Son ‘Kanes’ Man City in perfect start for Tottenham Hotspur
By Benson Mbare, August 15, 2021
Nuno Espírito Santo’s Tottenham Hotspur managed to record their first win of the season with a 1-0 win over rivals Manchester City in a mouth-watering opener.
Spurs got off to a perfect start with a 1-0 win courtesy of Heung-Min Son’s second-half strike on an exciting Super Sunday.
With the future of spurs talisman Harry Kane uncertain, it was Son who stepped up his game, in a fiercely competitive contest, with a precise finish in 55 minutes.
City on the other hand would rattle the spur’s goalpost with new signing Jack Grealish on his debut with a penetrative dart inside three minutes, drawing a clumsy foul from Oliver Skipp on the edge of the penalty area.
Attacking midfielder Ilkay Gundogan would latch on a beautiful pass from Riyad Mahrez with a curled effort clipping the wall on its way just over.
The resulting corner, Grealish playing a short one to Benjamin Mendy as Fernandinho rose in front of Hugo Lloris to meet his cross only to head inches wide.
Minutes later, another dead-ball situation caused in the City rear-guard forced City goalkeeper Ederson coming out to collect the ball only to lose the ball. The ball broke loose to Lucas Moura, whose shot was hacked off the line by Gundogan.
City head coach Pep Guardiola turned to Gabriel Jesus in place of the fading Sterling, and the Brazilian came close to creating the equaliser as he found Grealish’s inside the box, but his shot from the angle drew a comfortable save from Hugo Lloris.
Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was introduced in the final 10 minutes as City moved to three at the back, but it was Tottenham who would come close to a second as Son showed good hold-up play before shaping another trademark shot just wide.
However, Spurs would hold on to win the game and secure the much-needed points with their talisman Harry Kane watching from the stands.
Tottenham were without Harry Kane as Heung-Min Son led from the front with man of the march Japhet Tanganga preferred to Matt Doherty at right-back while new signing Cristian Romero had to make do with a place on the bench.
Jack Grealish was handed his full Manchester City debut as Pep Guardiola made a raft of changes to the side beaten in the FA Community Shield. Nathan Ake partnered with Ruben Dias in defence while Benjamin Mendy started at left-back.