Tuesday May 10, 2011 Day 33 Finished Etihad Stadium

  1. City clinch top-four finish

    City clinch top-four finish

    Manchester City sealed a place in next season's Champions League with a 1-0 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur at Eastlands. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Manchester City
    • Tottenham Hotspur
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match from 00:01 on Wednesday morning (UK only).
    • 90'+5 There it is! All over at Eastlands and Manchester City seal a spot in next season's Champions League! And finally, all that money invested in the squad looks to be paying off!
    • 90'+5 Tevez! Denied by Cudicini! Great chance to end it in style!
    • 90'+4 The whistle goes and half the ground think that's it! It's not - yet....
    • 90'+3 Van der Vaart is crowded out in the box and surely now that's that!
    • 90' Five minutes of added time to be played!
    • 89' Richards dives in to head clear Corluka's dangerous ball in behind! Brave and vital header!
    • 88' And that's the last action of the night for Gallas, who limps off again and is this time replaced by Kaboul.
    • 87' What a chance for City! Vieira should score but he's thwarted by Gallas who manages to get back and head off his own line!
    • 86' Rose gets the bal across but Hart is there to claim the ball, to huge cheers from City fans! They're nearly there!
    • 84' City are making inroads into the Spurs defence now as they look to kill off the game.
    • 83' Here comes Tevez! David Silva is taken off...
    • 83' Pienaar now is booked....
    • 82' Dzeko! Oh dear, that awful from the Bosnian! He misjudges his first-time effort and the ball is skied high into the stands.
    • 81' Lennon pings a ball to Van der Vaart on the edge of the box, but the Dutchman's effort sails way over the bar.
    • 80' Milner trips the onrushing Rose and he's deservedly booked.
    • 78' Tevez sits back down on the bench... Mancini gets mad at him and tells him to get back out there and warm up! Tevez gives some back!
    • 77' Spurs make a change: Defoe on for Crouch.
    • 76' Toure goes down now in the box as Corluka blocks his run... no penalty says referee Mike Dean!
    • 74' City fans are beginning to celebrate in the stands... they know that in 15 minutes or so, their team will have sealed a place in next season's Champions League - if they can keep Spurs at bay.
    • 73' Tevez is still warming up... you can tell he just wants to get on the pitch!
    • 72' Toure shows some pace with a run down the right flank... but his cross is overhit and Silva is forced to retrieve the ball from near the corner flag.
    • 71' Time is running out for Spurs here... remember, they need two goals to keep alive their hopes of catching City in fourth.
    • 70' Gallas hobbles off for a second time tonight.
    • 69' Gallas goes down again after landing awkwardly from an aerial challenge, this time clutching his other leg.
    • 68' Silva! Great chance for City to grab a second! Wasted! He just misses his kick completely from Toure's pass!
    • 67' No, it's Vieira who will come on, the Frenchman replacing Johnson.
    • 65' Tevez is still out warming up...
    • 64' City just can't get out of their own half at the moment... it's all Spurs.
    • 63' Sandro wins a corner off Gallas and Spurs have got City pressed back in their own half with period of sustained pressure.
    • 62' Van der Vaart takes it... straight into the wall...
    • 61' Modric wins a free-kick and there's a little danger for City here... 25 yards out, slightly to the left of centre.
    • 60' An hour gone now and Spurs are still chasing the game.
    • 59' Van der Vaart! He finds himself with a moment to turn and look up as Pienaar's pass finds him on the edge of the box... but his shot flies well over the bar!
    • 57' Here comes Kolorov... Zabaleta is already in the bowels of the stadium.
    • 55' Yes, it looks like Kolorov is going to come on. Zabaleta will be fine for Saturday though.
    • 54' Zabaleta's still off the pitch with doctors unable as yet to stem the flow of blood pouring from his nose. He might have to call it a day...
    • 53' Corluka centres for Crouch, but this time the lanky striker doesn't win the ball.
    • 52' Crouch leaps high to meet a long ball forward but he only succeeds in catching Zabaleta in the face. Blood pours, and Zabaleta is forced off to get cleaned up.
    • 50' Dzeko now slides in on Lennon, but he's pulled up for a foul on the England winger.
    • 49' Modric slides in on Richards to end the City full-back's run forward.
    • 48' Pienaar! No! What a save by Hart! Lennon's cross is met by the South African with a firm downward header but Hart is equal to it with a Gordon Banks-esque save!
    • 47' No changes to tell you about at the break... Gallas appears to have recovered from that knock and he's back out on the pitch.
    • 46' Back under way at Eastlands...
    • 45'+4 There goes the half-time whistle and it's City who head in at the break a goal to the good, thanks to that own-goal from Peter Crouch.
    • 45'+2 Gallas seems to be fine as he gallops forward with purpose... eventually Van der Vaart lets off a shot, but Hart is equal to it.
    • 45'+1 Four minutes of added time to be played at the end of the first half.
    • 45' It's easily cleared by City's defence though.
    • 44' Rose gets down to the byline before winning a corner off Kompany! Late chance for Spurs to grab something before the break, perhaps.
    • 43' Gallas is back on, by the way, and he'll try to make it through to half-time.
    • 42' Lennon turns Zabaleta inside and out before crossing for Pienaar... Lescott is there to clear for City.
    • 41' Gallas hobbles off for further treatment... and Spurs are down to 10 for the moment.
    • 40' Gallas goes down now, and this looks bad for the Frenchman.
    • 39' Sandro now takes a throw-in on his chest, before turning and firing off a half-volley towards goals. Well wide of the mark...
    • 38' Crouch hits the deck in the box under a non-challenge from Milner... he looks around at the ref, but there's no way that's a penalty.
    • 37' Milner delivers a fantastic cross into the box, but it's just too high for Dzeko. Moments later David Silva lets fly from 25 yards with a screamer that flies just over the bar!
    • 36' A huge cheers greets the arrival of Carlos Tevez on the touchline as the returning Argentine warms up for the first time tonight.
    • 35' As it stands, Manchester will be represented by two clubs in the Champions League next season....
    • 34' You have to feel sorry for Crouch though... the ball was driven across so fiercely, he couldn't really have done much about it.
    • 33' The crowd are bouncing after that goal! Ricky Hatton is among them and he celebrates in the stands with his little boy!
    • 32' Palacios goes down and it doesn't look like he can continue. He's taken off and Pienaar gets a chance to shine.
    • 31' Well, there's the answer to that question! Spurs should have been one-up, not City!
    • 30' GOAL! City go down to the other end and open the scoring! It's an own-goal by Crouch as Milner's driven cross towards the near post from a short corner is turned into the back of the net!
    • 29' How badly will Modric and Spurs come to regret that miss?
    • 28' Modric! Must be! No! What a miss! Lennon puts the chance on a plate for after an excellent burst down the wing, but the little Croatian sidefoots inches wide of the post, with the goal at his mercy!
    • 27' Crouch spins on the ball and fires a volley well over the bar from outside the area.
    • 26' Rose centres from the left, but the ball spoons well over everyone's heads and out for a goal kick.
    • 25' It goes short again, to Van der Vaart, who gives it back to Lennon.... his cross is dealt with by Richards though.
    • 24' Corluka plays a lovely little ball through for Lennon to run on to... and the England winger wins a corner off Zabaleta!
    • 23' Crouch claims a corner, but the ball bounced off his head last and it's a good call by referee Mike Dean, who signals a goal kick.
    • 22' Replays show that challenge by Dawson on Milner to perhaps have been a little more than a shoulder charge... it was just outside the box anyway.
    • 21' But here come Spurs on the break... Crouch nods down for Lennon in the box, but his shot is blocked.
    • 20' City are buoyant at the moment... and Spurs are feeding on scraps.
    • 19' Here come City again, this time down the left with Zabaleta, whose ball in nearly finds Dzeko!
    • 18' Harry Redknapp is unbeaten in his last five Premier League matches against Manchester City as a manager. In total, he has won 10 of 21 Premier League matches against them (seven defeats).
    • 17' Dzeko plays the ball forward for Milner... he tumbles to the floor in the box but it's nothing more than a shoulder charge and play continues.
    • 16' Off goes Johnson again... but he's tracked by Sandro, who slides in and puts the ball out for a throw.
    • 15' Richards is flagged offside... he wags his finger at the linesman and shakes his head and - good to see - the lino gives some verbals back, explaining his decision. Well done that man! All too often the assistant referees cop a load but never hit back.
    • 14' David Silva's looking good tonight. The Spaniard's touch is exemplary.
    • 13' Johnson gets past Rose to the byline but his cross sails into the stands behind Cudicini's goal.
    • 12' Van der Vaart takes a flailing arm to the head in an aerial challenge and we'll have a brief break in play.
    • 11' That was a lovely, fluid passing move from City.... and they were unlucky not to take the lead.
    • 10' Oooh! Dezko is denied the opener by a brilliant save from Cudicini! Silva is the architect, running in behind the Spurs defence before cutting the ball back for the big Bosnian, who sidefoots on target but is denied by Cudicini!
    • 9' Toure! First half chance of the match falls to the midfielder as the ball reaches him following a great challenge by Sandro on the edge of the box... but he drags his shot wide of the mark and Cudicini isn't tested.
    • 8' It's a poor one though and the City back line isn't troubled as the ball is played backwards by Spurs.
    • 7' Spurs win their first corner of the night, off Zabaleta.
    • 6' These two sides have met 123 times in the league. Manchester City have won 45, Tottenham 47 and there have been 31 draws.
    • 5' Johnson finds the overlapping Richards with a great ball... but the defender's cross doesn't reach its intended target this time.
    • 4' Here goes Lennon, who breaks free on the Spurs right... he cuts inside but his ball into the box is dealt with by the City defence.
    • 3' Let's not forget that City can even finish as high as third this season. Victory tonight will take them to within two points of Arsenal, and considering the way the Gunners are playing at the moment, automatic entry to the group stages for City is a distinct possibility.
    • 2' Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is here in the crowd tonight, checking out City ahead of the weekend's FA Cup final.
    • 1' Here we go! Under way at Eastlands and potentially 90 minutes away from City sealing their place in the Champions League!
    • 19:42 City have won only once in their last 15 encounters with Spurs in the Premier League and have collected just six points from a possible 45 in this run.
    • 19:40 Spurs are missing Heurelho Gomes - Carlo Cudicini deputises - but Peter Crouch and Luka Modric have proved their fitness and play from the start. Danny Rose continues at left-back in the absence of Gareth Bale while Steven Pienaar is fit enough to take a place on the bench.
    • 19:35 So, the big news is that recently hamstrung Carlos Tevez returns - but only to the bench, alongside Mario Balotelli, with Edin Dzeko starting the game up front. Micah Richards is recalled after injury, although but Gareth Barry misses out with a hamstring problem.
    • 19:30 And tonight's referee is Mike Dean (Wirral).
    • 19:25 MANCHESTER CITY: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Milner, De Jong, Toure Yaya, Adam Johnson, Silva, Dzeko. Subs: Given, Wright-Phillips, Kolarov, Vieira, Tevez, Boyata, Balotelli /// TOTTENHAM: Cudicini, Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Rose, Lennon, Palacios, Sandro, Modric, Van der Vaart, Crouch. Subs: Pletikosa, Kaboul, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Bassong, Kranjcar, Pienaar
    • 19:20 City end their season with a home game against Stoke and then a trip to Bolton, while Spurs finish off with a trip to Liverpool and then at home to Birmingham on the final day of the campaign.
    • 19:15 But a Spurs win would see Harry Redknapp's side regain fifth place and reduce the deficit on City to three points with two games to play.
    • 19:10 Victory for City or even a draw - given their far superior goal difference - would ensure Roberto Mancini's side play in Europe's premier club competition next season.
    • 19:05 City occupy the final Champions League place heading into this fixture, four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, who panned Fulham last night, and six ahead of Spurs.
    • 19:00 Manchester City welcome Tottenham to Eastlands with fourth place still - just about - up for grabs.

  • Summary

    • 90'+5 Tevez! Denied by Cudicini! Great chance to end it in style!
    • 87' What a chance for City! Vieira should score but he's thwarted by Gallas who manages to get back and head off his own line!
    • 48' Pienaar! No! What a save by Hart! Lennon's cross is met by the South African with a firm downward header but Hart is equal to it with a Gordon Banks-esque save!
    • 37' Milner delivers a fantastic cross into the box, but it's just too high for Dzeko. Moments later David Silva lets fly from 25 yards with a screamer that flies just over the bar!
    • 30' GOAL! City go down to the other end and open the scoring! It's an own-goal by Crouch as Milner's driven cross towards the near post from a short corner is turned into the back of the net!
    • 28' Modric! Must be! No! What a miss! Lennon puts the chance on a plate for after an excellent burst down the wing, but the little Croatian sidefoots inches wide of the post, with the goal at his mercy!
    • 10' Oooh! Dezko is denied the opener by a brilliant save from Cudicini! Silva is the architect, running in behind the Spurs defence before cutting the ball back for the big Bosnian, who sidefoots on target but is denied by Cudicini!
    • 19:25 MANCHESTER CITY: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Milner, De Jong, Toure Yaya, Adam Johnson, Silva, Dzeko. Subs: Given, Wright-Phillips, Kolarov, Vieira, Tevez, Boyata, Balotelli /// TOTTENHAM: Cudicini, Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Rose, Lennon, Palacios, Sandro, Modric, Van der Vaart, Crouch. Subs: Pletikosa, Kaboul, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Bassong, Kranjcar, Pienaar

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out58′ - -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      Substitution Out67′ - -
      - -
      Substitution Out83′ - -
      Strikers
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In67′ - -
      Substitution In83′ - -
      Substitution In58′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      Substitution Out88′ - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out32′ - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Own Goal Substitution Out78′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In78′ - -
      Substitution In32′ Yellow Card - -
      Substitution In88′ - -

Comment 275 - 294 of 294

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  1. Man city in the champions league LoL there never get­ far they may have the money to buy individual players­ but you cant buy a TEAM, their buy to many players keep­ chopping and changing as they all get frustrated that­ their not playing enough and no one will get used to­ playing together and making a good team.
    spurs are more­ of a team and have proven they are champions league­ level they just need a more reliable goal keeper.

    From Matt, on Thu 12 May 2:35

  2. ouch, Crouch :-(

    From Billy the Kid, on Thu 12 May 2:28

  3. Silva n toure are 2 good plays they have bought who­ have done welll but he needs too drop Dzeko
    he dont do­ anything even if they did spend big money on him

    From Dat gunner, on Thu 12 May 2:27

  4. Over the past few weeks I have been very critical of­ the way Spurs have been playing and what appeared to be­ the lack of guidance from Harry and his team.
    Last­ night however, the team played with passion and pride­ and whilst they lost, with a bit of luck they could­ have won - the expressions on the Man City fans showed­ how anxious they were through the last half hour.
    So­ what changed last night? The presence of Cuddicini gave­ the back four must more confidence and this built­ through the team. Why didn't this happen half a­ dozen games ago?
    Whilst I wish Man City the best of­ luck in the Champions League, on last nights­ performance I cannot see them lasting too long in the­ competition even with the obscene amounts of money they­ no doubt will invest in new players.
    Isn't it time­ that the FA created a level playing field but limiting­ the amount of money spent by the richer clubs on new­ players.
    It's a game and why shouldn't teams­ like Blackpool have the same chances in competing­ fairly?

    From frederick, on Wed 11 May 19:54

  5. I'm genuinely sorry that Spurs lost this one,­ narrowly. Good luck for next season.
    I suppose Man City­ deserve a pay off for a £350 million outlay!
    Come on­ Blackpool!

    From Bill, on Wed 11 May 19:23

  6. CITY will take 3rd place from ARSENAL

    From George, on Wed 11 May 16:57

  7. Further proof - if any were needed - that you can buy­ your way to success and that true football clubs cannot­ compete with the obscene amounts of money available to­ a select few. With the money they then generate from a­ run in the Champion's League they effectively make­ it a closed shop so no one else will get a look in.

    From David, on Wed 11 May 14:33

  8. i hope that city doesn't push to hard for even to­ qualified into knockout stage
    oh, forgot to mention the­ 3rd round for qualifying into league!
    good luck next­ season!

    From Muhammad hafiz Zakaria, on Wed 11 May 7:27

  9. @ Sgt Major S Gunn

    Your knowledge of football is only­ just eclipsed by you IQ.
    Put together, a one limbed­ person would have spare digits after adding them.

    You­ congratulate Manchester City as being a, 'strong­ English team' .....wrong on so many levels.

    You­ dismiss Tottenham Hotspurs as a, 'weak­ team'....their performance in the latter part of­ the premiership would indicate this....but to belittle­ their foray into the Champions league as weak...Shows­ you for what you are.....the epitome of an ignorant­ know nothing.

    From ****Paul****, on Wed 11 May 7:08

  10. Hahahahahahhaahha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From obed, on Wed 11 May 6:56

  11. would have much rathered liverpool or spurs to get into­ the champions leauge...city are so boring and­ defensive...cant wait to see your defence get ripped­ apart by real madrid or barca if you even get that far.

    From t0m_1995, on Wed 11 May 6:18

  12. Sgt Major -are you some sort of eye superglued shut­ @#$%???? how the @#$% were spurs the worst team in the­ champs league? we were the only ones who actually­ played champions.....dnt tell me u are a bitter and­ depressed gunner @#$%.

    From Shane, on Wed 11 May 6:17

  13. Kranjcar was on the bench whole season! Why­ Harry???????

    From b_sismis, on Wed 11 May 6:04

  14. 294 B,

    What schools 299 said.. @#$%

    From b_sismis, on Wed 11 May 5:59

  15. analfailedfart
    soon will have 19 sat
    the plan is draw­ or win at blackburn
    then let blackpool win at ot
    so­ they can take 6 points of you again

    From skoal.bandit,,, on Wed 11 May 5:41

  16. bender,.,,.,.mufc
    Come back to me when you actually­ have 19, because you dont yet!!!!

    From Anfieldstar ,, on Wed 11 May 5:32

  17. Well done Man City for qualifying into the Champions­ League, it will be nice to see another strong English­ team representing us all next year. Last year the EPL­ entered one weak team who rather let us down... Yes...­ it was Spurs, because they lost to a poor team. Perhaps­ if Real Madrid had reached the final, Spurs could have­ held their heads up and said, "well we lost to the­ eventual finalists, so it's not so bad", but­ they didn't, they lost to some losers didn't­ they, and at their own home ground no less, in OUR­ great country... Shame on you!

    Happy 50th Anniversary!

    From Sgt Major S Gunn, on Wed 11 May 5:25

  18. utd so called fans "london branch" go to bed­ your boring .

    From Anthony, on Wed 11 May 5:23

  19. Katastrofa

    From sto14rm, on Wed 11 May 5:21

  20. spurs were under strenghth but superb tonight , city­ were so lucky . we city must buy quality in the­ summer 6 city players must say goodbye . we must­ improve to survive in all competitions next season .­ can we hunt down arsenal for third spot . perhaps now­ the pressure is off . 2 . 0 city fa cup . stoke are­ so crude basic they are to football what audley is to­ boxing . nite nite . CTIDX .

    From Anthony, on Wed 11 May 5:20
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