Ederson’s 80-YARD assist!
Ederson finds Gundogan with a glorious pass to seal victory and put Pep’s leaders on course
MANCHESTER CITY goalkeeper Ederson produced an astonishing 80-yard assist for two-goal Ilkay Gundogan as Manchester City recorded their 16th consecutive victory in all competitions.
It stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a game in hand.
City opened the scoring midway through the first half when Rodri became their seventh different penalty-taker to try his luck from 12 yards and did just enough to beat a diving Hugo Lloris for his first goal of the season.
The second half then turned into the Gundogan show, though he later limped off. The German scored his 12th goal of the season shortly after half-time following a flowing move and then tucked away Ederson’s long pass to wrap up the points, his 11th in 12 games.
Jose Mourinho’s defensive strategy completely failed to stem the light blue tide and there will be questions as to why Dele Alli and Gareth Bale were only introduced from the substitutes’ bench in the second half.
It was Spurs’ fourth defeat in five and for City this was sweet revenge as they enjoyed a ninth consecutive top-flight win at the start of a calendar year — equalling another record shared with Bolton (1906) and Manchester United (2009)
Their last Premier League defeat came on November 21 when Spurs upset them 2-0 with a smash-andgrab. Since then, Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in 15 Premier League games and showing the consistency that saw them crowned champions in two of the past three seasons.
They are excellent frontrunners and the sight of Sergio Aguero back on the bench after Covid was an ominous sign for their rivals. Even Ruben Dias was able to have a rare rest, with Aymeric Laporte filling in at the back.
An empty Etihad is not quite the same as a packed Nou Camp or
Bernabeu, where these two famous managers used to clash so ferociously during their El Clasico encounters. But it clearly still meant a lot to both men who headed straight to their technical areas despite freezing temperatures. The only concession to their age was keeping their hands in their coat pockets while they shouted.
Tottenham’s substitutes’ list was more glamorous than their starting XI, with Bale, Alli and Joe Hart conversing in the stands as their team-mates struggled.
The only figure who looked capable of disrupting City’s monopoly was Harry Kane, who almost earned his side a shock lead singlehanded.
The England captain was tapped on the back of the legs by Laporte and took responsibility for the freekick on the edge of the penalty area himself. His curler was almost inch-perfect, evading the wall and beating Ederson — only to strike the upper part of the righthand post.
City’s passing tempo remained quick, however, and they deservedly took the lead after 23 minutes. Gundogan got goalside of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and got trod on as the Spurs midfielder stretched to challenge.
Mourinho waved his arms in disbelief but there were not any serious protests from the Spurs players and attention quickly switched to who would take the kick. City had missed nine penalties since the beginning of last season.
Gundogan, injured by the challenge, was not under consideration. Goalkeeper Ederson added to the intrigue by venturing to the halfway line to express interest before being turned around back to his goal by Bernardo Silva. In the end, Rodri stepped forward to become City’s seventh different penaltytaker in 18 months.
The holding midfield player converted but not without difficulty, Lloris getting a hand to his low kick but only pushing it into his righthand corner. Up in the stands, former City goalkeeper Joe Hart discussed with fellow Spurs subs Bale and Alli how close Lloris had come to a famous save.
It boosted City’s recent record from the spot to 10 from 18.
Though deservedly ahead, Phil Foden and Ra he em Sterling swapped flanks sniffing a second goal. Sterling claimed a penalty when his volleyed cross struck Ben Davies but referee Paul Tierney decided the Welshman could not
have got out of the way and his arm was down by his side.
City nearly added their second in the 42nd minute. In- form Gundogan, crowned Premier League Player of the Month after five goals in January, saw his goalbound shot blocked by Davinson Sanchez and Joao Cancelo squared the rebound to Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian had time to take aim from 18 yards but his shot skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Mourinho sent on Moussa Sissoko at half-time to add greater steel, with Lucas Moura making way, but their 5-4 extra-time FA Cup exit at Everton on Wednesday was always likely to take its toll on their stamina.
A gentle drift of snowflakes added to the visual spectacle, though there was little artistic about the way Spurs went about business.
In contrast, City’s little magicians conjured up a wonderful second goal four minutes into the second half. Sterling, Foden and Gundogan exchanged passes inside the box so that Spurs’ heavy-legged defenders could not get near them.
Sterling slipped the final pass into Gundogan whose toe- poke from close range did not give Lloris enough time to react as the ball squeezed past his legs.
Gundogan has stepped up to the plate since Kevin De Bruyne’s injury. The German did not have the reputation for goals but is clearly in the scoring form of his life.
His second goal — City’s third of the match — was even better. Ederson pumped an astonishing 80yard assist into the German’s path as he dashed towards the penalty area.
Gundogan showed wonderful composure to turn Sanchez inside out and leave him on the ground before tucking the ball home — the goal greeted by Guardiola lifting his arms aloft in joy on the touchline, while several City players ran back to congratulate their goalkeeper.
The only blow to a perfect day was Gundogan limping off soon afterwards, having appeared to tweak a groin muscle.
Bale made a belated appearance for Spurs, though what Mourinho expected him to do with his side t hree goals down i s anyone’s guess.
He did engineer some space in the penalty area after 81 minutes but Ederson produced a flying save to his left to keep the ball out.
I t was not a day to i nspire confidence in Tottenham to end t heir 13- year t r ophy drought when they face City again in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley on April 25.