Man City vs. Tottenham result: Harry Kane's two goals give Spurs dramatic win at the Etihad

Sean Markus Clifford

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Man City vs. Tottenham result: Harry Kane's two goals give Spurs dramatic win at the Etihad image

The race for the Premier League title was blown wide open as Tottenham Hotspur stunned leaders Manchester City with a 3-2 win at the Etihad to also keep alive Spurs' hopes for a top-four finish.

A one-time Man City summer transfer target, Harry Kane scored two goals, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner to give Tottenham a win that stopped a three-match losing streak and moved it to within four points of Manchester United for fourth place and a spot in next season's Champions League. Kane also scored another goal that was wiped off the board for an offside infraction.

After its dominant midweek Champions League win, Man City entered the match as the in-form team and clear favorite, but they were in for a nasty surprise. Spurs scored after just four minutes as their new January arrival Dejan Kulusevski applied a simple finish on a Son Heung-min service.

City began to find their rhythm after 20 minutes, upping the tempo and finding a 33rd-minute equalizer. A Raheem Sterling cross was not dealt with by Tottenham's Hugo Lloris and Eric Dier, and the ball fell in stride for Man City's Ilkay Gundogan, who rifled into an empty net for the momentary 1-1 equalizer.

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In the second half, City had the ball but struggled to create quality chances against Tottenham's defense, which forced them into wide areas and dealt with the ensuing crosses. On the other end of the field, Spurs were deadly in transition, scoring a second after Son and Kane linked up. The Korean set up the England forward for a simple finish with a half-hour remaining in the match.

The visitors thought they had a third shortly after, when Kulsevski's deflected cross found Kane in the area, only for VAR to scratch the goal for an offside earlier in the move. That opened the door for a second City equalizer after Spurs defender Cristian Romero threw himself in front of Bernardo Silva's cross, only to give away a penalty as the ball hit his hand. Riyad Mahrez made no mistake from the spot in the 92nd minute, and the 2-2 draw looked like it would hold up as the final score.

But it was the North London outfit that had the last laugh deeper into stoppage time. The ball again found Kulusevski on the right, and he had the time to curl back on his left and float the ball towards the far post, where Kane crashed a header past Ederson for the goal that gave Spurs a famous win. 

Man City vs. Tottenham final score

Man City 2

Gundogan (33'), Mahrez (90+2')

Spurs 3

Kulusevski (4'), Kane (59', 90+5'),

Man City vs. Spurs updates

FULL TIME! What a remarkable game! Spurs managed to sucker punch City who, despite equalizing twice, couldn't do enough with the ball to ever get ahead of their visitors.

98th min: City have a free kick, inside Tottenham's half. It's played down the line for Walker to fire another ball across goal. Romero clears it, almost from under his own crossbar, and City come again.

97th min: Another City cross, this time from Cancelo, which Lloris holds onto and happily dives on top of, as the seconds tick away.

95th min: GOAL!

It's Kane again! Sanchez is on for Sessegnon. It's frenetic as Spurs move the ball up the pitch. Kulusevski is onside this time as the ball is played down the right. He cuts in onto his left and floats the ball towards the far post. Harry Kane beats Kyle Walker in the air, and Ederson is beaten.

93rd min: GOAL!

Mahrez goes right on the penalty, and it's rifled straight into the roof. Lloris had absolutely no chance. Spurs have four minutes to see out here, but City will be hoping for a winner.

91st min: PENALTY!

Romero slid in to make a block with his arm raised, and he'll be lucky to get away with this. Referee Anthony Taylor will take a look at the VAR monitor, as the fourth official announces seven minutes stoppage time. Taylor only needs a second to make his decision. Don't look away now. Mahrez looks like he'll be taking the spot kick.

89th min: Rodri receives the ball on the edge of the area, but is caught in possession. As has been the case throughout the game, City's players have struggled to get time on the ball in central areas. Laporte is on the ground, writhing. De Bruyne's ball finds Silva wide on the left, who fires the ball back across goal. It hits Romero, and there are huge appeals for a handball.

86th min: Mahrez lifts a ball in which is headed clear. The trio of Davies, Dier, and Romero have seen off everything. Walker's low cross is flicked towards goal by a teammate, but Ben Davies is in the way. Eric Dier is now down for treatment.

83rd min: Emerson Royal, who has improved as the game went on, with the help of Dejan Kulusevski, is replaced by Matt Doherty. Kane is back on the pitch, to more boos, and City come again.

82nd min: Harry Kane is down holding his lower back, but City don't care. They still can't find a clear sight of goal. Kane is up, holding his back, before going back down. Romero is also down. The home fans are not impressed.

80th min: Son leaves the pitch to be replaced by Lucas Moura. Spurs have a free kick in their right back position after Kevin de Bruyne gives away a needless foul. Lloris is booked for time wasting.

77th min: That disallowed goal has turned up the heat at the Etihad stadium. The home fans are in good voice now, and City are beginning to pile on the pressure. Romero is booked for once again grappling at a corner. The hosts keep sending the ball into the penalty area, and the Spurs defense keeps heading it away.

75th min: Kane thinks he's scored again. Davies spreads the ball out wide to Kulusevski on the right hand side. He cuts inside on the corner of the area and sends the ball toward the far post, but a deflection sees the ball land at the feet of Harry Kane. He shields the ball before spinning and firing towards goal. The celebrations of the traveling fans are cut short by VAR, with Kulusevski offside when Davies hit the ball out to him.

70th min: Cancelo's ball across the face of goal bounces off Davies. It could go anywhere, but ends up in the grateful grasp of Hugo Lloris. Sessegnon gives the ball away, and ends up fouling Mahrez while trying to make up for it.

68th min: Sterling is off for Mahrez, who has gone out to the right hand side for now. City continue to have the ball.

66th min: It's almost three! A counter from Spurs sees Son and Kane combining once again, as Son slides the ball into Kane in the area. It looks a certain goal, but Ederson spreads himself well to stop Spurs doubling their advantage. Now Lloris is down, holding his shoulder after saving a Gundogan effort from the edge of the area that was curling and dipping in to the far post.

63rd min: City are looking to hit back, but Spurs have held strong so far. The hosts will be wondering how they haven't scored more, for all the possession they've had.

59th min: GOAL!

Spurs get up the pitch in numbers. Kane's cross-field pass drops to Sessegnon, who passes to Son outside on his left. Son cuts back onto his right and drops the ball onto the edge of the six yard area, to leave Harry Kane with a simple finish.

58th min: Kane once again looks to put a teammate through on goal, but his pass doesn't find Kulusevski's run in behind City's high line. The Swede looked offside anyway.

57th min: It's more of the same from Spurs, with Kane dropping deep to receive the ball, before sending Son in behind. Kyle Walker manages to get back and hold Son up, forcing the Korean to take a shot from distance that doesn't trouble Ederson. At the other end, City go close, but can't find the finish after a quick passing move opens Spurs up.

52nd min: A delay before a City corner on the left, due to ongoing pushing and shoving. Eventually De Bruyne's ball gets a touch from Dias at the near post, which keeps it alive but evades everyone.

50th min: City have had more of the ball during the start of the second half. Spurs have to be careful not to sit off too much here, City's creative players are finding themselves with space and time.

46th min: The hosts get us underway for the second half. This one is finely balanced.

HALF TIME: A chance for everyone to catch a breath. Antonio Conte, who spent the latter stages of the half screaming at his team to calm down, will need it as much as anyone.

46th min: Sterling carries the ball into the area, but Romero does well to get himself between the England man and the ball, seeing the danger out for a goal kick.

42nd min: Walker drills a low cross across the area that is attacked by Sterling from the left. Emerson Royal throws himself in the way of Sterling's shot, and gets a kick for his troubles. There's a brief stoppage as he receives treatment.

40th min: The game has been a bit scrappy since the equalizer. Spurs have been more aggressive off the ball, and are looking to go more direct, while City are looking a little uncomfortable by the change in the flow of the game.

33rd min: GOAL!

Gundogan rifles home! Sterling crosses towards the near post from the left hand side, and Lloris is unconvincing. The ball falls to the feet of Gundogan, who has an easy finish.

32nd min: City have done well to turn the screw since going behind, but are yet to force Hugo Lloris into a save.

30th min: Foden glides into the box from the right, with the ball ending up on the opposite side, but good work by Royal and Romero see it out for a throw in. Spurs defending in almost a back six at times, with Kulusevski playing almost as a second right back.

28th min: The visitors are still posing a threat on the counter, as Walker beats Son to a ball fizzed down the line by Hojbjerg, but they don't look as composed in defense as they did earlier in the game.

26th min: City are finding all the space in the world on the left hand side, working the ball into the area for a Foden shot blocked by Davies. Emerson Royal doesn't seem sure when to close down and when to hold his position, and City are making the most of that.

23rd min: Cancelo goes close again. A City corner finds the fullback on the edge of the area, but his shot misses the target. Spurs look dangerous on the counter as Son runs in behind, but Kane's pass is behind the attacker.

21st min: City beginning to up the tempo now. After a one-two, Cancelo shoots from a tight angle. Lloris saves, although he was offside anyway. The visiting defense kept a good line. Moments later, Sterling drives into the box from the left, committing defenders before laying off to Gundogan, who can only hit the outside of the far post.

17th min: Cancelo goes close! The City man cuts inside from the corner of the box, dancing between Spurs defenders before curling the ball towards the far post. It's off target, but the best moment from a City player so far.

13th min: Son and Kulusevski had taken up deep positions off the ball, with Tottenham's 5-4-1 in defense keeping the middle compact. City are struggling to get the ball in the centre of pitch and are being forced to cross from wide.

9th min: City have had lots of the ball since conceding, but haven't been able to knit anything together yet. When they win it back, Spurs look a threat on the counter.

5th min: GOAL!

Kane sends Son in behind on the left, as Dias fails to play the Korean offside. Son attacks the box and squares the ball to Kulusevski for an easy finish from the edge of the area.

4th min: Both sides have had possession, but no early sights of goal yet.

1st min: Kick off! Spurs get the game underway in Manchester.

12:29pm: The teams are out on the pitch. Lots of eyes will be on Harry Kane after the protracted transfer saga in the summer.

12:25pm: Only five minutes to go now! The Etihad is filling up as the atmosphere builds under the lights.

12:11pm: After the day's earlier results, a win would be timely for Conte's men. They'll be hoping to keep pace with Arsenal and capitalise on West Ham's draw. Liverpool's win at home to Norwich means the gap between first and second is down to 6 points. Today's hosts, who have only dropped 2 points since the start of November, will want to make sure they don't let anything slip today.

11:46am: It's Hugo Lloris' 400th appearance for Spurs today, the North London side may need a big performance from their shot stopper if they're going to reverse their recent run of poor form today. It will be interesting to see how Conte sets his team up for the challenge at hand. Kulusevski's versatility means he has the freedom to pick between a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3.

11:38am: It's two changes to the City side that dealt with Sporting Lisbon so easily. Ilkay Gundogan and Kyle Walker get the nod today, with John Stones and Riyad Mahrez dropping to the bench.

11:37am: Eric Dier's expected return to the starting XI will be a boost for Antonio Conte, while Lucas Moura will start the game on the bench. January signings Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur are both trusted from the start.

11:32am: The Spurs lineup is announced:

11:30am: The team news is in for the hosts:

11:00am: Antonio Conte looks to be delighted with the news that Eric Dier is back in contention for today's match, claiming that the Englishman is an "important player" and "strong personality" for the North London outfit. No doubt, Tottenham could use his experience later on as they have leaked goals in the last few games.

10:45am: Despite Spurs' recent poor form, City boss Guardiola seems well aware of the threat the opposition poses to his side today. Particularly, the 51-year-old was full of praise for Son Heung-min, Harry Kane, and Lucas Moura.

10:30am: Welcome to Sporting News' live coverage as Manchester City's assault on the Premier League title continues. All eyes will be on Harry Kane, traveling to Etihad Stadium for the first time since his potential summer transfer fell through.

All Times Eastern

Sean Markus Clifford