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Wednesday May 5, 2010 29th Day Finished The City of Manchester Stadium

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Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur

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  1. Spurs seal fourth place

    Spurs seal fourth place

    Tottenham will be in the Champions League next season after they beat Manchester City 1-0 to seal fourth place in the Premier League. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Manchester City
    • Tottenham Hotspur
    • 90+4' The final whistle goes, and Spurs are in the Champions League! It's heartbreak for big-spending City, but surely their time will come sooner rather than later.
    • 90+4' Bentley and Bale shield the ball in the corner, eating up a valuable 15 seconds.
    • 90+3' ALMOST TWO FOR SPURS! Crouch nonchalantly plays Pavlyuchenko into space inside the box and the Russian striker fires a first-time strike that forces a good save from Fulop! Corner to Spurs.
    • 90+1' "City 'til I die" is the chant going around Eastlands from the home fans. They've not given up hope yet.
    • 90' Four minutes of added time. That's what City have got to try and keep their European dream alive.
    • 89' Tottenham substitution: Wilson Palacios replaces Modric.
    • 88' Tevez toils down the right, but he gives away a goal kick. A few fans are starting to head for the exits.
    • 87' City have pretty much all of their remaining subs strippd and ready to come on, while Palacios is about to enter for Spurs.
    • 86' Vieira plays a ball up to Santa Cruz, but the Paraguay forward looks a little off the pace and he can#'t reach it.
    • 84' City substitution: Roque Santa Cruz replaces Bellamy.
    • 83' Crouch's 13th goal of the season has put Tottenham less than 10 minutes away from a place in the Champions League!
    • 82' GOAL!! Spurs have the lead! Kaboul gets past Bridge and fires his cross in. Fulop palms it right at Crouch who doesn't miss his header this time!!
    • 82' It's a real battle in midfield here as both sides know how important these closing stages are.
    • 81' Tottenham substitution: Roman Pavlyuchenko replaces Defoe.
    • 79' Tevez barges forward once more and fires a solid strike on goal that King heads clear! The Spurs skipper has been a rock once again for his club.
    • 78' If that header had gone either side of Fulop it surely would have been a goal. Will Spurs live to regret that miss?
    • 77' Modric finds Bale with a glorious pass with the outside of his boot. Bale fires in the low cross for CROUCH... hit right at the feet of Fulop! What a chance ofr Spurs!
    • 76' Nice move by Spurs as Huddlestone tees up Modric for the strike from distance... well over the bar.
    • 75' Wright-Phillips sends in a dangerous cross and King shows a cool head to put behind for a corner.
    • 74' Dawson sends a Tevez cross well clear with a diving header. He'll be called upon to do some more of that before the night is through.
    • 73' Crouch weaves his way past two men beofre finding Bale, but the Welshman over-hits his cross and Bentley's from the other flank is caught by Fulop.
    • 72' City substitution: Shaun Wright-Phillips replaces Johnson.
    • 72' Spurs substitution: David Bentley replaces Lennon.
    • 71' SO CLOSE FOR SPURS! Assou-Ekotto fires in a great low ball that neither Defoe nor Crouch can meet with an outstretched leg!
    • 70' Now it's Tottenham's turn to put City under a bit of pressure, but they too struggle to fashion a chance.
    • 69' Kaboul attacks the corner at the far post, but can't get his head to it. Goal kick to City.
    • 68' Crouch heads a Spurs corner down into the mixer, but it's scrambled clear and then struck over the bar for a goal kick. Defoe forces Toure into conceding another corner.
    • 67' Crouch turns back across the edge of the City box and finds Modric, but the little Croatian can't wriggle his way through on goal.
    • 66' Assou-Ekotto gets hit in the face as he blocks a de Jong pass, but the referee gives the handball and a yellow card to the Spurs full-back.
    • 65' This is another spell of decent City pressure. Can they make it count?
    • 64' Aaron Lennon does his bit in defence, doing enough to win a goal kick off Bridge.
    • 64' Huddlestone appears to handle the ball as de Jong knocks it past him! Fortunately for him, the referee didn't see that, otherwise he might be walking!
    • 63' Tevez takes his turn to power down the right, but his low ball into the area is collected by Gomes.
    • 62' Adebayor bundles his way into the box but finally loses out.
    • 62' Huddlestone takes a free-kick quickly down the channel for Defoe, but the striker was offside.
    • 61' Adebayor leaps above Adebayor at the far post but sends his header high of the target.
    • 60' Bellamy pings a cracking cross over for Adebayor, who is beaten to the punch by King but Johnson wins City a corner.
    • 58' Huddlestone and de Jong tussle for a loose ball on the edge of the box, and the referee gives it City's way and books the Spurs midfielder for a little bit of afters.
    • 57' City substitution: Patrick Vieira replaces Barry. The England midfielder looked in some distress as he left the field. Worrying signs for Capello.
    • 56' Spurs make the most of their one-man advantage and Bale sends Defoe into the box! He fires across goal, but Fulop saves!
    • 55' Barry is hobbling off around the pitch, being helped by two physios. It looks like Patrick Vieira will replace him.
    • 54' This break in play gives City fans the chance to make a right racket! the atmosphere is a great one at Eastlands.
    • 53' Gareth Barry seems to have taken a knock to his ankle, and is being treated on the pitch.
    • 52' Lennon charges forward through the centre and lines up a strike... it ricochets off a City defender. Bale was in acres of space on the left, screaming for the ball, but Lennon only had eyes for goal.
    • 51' Defoe puts enough pressure on Kompany to make the Belgian hack the ball out for a throw. Assou-Ekotto drills a low, harmless shot wide of Fulop's goal.
    • 50' Johnson fires a devilish cross to the near post, Barry knocks it back across goal but Dawson hacks it away from the open goal! Spurs cut apart there!
    • 49' Tevez looks to have the beating of King... the flag is up as the Argentine enters the area. Just as well, as King was in trouble there.
    • 48' Bale surges towards the City box but is dispossessed by a clean tackle from de Jong. For all of City's big attacking signings, the dogged Dutchman has been a key part of their season.
    • 47' Dawson and Lennon combine to clear the danger.
    • 47' Johnson's mazy run sees the ball come to Tevez, who miscues his strike from the edge of the box. city do earn a corner though...
    • 46' No changes for either side at Eastlands, and Spurs kick off for the second half!
    • HT There is another match going on tonight, byt the way: Fulham are drawing 0-0 with Stoke at Craven Cottage. Fulham v Stoke: LIVE
    • 45+3' The whistle blows for half-time.
    • 45+3' Barry is called up for a foul as the corner came in, Spurs will hold on until the break.
    • 45+2' Great football from City here and Spurs are really under the cosh. Toure stays up with the attack and his ball back from the byline yields only a corner.
    • 45+1' Three minutes of added time are signalled.
    • 45' Crouch receives some treatment after an awkward landing.
    • 44' Barry finds Tevez on the edge of the box, but King sends him wide and the Argentine fires into the sidenetting from an acute angle.
    • 42' Johnson forces another corner off Assou-Ekotto. Bellamy's ball finds Toure... this time it's on target, but an easy catch for Gomes.
    • 41' Tevez is dropping deep and playing a big part in many of City's best attacks.
    • 40' Tevez chips a good ball over the top for Adebayor and Kaboul has to react quickly to nudge the striker off the ball and clear. Good defending.
    • 39' Lennon dinks a ball to Crouch at the far post who nods it down for BALE TO STRIKE... the crisply-struck half-volley flies wide of the near post! If that had been on target Fulop would have had no chance!
    • 38' Lennon sends a high ball over for Defoe, who is penalised for holding off Toure unfairly.
    • 37' Assou-Ekotto heads Zabaleta's cross away for a throw. Tevez is hounded until he gives the ball away.
    • 36' This time it's Johnson who is caught offside for City.
    • 35' It's a good delivery to the head of TOURE... headed over the bar! That has to go down as a chance for the City captain.
    • 34' Some sustained pressure from City here, and Bale almost turns the cross past GOmes, who again reacts well! Zabaleta's follow-up shot is deflected over. Corner to City...
    • 33' Defoe chases down a pass back from Toure to Fulop, and the Hungarian keeper clears. The Spurs striker has barely had a touch so far.
    • 32' The last time City were in the European Cup, in 1968-69, they lost to Fenerbahce in the first round.
    • 31' Bellamy whips in a pacey free-kick, but Spurs clear and Zabaleta is penalised for obstructing Defoe. Bellamy boots the ball miles away and lucky not to get booked.
    • 30' Kaboul gets the game's first booking for a foul on Adebayor.
    • 29' Dawson wins the header, but it's blocked and Spurs will make do with a throw. The ball ends up with Fulop, a former Spurs keeper.
    • 28' Now Spurs have another corner. All of their big men come up again...
    • 27' Adebayor meets the next corner with a header that floats over the bar.
    • 27' The corner is only cleared as far as JOHNSON... Gomes reacts well to dive to his left and turn Johnson's effort behind!
    • 26' This time, Bale's delivery is an easy catch for Fulop. City come forward and Tevez tries his luck from range... headed behind by King for a corner!
    • 25' Bale is fouled on the wing, and again Spurs have plenty forward.
    • 24' Spurs haven't been in Europe's premier club competition since 1961-62, when they lost to Benfica in the semi-finals.
    • 23' City win a midfield scrap and Bellamy finds Johnson out wide. King blocks the cross and Assou-Ekotto clears, but City retain the ball.
    • 22' Adebayor goes to ground after jumping to reach Zabaleta's cross, but even he doesn't appeal and play goes on.
    • 21' GOAL!! NO, DISALLOWED!! King rose above Barry to head past Fulop, but the referee saw him pushing on the shoulders of his marker! Just as well really, as Johnson handled it on the line as it went in!
    • 20' Lennon runs at Bridge, who blocks the cross behind for another Spurs corner.
    • 18' OFF THE POST!! Bale sends the in-swinger over to Crouch, who hits the far post with a header! Assou-Ekotto sends the ball in again and Kompany appears to pull Crouch down on the edge of the box, but no free-kick given and Fulop collects.
    • 17' Spurs have a free-kick deep on the left. Bale floats it over for Kaboul, who is fouled on the opposite wing by Bridge.
    • 16' Carlos Tevez is City's top scorer in the league with 23 goals, compared to Spurs' top marksman, Jermain Defoe, who has 18.
    • 15' City build from that clearance and have plenty forward, but Zabaleta doesn't read Tevez's pass out wide and Spurs have a goal kick.
    • 14' Modric's corer is bound for Kaboul at the far post, but it's just flicked away from him at the last moemnt. The Frenchman does well to get the ball back, but ultimately City clear.
    • 13' Johnson heads Bale's throw behind for a Spurs corner. Kaboul, King and Dawson all come up for it.
    • 12' Bale tracks back to thwart Zabaleta at the expense of a throw. Johnson tussles with Assou-Ekotto and concedes a free-kick by the Spurs corner. Gomes will hoof it upfield.
    • 11' Adebayor is caught offside and looks astonished, as though he's never seen a linesman's flag before.
    • 10' Spurs repel the game's first corner, but they are being penned in by the home side at the moment.
    • 9' The left-back is back on the pitch and just in time - he stops Johnson's progress down the left. Another strong run in from Tevez wins City a corner.
    • 8' Assou-Ekotto hobbled away from that incident and goes off for treatment. City have a throw on the far side.
    • 7' What a run from Tevez! He gets past Dawson and surges for the area. AssouEkotto comes across but over-runs the ball and Tevez has a sight of goal... Gomes is quick off his line to smother the shot!
    • 6' City are seeing much more of the ball now. Spurs are keeping them at bay.
    • 5' Kaboul nobbles Bellamy from behind on the halfway line. The Welsh forward looks in some pain, but he's up soon enough and receives a quick bit of treatment on the field.
    • 4' It's an adrenaline-fuelled start to this match. Dawson fouls Tevez in midfield.
    • 3' Bellmay surges in from the left and finds Barry, but the midfielder's first time shot is hastily sent over the bar.
    • 2' Crouch fights Barry off the ball and slips it down the right for Lennon to chase, but even he is not quick enought to catch it. Lennon gave Sylvinho nightmares when Spurs won 3-0 at White Hart Lane in December - Wayne Bridge will be a tougher opponent.
    • 1' Right away Adebayor finds Johnson, but the England prospect's touch is heavy and Assou-Ekotto shields the ball all the way to Gomes.
    • 1' City kick off and this HUGE match is underway!
    • - How are those nerves? Share your thoughts, comments, worries, fears, hopes and dreams below.
    • - The teams are greeted with a huge roar as they walk out on to the pitch! We'll be underway very shortly...
    • - One thing is for sure, whoever fails to reach the promised land will have to deal with plenty of schadenfreude from their more illustrious neighbours. Avoiding that will be almost as important as the potential £50m jackpot on offer for the victory.
    • - Nessum Dorma is belting out around Eastlands. The atmosphere is electric, and so it should be - this is almost a cup final for these sides. With City and Spurs facing West Ham and Burnley respectively on the final day, whoever wins this match tonight will be in the box seat to finish fourth.
    • - Since City rejoined the Premier League in 2000, they have only beaten Spurs once at home.
    • - Man City league form: WdlWwW.
    • - Spurs league form: WlWWlW.
    • - Man City v Spurs - all-time league head-to-head: City 45 wins, Spurs 46 wins, 30 draws.
    • - Harry Redknapp has stoked this fixture up nicely by claiming that City threatened to steal Wilson Palacios off them when the two clubs were both bdding for Craig Bellamy last January, something City strenuously deny. Read more here!
    • - Spurs boss Harry Redknapp says all the pressure is on Manchester City ahead of the clash which could decide who finishes fourth. Video: All the pressure on city
    • - City manager Roberto Mancini remains more philosophical on the matter: "It is a football match, not a war." Video: Mancini calm
    • - All of Eurosport-Yahoo!'s regular bloggers have been having their say on tonight's match. Here's a selection of their thoughts:
    • - Early Doors: "It's game that City simply have to win if they are to become an attractive proposition for the kind of players their rich owners yearn to see at the club. The offer of Champions League football is the only way this will happen - Buffon has said as much this week - and a Europa League berth will simply not do if City are to compete with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona in the transfer market this summer." Read more here!
    • - Jim White: "What's bigger than big? Massive of course. A quirk of the fixtures computer and the race for fourth place in the Premier League has become a cup final. A massive one. Tonight's encounter between Manchester City and Tottenham has a winner-takes-all quality that lifts it way above the norm. Not least because it is rare indeed to encounter two clubs so desperate for success. Boy do they want it." Read more here!
    • - Danny Murphy: "City have invested massively and this does put extra pressure on the shoulders of Mancini. If they don't achieve fourth, then the club will surely question the management given the financial backing provided. Redknapp, on the other hand, has guided Tottenham through a great transitional period for the club. They have moved forward massively in recent years and their hard work and endeavor have been well rewarded with an impressive season that they can hopefully see through." Read more here!
    • - Paul Parker: "City have been poor in big games at home this season - they haven't got the tempo and they rely far too much on Tevez. If he can be stifled, City can be stopped from playing. Mancini is a manager under pressure - he absolutely has to win the game and qualify for Champions League whereas there doesn't seem to be the same pressure on Redknapp." Read more here!
    • - Here are the teams for tonight's clash! Your referee is Steve Bennett. Only Mike Dean and Martin Atkinson have shown more yellow cards than him this season - the Orpington official dishes out bookings at a rate of 4.1 per game.
    • - MAN CITY: Fulop, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge, Adam Johnson, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor. Subs: Nielsen, Richards, Onuoha, Wright-Phillips, Santa Cruz, Sylvinho, Vieira.
    • - TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Kaboul, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale, Crouch, Defoe. Subs: Alnwick, Bentley, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Palacios, Gudjohnsen, Bassong.
    • - The word is that Barry, Gomes, Lennon and King all start tonight!
    • - We're awaiting confirmation of tonight's teams, but we know that City defender Joleon Lescott is definitely ruled out and Gareth Barry could return to the midfield for the Sky Blues. Spurs are hopeful that goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is fit to start after sustaining a muscle injury in the weekend win over Bolton, while centre-back Ledley King will have a late, late fitness test. More Man City v Spurs team news
    • - Tottenham Hotspur can seal their place in the Champions League qualifiers if they can win the crunch clash at top four rivals Manchester City. Premier League table
    • - Emmanuel Adebayor has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League matches against Tottenham.
    • - There have been exactly three goals scored in each of the last eight Premier League meetings between City and Spurs.
    • - Eight of the last 10 Premier League matches between City and Spurs have ended with a 2-1 scoreline.
    • - Spurs have won 10 and lost one of the last 11 Premier League matches against Man City.
    • - Jermain Defoe has scored five goals in nine Premier League games for Tottenham against Man City.
    • - Only Arsenal (19 times) have beaten Man City on more occasions than Spurs in the Premier League era (18).
    • - Spurs have won away at Man City more often than at any other club in the Premier League era (eight times in 12 games).
    • - Manchester City are the only side not to have lost a game after scoring first in the Premier League this season.
    • - Both Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor have scored in three of City’s last five league games. The Citizens failed to score in the other two.
    • - Spurs have won only three of their last 12 away league games, losing the last two 3-1.

  • Summary

    • 90+3' ALMOST TWO FOR SPURS! Crouch nonchalantly plays Pavlyuchenko into space inside the box and the Russian striker fires a first-time strike that forces a good save from Fulop! Corner to Spurs.
    • 82' GOAL!! Spurs have the lead! Kaboul gets past Bridge and fires his cross in. Fulop palms it right at Crouch who doesn't miss his header this time!!
    • 77' Modric finds Bale with a glorious pass with the outside of his boot. Bale fires in the low cross for CROUCH... hit right at the feet of Fulop! What a chance ofr Spurs!
    • 71' SO CLOSE FOR SPURS! Assou-Ekotto fires in a great low ball that neither Defoe nor Crouch can meet with an outstretched leg!
    • 56' Spurs make the most of their one-man advantage and Bale sends Defoe into the box! He fires across goal, but Fulop saves!
    • 50' Johnson fires a devilish cross to the near post, Barry knocks it back across goal but Dawson hacks it away from the open goal! Spurs cut apart there!
    • 39' Lennon dinks a ball to Crouch at the far post who nods it down for BALE TO STRIKE... the crisply-struck half-volley flies wide of the near post! If that had been on target Fulop would have had no chance!
    • 35' It's a good delivery to the head of TOURE... headed over the bar! That has to go down as a chance for the City captain.
    • 34' Some sustained pressure from City here, and Bale almost turns the cross past GOmes, who again reacts well! Zabaleta's follow-up shot is deflected over. Corner to City...
    • 27' The corner is only cleared as far as JOHNSON... Gomes reacts well to dive to his left and turn Johnson's effort behind!
    • 21' GOAL!! NO, DISALLOWED!! King rose above Barry to head past Fulop, but the referee saw him pushing on the shoulders of his marker! Just as well really, as Johnson handled it on the line as it went in!
    • 18' OFF THE POST!! Bale sends the in-swinger over to Crouch, who hits the far post with a header! Assou-Ekotto sends the ball in again and Kompany appears to pull Crouch down on the edge of the box, but no free-kick given and Fulop collects.
    • 7' What a run from Tevez! He gets past Dawson and surges for the area. AssouEkotto comes across but over-runs the ball and Tevez has a sight of goal... Gomes is quick off his line to smother the shot!
    • - MAN CITY: Fulop, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge, Adam Johnson, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor. Subs: Nielsen, Richards, Onuoha, Wright-Phillips, Santa Cruz, Sylvinho, Vieira.
    • - TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Kaboul, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale, Crouch, Defoe. Subs: Alnwick, Bentley, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Palacios, Gudjohnsen, Bassong.
    • - Tottenham Hotspur can seal their place in the Champions League qualifiers if they can win the crunch clash at top four rivals Manchester City. Premier League table

Team lineup & ratings

  • Lineup

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Starting line-up

      • M. Fülöp
      • P. Zabaleta
      • K. Touré
      • V. Kompany
      • W. Bridge
      • N. de Jong
      • G. Barry Substitution Out (57′)
      • A. Johnson Substitution Out (72′)
      • C. Bellamy Substitution Out (84′)
      • C. Tévez
      • E. Adebayor

      Subs

      • P. Vieira Substitution In57′
      • R. Santa Cruz Substitution In84′
      • S. Wright-Phillips Substitution In72′
      • N. Onuoha
      • G. Nielsen
      • M. Richards
      • Sylvinho

    • Starting line-up

      • Gomes
      • Y. Kaboul Yellow Card
      • M. Dawson
      • L. King
      • B. Assou-Ekotto Yellow Card
      • T. Huddlestone Yellow Card
      • A. Lennon Substitution Out (71′)
      • G. Bale
      • L. Modric Substitution Out (89′)
      • P. Crouch Goal
      • J. Defoe Substitution Out (81′)

      Subs

      • E. Gudjohnsen
      • J. Jenas
      • D. Bentley Substitution In71′
      • B. Alnwick
      • S. Bassong
      • W. Palacios Substitution In89′
      • R. Pavlyuchenko Substitution In81′

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      Substitution Out57′ - -
      Substitution Out72′ - -
      Substitution Out84′ - -
      Strikers
      - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In57′ - -
      Substitution In84′ - -
      Substitution In72′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card - -
      Substitution Out71′ - -
      - -
      Substitution Out89′ - -
      Strikers
      Goal - -
      Substitution Out81′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In71′ - -
      Substitution In89′ - -
      Substitution In81′ - -

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