Man City stun Tottenham with second-half double
Stephen Ireland netted from an off-side position on 59 minutes
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Sunday, 16, Mar 2008 06:10
Manchester City came from behind to stun Tottenham with a 2-1 win at Eastlands.
Robbie Keane scored an outrageous opener for Spurs in the first half, but City hit back with a controversial leveller from Stephen Ireland while Nedum Onuoha grabbed the winner.
The win for City moves them into eighth place, while Spurs' Carling Cup hangover continues as they remain in 11th spot.
Ledley King missed out for Spurs again with Michael Dawson and Alan Hutton returning, while Richard Dunne and Onuoha started for the home side.
The first chance of the game fell to Robbie Keane, who lashed a spectacular shot wide instead of squaring the ball to Aaron Lennon on three minutes.
Juande Ramos' side continued to enjoy the lion's share of the possession and came close to punishing Joe Hart flapping at a cross, with Steed Malbranque slicing his effort wide on 23 minutes.
City were furious they were not awarded a penalty on 27 minutes when Dawson blocked Michael Johnson's shot with his hand. Their sense of injustice rocketed when Spurs took the lead three minutes later when skipper Keane thumped a stunning effort into the top corner from a tight angle on the edge of the six-yard box.
Going behind spurred City into action with Nery Castillo screwing his shot wide, while Paul Robinson parried Elano's left-foot piledriver two minutes later.
Mexican Castillo wasted another chance on the stroke of halftime when sent clear, with his hesitancy allowing Pascal Chimbonda to produce a recovery tackle.
Ramos made one change at the break with Tom Huddlestone replacing Lennon.
Sven Goran Eriksson's side continued to carve out good chances with Castillo again wasting a chance from close range, while Jonathan Woodgate blocked Benjani's goal-bound drive.
The weekend's controversy over off-sides continued as Stephen Ireland tapped in from five yards to make it 1-1 from Elano's header towards goal on 59 minutes, with replays showing Ireland was clearly off-side.
Keane was then substituted by Ramos for Darren Bent and hurled his substitutes' jacket on the floor in anger.
City completed the comeback 18 minutes from time when Onouha's bullet header flew past Robinson following a corner.
The visitors thought they had equalised but the goal was ruled out for off-side despite replays showing the ball went in off a City defender.
Despite three minutes of stoppage time, Spurs were unable to salvage an equaliser as City snatched victory to end their three-game winless run.