Tottenham 3-0 Manchester City: Kranjcar Scores Two
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Tottenham 3-0 Manchester City: Kranjcar Scores Two In Convincing City Win
Defoe and Kranjcar help Tottenham to a 3-0 win over strugglin City.
EPL: Niko Kranjcar, Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City (Getty Images)
Tottenham have convincingly beaten Manchester City 3-0 at White Hart Lane to improve their Premier League campaign and continue their good form at Manchester City.
Tottenham were the stronger side in the first half and deservedly took the lead with a Niko Kranjcar strike in the 36th minute.
A high tempo start saw Manchester City create two early chances both involving the in-form Carlos Tevez. Within minutes Tevez managed to skip through the Tottenham defense striking the ball with incredible power but unfortunately his chance flew over the cross bar.
Tottenham got into the game shortly afterwards with Niko Kranjcar curling in a great cross, which was headed swiftly towards goal by Peter Crouch. However, the striker failed to utilize the early opportunity.
Crouch continued to play well with some intelligent runs through the Tottenham defense controlling all crosses and aerial battles. Niko Kranjcar also started well, supplying strikers Crouch and Jermaine Defoe with some excellent through balls and crosses.
The low winter temperatures didn't seem to affect either team who were both working hard for possession for the first 20 minutes. Robinho got into the match early looking to prove he was still the £32m player Mark Hughes bought last year, as he started to show glimpses of magic striking the ball sweetly past the post after 22 minutes.
Jermaine Defoe missed an opportunity inside the area after a quick run down the left from Aaron Lennon.
Aaron Lennon made another darting run down the right crossing the ball perfectly into the box, where Crouch headed towards goal. The ball was deflected out and met by Kranjcar who smashed the ball into the back of the net: 1-0 to Tottenham.
Minutes later Shay Given was put under more pressure with a fantastic move involving the two Tottenham strikers. Crouch finished the move by firing the ball into the top right but Given saw it early and comfortably managed the strikers effort.
Tottenham controlled the game after the goal and Manchester City were feeling the pressure with Defoe, Crouch and Lennon working the ball smoothly around the Manchester City defense as Silvio Sylvinho and Kolo Toure try desperately to gain possession.
Tottenham started the second half as they finished the first, and Defoe took full advantage of Manchester City's lack of confidence by breezing passed Sylvinho towards goal but the ball was hustled out for a throw in.
Eight minutes into the second half and Tottenham increased the lead. Crouch headed the ball towards goal from a long ball down the middle, which was excellently half volleyed passed Shay Given by Jermaine Defoe: 2-0 Tottenham.
The second goal forces Mark Hughes to make some changes and Robinho is replaced by Roque Santa Cruz immediately after a strong move down the right from Tottenham.
Aaron Lennon picked the ball up seconds after Santa Cruz jogged on and tried to skip passed Sylvinho who unfairly takes Lennon down. Sylvinho is booked for his challenge.
Lennon took full advantage of Sylvinho's yellow card and put pressure on the defender with a number of darting runs down the wing. Crouch almost found himself in on goal after another run from Lennon but was unfairly flagged offside.
The pressure continued and Manchester City were struggling to gain possession. Crouch dominated in the air and had a superb chance in the 82nd minute with a great cross from Lennon and a clever flick from Defoe, however, Crouch was unable to make it 3-0.
Two minutes into injury time Aaron Lennon provide another fantastic ball to Kranjcar who fired the ball into the goal from inside the six-yard box for an emphatic finish to the match. -
spurs played well.