Tottenham Hotspur stunned Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, earning a deserved 2-0 win thanks to first-half goals from Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha. The victory gives Spurs back-to-back clean sheets to start the season under new manager Thomas Frank and sends them top of the Premier League table.
Key Moments
- 35’ — Brennan Johnson opens the scoring: Against the run of play, Tottenham broke City’s high press. Richarlison surged down the right wing and squared to Johnson, who tapped home after a brief VAR check confirmed no offside in the build-up.
- 45+2’ — Palhinha pounces: City’s new keeper James Trafford misplayed a pass under pressure. The ball was intercepted by Pape Sarr, deflected to Richarlison, whose shot was blocked. But Palhinha smashed the rebound into the roof of the net to double Spurs’ lead just before halftime.
- Second half: City pushed for a response but rarely threatened. Rodri’s close-range header was well saved and City’s attack—including Haaland—struggled to break down a disciplined Spurs defense. Tottenham nearly extended their lead on several counterattacks.
Match Stats
- Possession: Man City 61% – Spurs 39%
- Shots: Man City 14 (4 on target) – Spurs 7 (3 on target)
- Key Players: Richarlison (2 assists), Johnson (1 goal), Palhinha (1 goal), Palhinha also starred in midfield, while James Trafford’s error topped a tough City debut at home.
Takeaways
- Tottenham: Ruthless with their opportunities, showing tactical discipline and capitalizing on mistakes. A powerful statement under Thomas Frank, still with zero goals conceded in the league.
- Man City: Controlled possession but created little and made fatal defensive errors. Pep Guardiola’s side faces questions after a rare home defeat and consecutive losses to Spurs at the Etihad.
A thrilling fixture that signals Tottenham’s intentions under new management—and leaves City with plenty to ponder going forward.