Tottenham 2-0 Manchester City: Jose Mourinho's Spurs win eventful Premier League encounter
Steven Bergwijn's dream debut helped Jose Mourinho get one over his old rival Pep Guardiola as Tottenham beat Manchester City 2-0 in a drama-filled Premier League clash.
Bergwijn, a £25million signing from PSV Eindhoven this week, made an immediate impact as he opened the scoring in fine style, with Son Heung-min clinching the most impressive three points of Mourinho's reign in north London so far.
City, who were reduced to 10 men when Oleksandr Zinchenko saw red, missed a first-half penalty through Ilkay Gundogan while Sergio Aguero also hit a post as they failed to score for the first time in 24 away games.
Raheem Sterling was lucky to avoid a red card on a bad afternoon which saw City suffer a sixth defeat of the season, edging Liverpool even closer to the title.
For Spurs, this could do wonders for their top-four hopes as they are four points behind Chelsea and will hope to kick on from here.
It was a classic encounter between two heavyweights, filled with drama from the off.
The first moment of controversy came in the 12th minute when Sterling managed to swerve being dismissed.
The England international went in ankle high with his studs showing on Dele Alli, but referee Mike Dean only viewed it as a booking and VAR did not change his mind.
With 11 men on the pitch, City assumed control and, through Riyad Mahrez down the left, looked dangerous.
Mahrez was involved as they almost took the lead in the 27th minute as he latched on to a loose pass by Davinson Sanchez and played in Aguero, who looked destined to score, only for Hugo Lloris to somehow turn his shot onto a post with an outstretched foot.
That was only just the beginning of the drama though as VAR and, predictably, Dean came to the forefront in the build-up to half-time.
First City were awarded a penalty after Serge Aurier went through the back of Aguero. Dean did not award it at the time, but after play finally stopped over two minutes later after VAR had ruled it a foul.
Mourinho was seen laughing in the dugout, though there was more to come.
Lloris brilliantly saved Gundogan's effort from the spot, but Sterling got to the rebound before him and went tumbling to the floor.
Furious Spurs players were accusing him of diving and VAR decided there had been no foul.
Zinchenko and Toby Alderweireld were booked for their parts in the aftermath, but Sterling was not adjudged to have dived and escaped again.
City should have gone ahead early in the second half, but missed two gilt-edged chances in quick succession.
First, with Lloris out of position, Aguero had a shot cleared off the line by Alderweireld and then from the follow-up Gundogan blazed over from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
The game was changed on the hour as City were finally reduced to 10 men, with Zinchenko picking up a yellow card after cynically stopping the breaking Harry Winks.
Spurs needed only three minutes to take advantage as they took the lead with their first shot of the match.
It was a dream moment from Bergwijn as he controlled Lucas Moura's pass with his chest and sent a low volley into the bottom corner.
The hosts doubled their lead with their next shot eight minutes later.
Tanguy Ndombele slipped in Son and he shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area, with the help of a slight deflection.
City pushed for a way back into the game, but Kevin De Bruyne's curled cross was superbly tipped over by Lloris, while Sanchez headed against his own crossbar at the death.
Opta facts
- Spurs picked up their first Premier League win against Manchester City since October 2016, which was also a 2-0 victory on home soil (at White Hart Lane).
- Manchester City have now lost six games in the Premier League this season; their joint-most in a single campaign under manager Pep Guardiola (six in 2016-17).
- Spurs boss José Mourinho picked up his sixth win against Pep Guardiola across all competitions – only Jürgen Klopp has defeated him on more occasions (8). However, Mourinho has now won against Guardiola with four different teams (Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Spurs); the most of any manager.
- Manchester City have gone consecutive games without scoring for the first time under Pep Guardiola, having last done so back in March 2016 under Manuel Pellegrini (three games without a goal).
- Steven Bergwijn’s opener for Spurs saw him become the 250th player to score on his debut in the Premier League, and the 13th Dutchman to do so.
- Since the start of 2016-17, only Jamie Vardy (6) has scored more goals against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City than Spurs’ Son Heung-Min (5) across all competitions.
- Manchester City have failed to score four of the last six penalties they have taken across all competitions, with three different players accounting for these failed spot kicks (Gabriel Jesus x2, Sterling and Gündogan).
- Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has saved three of the last four penalties he has faced in the Premier League – indeed, the Frenchman has now made the joint-most penalty saves for the club in the competition (five - along with Heurelho Gomes).
- Oleksandr Zinchenko became the third Manchester City player to be sent off in the Premier League this season – no team have been awarded more red cards than Pep Guardiola’s side in 2019-20.
Reaction
Bergwijn said of his goal-scoring debut: "It's a dream for me that has come true. I'm so happy to be here and make a goal for Spurs."
Son, who added Spurs' second, said of his new team-mate on Sky Sports: "We are so happy that he's scored his first goal on his debut. Well deserved.
"Sometimes we had to defend all together but second half we came out strong. Steven scored an amazing goal and I think the lads did a really, really good job."
The South Korean forward is pleased to see Tottenham moving up the table ahead of the winter break, adding: "(It's an) amazing feeling. Before the winter break I think we are so good, very good confidence.
"Look at the fans they are happy, look at the players' smiles after the game, how important it is."