The numbers are ridiculous. Following Tottenham’s remarkable 2-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday, here’s the statistical summary of the Premier League encounters between Spurs and City this campaign.
- Spurs shots against Manchester City this season: six
- Spurs goals against Manchester City this season: four
- Spurs points against Manchester City this season: four
- Manchester City shots against Spurs this season: 47
- Manchester City goals against Spurs this season: two
- Manchester City points against Spurs this season: one
Today, the insanity began in the 12th minute with Raheem Sterling catching Dele Alli high on his ankle with a nasty looking challenge. Mike Dean gave Sterling a yellow card and the VAR agreed that it was accidental rather than malicious, but José Mourinho did not agree.
Jose Mourinho had every emotion during that 45 minutes... #TOTMCI pic.twitter.com/DiwtrpuMTO
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 2, 2020
From there it was all City.
In the 27th minute, Sergio Agüero looked certain to open the scoring after being played free by Riyad Mahrez, but Hugo Lloris pulled off a stunning save to deny the Argentine.
WHAT A SAVE pic.twitter.com/2SpU6oCVG1
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2020
We then had a coming together between Agüero and Serge Aurier that looked like a possible penalty for City, but Dean wasn’t interested. However, the VAR was . . . it just took a couple minutes for them to be sure.
Nearly two minutes of play elapsed while VAR checked a potential penalty kick
It was awarded to City pic.twitter.com/zeffB45MO6— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2020
But no one on City can take a penalty, so Lloris saved from İlkay Gündoğan on this one. City has now failed to score on four of its last six penalties across all competitions.
An even bigger talking point at halftime was what happened after the save: Had Lloris fouled Sterling on the rebound? Should it have been another penalty? If not, why wasn’t Sterling booked for diving and given his second yellow card?
PENALTY SAVED BY LLORIS
This game is WILD pic.twitter.com/JDYgvSVgtN— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2020
It was a ridiculous first half.
This is why refereeing is the world’s favourite sport
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) February 2, 2020
Everyone reacting to the last 5 minutes of the Tottenham VS Manchester City game! #VAR #TOTMCI pic.twitter.com/lywMlB0NYb
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 2, 2020
Come for Pep v Jose. But stick around for Mike Dean. He's why we watch. Anyone who disagrees is a liar
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) February 2, 2020
But things only got stranger in the second.
City really should’ve opened the scoring in the 49th minute when they found themselves presented with a four-on-two opportunity (Lloris not even among the two), but Sterling couldn’t get his final pass right.
This sequence... pic.twitter.com/QBVKvrBRUG
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2020
Then, on the hour mark, everything changed. Oleksandr Zinchenko had already been booked for his part in the scuffle that occurred after the first half penalty, and he was handed his second yellow after taking down Harry Winks on the counter.
Zinchenko Red Card pic.twitter.com/3ym1HcJy7h
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2020
That paved the way for Tottenham’s first shot on target, and what a beautiful attempt it was from new signing Steven Bergwijn. The 22-year-old Dutchman was handed his debut just days after completing a $36 million transfer from PSV, and he’s now already a hero at Hotspur Stadium.
The disguised ball from Lucas Moura is brilliant as well.
BERGWIJN DEBUT GOAL
TOTTENHAM LEAD pic.twitter.com/Yd20xXt283— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2020
Again, the opening goal was somewhat against the run of play.
The first 15 shots in Spurs vs. Man City:
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
Spurs— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 2, 2020
But Tottenham’s second arrived just eight minutes later.
SON DOUBLES TOTTENHAM'S LEAD pic.twitter.com/scsWI5dckf
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 2, 2020
It’s another Mourinho master class.
Man City's 14 shots against Spurs:
Spurs' two shots against Man City:FIFA is real. pic.twitter.com/iPOIlxiJ5s
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 2, 2020
The victory sees Tottenham move within four points of Chelsea in fourth place. For City, the gap between themselves and Liverpool is at 22 points with 13 matches remaining.