Kulusevski snatches Spurs a point but City rage at Hooper decision

POST-MATCH ANGER: Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic remonstrate with referee Simon Hooper.

MAN CITY 3 TOTTENHAM 3 

A GAME for the ages, an instant classic that will live long in the memory was dominated, not by Erling Haaland or Son Heung-min, but by referee Simon Hooper, adding yet another sad chapter to a growing catalogue of current refereeing controversies.

In the 94th minute of a captivating encounter that lived up to every bit of its pre-match billing, Emerson Royal fouled Haaland just as he sent Jack Grealish racing clear on the Tottenham goal.

Hooper clearly waved play on but then, inexplicably, whistled play back for the free-kick, much to the disgust of a bewildered Haaland, with his manager, team-mates and the entire Etihad sharing his sense of disbelief.

It prompted Haaland to take to social media with the exclamation “WTF” and video footage of the flashpoint.

“That’s normal,” said Guardiola. “The reaction from our ten players with the referee was the same.

“The rules are you cannot talk with the referees or fourth officials so we should have had 10 players sent off today. He’s a little bit disappointed. Even the referee - if he played for Man City today he would be disappointed for that action, that’s for sure.” 

Not that City manager Pep Guardiola was in the mood to echo his protege Mikel Arteta in launching into an attack on refereeing standards.

“I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment,” he added. “I makes mistakes, the players make mistakes. it surprised me because when Erling went down if you whistle then it's fine but when he stands up and continues and the ref made the gesture to play on.

“Then after he makes the pass he stops the game. I don't want to criticise them.

“On the touchline sometimes I lose my mind and my gestures are not proper but here normally as a manager, I'm not a guy when I'm refreshed to comment.

“I would say we didn't draw because of that.” 

It was a sad end to what will be one of the games of the season. Guardiola and Ange Postecoglou promised goals and entertainment - “We’ll have fun,” promised the Spurs manager - and both sides delivered.

Dejan Kulusevski had the final say after it appeared that Jack Grealish’s first goal of the season had won the day for Guardiola’s side but, in the final minute of normal time, Kulusevski bullied Nathan Ake out of the way to meet Brennan Johnson’s cross with a lethal eight-yard header.

It was the final punctuation point on a classic that had seen Spurs forward Son scoring at both ends inside the opening ten minutes. 

Phil Foden’s goal was then cancelled out by Giovani Lo Celso until Grealish struck nine minutes from time.

Rodri won the ball off Yves Bissouma and found Haaland in the area for the Norwegian to selflessly cross for substitute Grealish to sweep into an empty net.

It was the fourth successive game in which Spurs have scored the opening goal, although the previous three had ended in defeats as a brilliant start to the season has become mired in injury problems and loss of form.

But their contribution to a pulsating game was welcome with both managers fulfilling their pre-match promises to entertain at all costs. 

First blood was drawn by the visitors, with virtually their first attack of the game after six minutes when City were suckered on the counter.

As a City attack broke down, Bryan Gil found Kulusevski who stroked a superb pass forward for Son to chase.

Inexplicably, winger Jeremy Doku was the only defender near the Spurs striker who sprinted clear and beat Ederson with a shot which the City keeper should have saved but allowed through his body.

It was a lead that lasted 137 seconds before Son inadvertently handed City an equaliser from a Julian Alvarez free-kick.

Haaland looked favourite to make contact but narrowly missed the in-swinging kick and Son knew little about his contribution as he stuck out a knee and put the ball into his own goal.

It was the break City needed and one that allowed them to go on and dominate, well before Foden shot them ahead, just after the half-hour, Haaland missing an open goal from six yards, Doku striking the cross-bar and Alvarez the post.

On 31 minutes, City were finally in front with a beautifully created goal that started when Josko Gvardiol beat Brennan Johnson to a challenge just outside the Spurs area.

Slick passes, from Haaland to Doku to Alvarez, ended with the ball at the feet of Foden who made his finish from six yards look far more simple than was actually the case.

Within 15 seconds of the restart, City came close again, this time following a disastrous pass from keeper Guglielmo Vicario although the Italian made amends with a superb save to keep Bernardo Silva’s strike.

As had been the case in the first half, Spurs remained a threat on the counter and would make City pay for those misses.

Alvarez’s lazy pass was headed forward well by Davies, Son played in Lo Celso and the midfielder cut onto his left foot before beating Ederson from the edge of the area.

Lo Celso might have added another soon after, his powerful shot deflecting behind off Jack Grealish although his manager was understandably delighted with the point.

"I'm pleased for the players," said Postecoglou. "Pleased that they got the reward for the effort they put in."

Man City (4-1-4-1): Ederson 5; Walker 7, Akanji 6, Dias 6, Gvardiol 7 (Ake 87); Rodri 7; Foden 7 (Lewis 73, 6), Alvarez 7 (Kovacic 87), Silva 7, Doku 8 (Grealish 52, 7); Haaland 6.

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Vicario 6; Porro 6, Emerson 5, Davies 6, Udogie 5; Bissouma 5 (Richarlison 87), Lo Celso 7 (Skipp 78, 5); Johnson 6 (Donley 90), Kulusevski 9, Gil 6 (Hojbjerg 45, 6); Son 8.

Referee: S Hooper 5