when Simon Hooper elected to cease play for a foul on Haaland after briefly seeming to have performed on. It denied Grealish the possibility to race clear on purpose and sparked offended scenes.

Haaland continued his protests towards the choice on the closing whistle earlier than additionally tweeting his disbelief on the controversial name.

That was powerful on City however it’s their pattern for slipping up late on – having additionally dropped factors towards Chelsea and Liverpool of late – that can concern their supporters. And give the remainder of their Premier League rivals hope that the outdated ruthlessness just isn’t there proper now.

How amazing game unfolded

“I have the feeling it does not matter the result,” Pep Guardiola stated of Tottenham’s anticipated strategy on the eve of the game. “It does not matter the opponent, home or away – they do what they have to do. I like that.” If he needed an open game, he obtained it.

But it didn’t start how City would have hoped as a well-recognized foe punished them on the counter-attack. Son discovered himself remoted towards the backtracking Jeremy Doku and overpowered the winger earlier than slotting the ball past Ederson and into the web.

That gave Spurs one thing to hold onto however hanging on was by no means their plan. And moreover, the choice was solely accessible for a matter of moments till Son inadvertently diverted the ball previous his personal goalkeeper after Haaland had obtained a flick on Julian Alvarez’s cross.

“Haaland will be licking his lips,” Jamie Carragher instructed Sky Sports earlier than kick-off. Up towards two full-backs in the centre of the Spurs defence and with Yves Bissouma because the lone holding midfielder, he actually had his probabilities however was unusually wasteful early on.

The purpose was gaping when Bernardo Silva fed the ball to him after City received it excessive up the pitch – a product of Spurs’ dedication to go out from the again – however Haaland might solely drag the shot large of the submit. It was a let off however the subsequent likelihood was by no means distant.

Doku fired towards the underside of the crossbar and shortly after began the transfer that put his aspect in entrance, feeding Alvarez who had the composure to sq. the ball to Foden. It was traditional City, that willingness to play the additional go, carving Spurs open.

As admirable because it was that Tottenham had been reluctant simply as well the ball away, it solely appeared to encourage City. Alvarez hit the foot of the far submit after a free go by Emerson Royal. Haaland skied one other likelihood when nicely positioned. It risked turning into messy.

Postecoglou recognised that in changing Bryan Gil with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg firstly of the second half however the ways appeared unchanged as Tottenham continued to attempt to play out from the goalkeeper. Slowly however absolutely, they had been capable of achieve a foothold.

Guardiola was agitated even earlier than the equaliser, urging his gamers to go the ball somewhat than take too many dangers. Instead, Alvarez tried a lazy ball into Haaland and the ball discovered its solution to Son who arrange Lo Celso to twist a shot into the nook.

For City, it was one other instance of being made to pay for his or her lax defence of leads. This time, there was time to discover a response – with slightly assist from Bissouma.

The Spurs midfielder became bother in the type of Rodri who dispossessed him and despatched Haaland away down the proper channel. The striker’s capturing could have been uncharacteristically off however he discovered Grealish to brush in what regarded just like the winner.

Not in this game. Brennan Johnson, who labored tirelessly all through, despatched in a cross from the left and Kulusevski rose above Nathan Ake to spark wild scenes of celebration in the away finish. That Grealish would possibly but have received it displays what an astonishing game this was.

Guardiola: I cannot do an Arteta remark

Speaking to Sky Sports concerning the uncommon determination of the referee who appeared to play on earlier than bringing play again with Grealish by means of on purpose, Guardiola was reluctant to debate it. “Next question. I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment,” he stated.

“It is difficult while you overview the picture, the referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already stated to play on. After the go, the whistle, so I don’t perceive this motion.

“It was game, that’s crucial factor. It was a pity, similar because the Liverpool game, I had the sensation that at the moment that we made an unimaginable efficiency in all departments, towards a very good crew and supervisor and the way they play.

“We created lots of probabilities, we had been aggressive, extremely concentrated, and the sensation is that we nonetheless need to be there.

“It is a pity. Sometimes football is like life, you do not get what you deserve.”

Postecoglou: We obtained our reward

“It was an entertaining game, loads in it, Postecoglou instructed Sky Sports.

“We had been fortunate to be in it by half-time, City might have blown us away in that interval, a bit just like what occurred to us towards Villa final week.

“We hung in there, second half were a lot better, a lot more control and a lot more belief in the team. We got our reward for that which is great for the lads.”

On the character his aspect confirmed, he added: “It has been there all 12 months, the previous couple of outcomes have hidden that slightly however we’re on the naked bones slightly bit. I’ve requested gamers to play in unfamiliar positions however now we have nonetheless performed some respectable soccer.

“I feel the character has been there all 12 months however we actually wanted it at the moment.”

Analysis: Do Man City have an issue?

Going into the game towards Liverpool, Manchester City had received all 23 of their house matches in 2023. After that draw and one other dramatic late leveller in this 3-3 towards Tottenham, they’ve now did not win back-to-back Premier League video games.

In between, there was a wierd night time at house to RB Leipzig in which City went two targets down. Before that, there was that extraordinary 4-4 draw at Chelsea. It just isn’t so way back that they contrived to concede twice to a Wolves crew that had one shot heading in the right direction.

Guardiola is struggling to clarify what is occurring at each ends. Erling Haaland missed the goal when it appeared simpler to attain after which blazed over the bar from the same place. Doku hit the crossbar. Alvarez struck the submit.

Tottenham had been near being blown away. Instead, they salvaged a degree as a result of City’s wastefulness coincided with some exceptional ruthlessness of their very own. Spurs by some means scored three targets regardless of their expected-goals tally for the game being simply 0.49.

Guardiola refused in charge unhealthy luck. In the press convention after the game, he made the purpose that his mentor Johan Cruyff insisted that there isn’t any such factor. And there’s a feeling that City are permitting lulls in video games, drifting slightly somewhat than seizing the second.

Signs of Lo Celso’s equaliser to make it 2-2 halfway by means of the second half won’t have been there in the info however they might be felt contained in the stadium. Guardiola was agitated. Spurs had been enjoying by means of City simpler than that they had been all game.

The City boss insists that he sees the identical depth from his gamers this season as final however the management just isn’t fairly the identical with out Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in midfield. They stay formidable however factors are being leaked away, nonetheless.

Maintain the proper angle and Guardiola might be assured it is going to flip. The clear sheets will come. There might be a game in which they rating each likelihood and the temper turns, he insists. In the meantime, their rivals sense a gap. The Premier League title race is on.

What’s subsequent?

Manchester City face a difficult journey to Aston Villa on Wednesday, kick-off 8.15pm. They then head south to play Luton on Sunday, kick-off 2pm – a game stay on Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, Tottenham host West Ham in a spicy London derby on Thursday, kick-off 8.15pm. Next up, Newcastle are the guests to north London on Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm – a game stay on Sky Sports.