Haaland heroics takes Man City closer to title
LONDON: Erling Haaland’s double strike against Tottenham Hotspur not only secured Manchester City a crucial 2-0 victory away from home but also positioned them on the brink of an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title.
The Norwegian striker displayed his clinical prowess by tapping in City’s opener early in the second half, before sealing the win with a powerful penalty in stoppage time, marking his 27th league goal of the season.
This triumph holds significant weight for Pep Guardiola’s side, as they had previously struggled at Tottenham’s new stadium, failing to secure a single point or score a goal in their four prior league visits. However, Haaland’s heroics shattered that jinx, much to the delight of City supporters.
With 88 points to Arsenal’s 86, City now control their destiny. A victory against West Ham United at home on Sunday would crown them as the first team to clinch four consecutive English titles. In contrast, Arsenal must beat Everton and rely on City slipping up to keep their hopes alive.
Despite the victory, City’s performance was not without its challenges, as substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega made crucial saves in the second half, including one to deny Son Heung-min just before Haaland’s decisive penalty.
For Tottenham, the defeat extinguished their slim hopes of finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League. Nevertheless, some sections of their fanbase seemed content with the result, preferring to thwart their arch-rivals Arsenal’s title ambitions.
The atmosphere at the stadium reflected the significance of the match, with Tottenham fans adopting City’s trademark Poznan celebration and taunting chants aimed at Arsenal.
City’s unbeaten streak of 22 league games underscores their mastery in navigating a title race, relentlessly pursuing Arsenal, who have proven to be more resilient than in previous seasons.
