Haaland scores as Man City hang on to beat Tottenham

Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Manchester City held on for victory against Tottenham Hotspur to improve their hopes of a top-four finish.

City started strongly and went ahead in the 12th minute when Haaland met Jeremy Doku’s low cross with a first-time side-footed finish into the bottom corner, having been left unmarked.

Savinho should have doubled City’s lead when the lively Doku found him unmarked at the back post, but the Brazilian’s shot into the ground bounced over Guglielmo Vicario’s goal.

It took the hosts 45 minutes to test City goalkeeper Ederson, who tipped a header from Kevin Danso over the crossbar.

City broke at speed from the resulting corner but Matheus Nunes could not find Omar Marmoush at the back post with the Egyptian left all alone.

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After controlling the first half, the visitors faded after the break, with Ederson called into action to prevent Wilson Odobert’s deflected effort from looping over him.

Mathys Tel scuffed a finish with only the goalkeeper to beat as Spurs kept pushing, before substitute Pape Sarr sliced wide from a dangerous cut-back.

The introductions of Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min from the bench further shifted momentum, with the latter denied an equaliser by Ederson following a fast break.

Haaland thought he had scored a second City goal in stoppage time after bundling past two defenders, but referee Jarred Gillett judged that he handled the ball. Spurs immediately went up the other end and Sarr headed over from the hosts’ last chance to equalise.

Manchester City’s performances have improved in recent weeks, and for the first time in months they looked something like their usual selves in the first half.

Guardiola’s players exacted control and appeared to have a better understanding of when to attack at pace and when to keep possession and slow play down.

February signing Nico Gonzalez played in a more advanced midfield role alongside Mateo Kovacic, with Nunes tucking in from right-back when City had the ball. This was arguably the most successful solution to Rodri’s absence that Guardiola has found this season.

City found plenty of joy down the left as Doku, Gonzalez and Josko Gvardiol combined to great effect to create chances, though the finishing touch was more often than not missing.

Even when City flagged in the second half and Tottenham piled on the pressure, City avoided the kind of collapse that has become common this season.

Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov were excellent at the heart of City’s defence, while Ederson made key saves to keep the hosts at bay.

The end product from City was lacking for much of the game, however. On another night Tottenham might have punished City late on for their wastefulness in front of goal.

Victory moves City up to fourth in the table, while Spurs sit 13th.

(BBC)