Football: Late Balotelli penalty helps City down Spurs
Hosts maintain stranglehold on Premier League top spot after 3-2 win.
MANCHESTER:
Mario Balotelli scored the winner with a stoppage-time penalty as Manchester City beat title-rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in a dramatic finish to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League.
The game had been heading for a draw, with City having squandered a two-goal lead after four goals in a mad nine-minute spell midway through the second half. The hosts had gone ahead in the 56th minute through Samir Nasri and doubled their lead three minutes later courtesy Joleon Lescott’s bundled effort.
However, Spurs got themselves right back in the game with a Jermain Defoe goal on 60 minutes followed five minutes later by an exquisite Gareth Bale strike.
City made the most of the chance provided by Tottenham when Ledley King brought down Balotelli. The Italian converted calmly to send the packed stadium into raptures and later said that he was calm when taking the penalty.
“I felt no pressure taking the penalty,” said Balotelli. “I was calm, like I am every time I shoot a penalty.”
Manchester City midfielder James Milner said that the win against a tough team like the Spurs was a great boost for his side.
“This is a massive win for us - Tottenham have been playing really well,” said Milner. “We knew it would be a really tough game. It was an exciting game for the neutral but we’ll want it a bit more boring next time. They’re a good team and we gave them a sniff. We need to learn from that and try to keep it tighter.”
Angry Dalglish threatens Liverpool axe
Meanwhile, furious Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish threatened to wield the Anfield axe after accusing players of failing to represent the club properly in their shock 3-1 defeat at Bolton. Dalglish insisted that his side was more interested in the forthcoming week’s clashes against City in the League Cup and against Manchester United in the FA Cup than they were in their Premier League match.
“The most disappointing thing for me is I don’t think we were ready to play the game,” said Dalglish.
“I don’t think the approach was correct. The foundation of the club has always been built on respect for other people, built on the philosophy that the next game is the most important one, not the one that’s two or three down the line. This isn’t the right way to represent Liverpool.”
Dempsey sinks Newcastle
Elsewhere, Clint Dempsey struck a hat-trick as Fulham came from behind to defeat sixth-placed Newcastle 5-2. Queens Park Rangers moved out of the relegation zone courtesy a 3-1 win over Wigan.
Blackburn battled to a 1-1 draw against Everton, while Robbie Keane made a triumphant return for Aston Villa, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over the Wolves in his first match back from MLS team Los Angeles Galaxy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2012.
Mario Balotelli scored the winner with a stoppage-time penalty as Manchester City beat title-rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in a dramatic finish to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League.
The game had been heading for a draw, with City having squandered a two-goal lead after four goals in a mad nine-minute spell midway through the second half. The hosts had gone ahead in the 56th minute through Samir Nasri and doubled their lead three minutes later courtesy Joleon Lescott’s bundled effort.
However, Spurs got themselves right back in the game with a Jermain Defoe goal on 60 minutes followed five minutes later by an exquisite Gareth Bale strike.
City made the most of the chance provided by Tottenham when Ledley King brought down Balotelli. The Italian converted calmly to send the packed stadium into raptures and later said that he was calm when taking the penalty.
“I felt no pressure taking the penalty,” said Balotelli. “I was calm, like I am every time I shoot a penalty.”
Manchester City midfielder James Milner said that the win against a tough team like the Spurs was a great boost for his side.
“This is a massive win for us - Tottenham have been playing really well,” said Milner. “We knew it would be a really tough game. It was an exciting game for the neutral but we’ll want it a bit more boring next time. They’re a good team and we gave them a sniff. We need to learn from that and try to keep it tighter.”
Angry Dalglish threatens Liverpool axe
Meanwhile, furious Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish threatened to wield the Anfield axe after accusing players of failing to represent the club properly in their shock 3-1 defeat at Bolton. Dalglish insisted that his side was more interested in the forthcoming week’s clashes against City in the League Cup and against Manchester United in the FA Cup than they were in their Premier League match.
“The most disappointing thing for me is I don’t think we were ready to play the game,” said Dalglish.
“I don’t think the approach was correct. The foundation of the club has always been built on respect for other people, built on the philosophy that the next game is the most important one, not the one that’s two or three down the line. This isn’t the right way to represent Liverpool.”
Dempsey sinks Newcastle
Elsewhere, Clint Dempsey struck a hat-trick as Fulham came from behind to defeat sixth-placed Newcastle 5-2. Queens Park Rangers moved out of the relegation zone courtesy a 3-1 win over Wigan.
Blackburn battled to a 1-1 draw against Everton, while Robbie Keane made a triumphant return for Aston Villa, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over the Wolves in his first match back from MLS team Los Angeles Galaxy.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2012.