Erling Haaland returned from harm to clinch Manchester Metropolis’s 1-0 win at Tottenham because the troubled champions moved into fourth place within the Premier League on Wednesday.
Haaland had missed Metropolis’s Champions League play-off second leg exit in opposition to Actual Madrid and the Premier League defeat to Liverpool with a knee harm suffered in opposition to Newcastle on February 15.
The Norway star marked his return with the primary half winner in north London as Metropolis climbed one level above Chelsea, who had gone fourth after their win over Southampton on Tuesday.
It was Haaland’s twenty eighth objective in all competitions this season, with 10 of these coming in his final 11 video games to silence the critics after a barren spell earlier this season.
After 4 defeats of their final six video games in all competitions, this was a much-needed victory for Metropolis, who began strongly however rode their luck as Tottenham missed a sequence of second half possibilities.
Pep Guardiola’s aspect are nonetheless 1,000,000 miles away from the workforce that powered to 4 successive league titles previous to this season.
However Guardiola will take encouragement from the best way they floor out a gritty success at a time when so little goes proper for them.
Tottenham’s run of two consecutive wins got here to an finish, sustaining the inconsistency that has hampered them for a a lot of a turbulent marketing campaign.
Ange Postecoglou’s workforce are languishing in thirteenth place, with subsequent week’s Europa League final 16 first leg in opposition to AZ Alkmaar the membership’s sole focus to salvage the season.
– Second youngest line-up –
Haaland shot straight at Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario within the opening minutes as Metropolis made a vibrant begin.
He wasn’t to be denied for lengthy as Metropolis took the lead within the twelfth minute.
Jeremy Doku’s surge into the world opened up the Tottenham defence, with the Belgian’s cross placed on a plate for the unmarked Metropolis striker to complete from six yards.
Doku threatened to double Metropolis’s benefit as he minimize inside for a low strike that compelled cease from Vicario.
Ravaged by accidents, Tottenham named their second youngest ever beginning line-up in a Premier League match at a mean age of 23 years 243 days.
Postecoglou’s children discovered it inconceivable to cease Metropolis discovering holes of their defence again and again.
Doku picked out Savinho 5 yards from objective however the Brazilian’s scuffed shot flew over when it appeared inconceivable to overlook.
Haaland wasted a golden alternative with a close-range strike that Vicario saved together with his legs.
Tottenham practically snatched an equaliser in opposition to the run of play simply earlier than half-time as Kevin Danso’s header was tipped over by Ederson.
Metropolis have been uncovered once more early within the second half as Brennan Johnson’s teasing cross reached Wilson Odobert on the far publish, however the ahead poked extensive from 4 yards.
Ederson needed to scramble throughout objective to palm away Odobert’s deflected effort earlier than it might loop into the web.
Metropolis had misplaced their method and Tottenham ought to have been degree when Future Udogie discovered Mathys Tel in area, just for {the teenager} to shoot wastefully extensive.
Postecoglou despatched on Son Heung-min within the closing phases, however Ederson made an outstanding save to disclaim the South Korean earlier than Pape Sarr headed over on the dying as Metropolis held on.
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