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Manchester City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Match Reports, 15:38, January 22, 2012
Controversial Mario Balotelli won and scored a lastgasp penalty to help Man City to a dramatic 3-2 win over title rivals Tottenham.
The game kicked off arguably the biggest day at the top of the Premier League table so far this season and the players seemed to be affected by the pressure in a poor first half in which only Sergio Aguero threatened to score.
However, the game exploded into life in the second half with fabulous goals and great drama to grace any game in the world.
The fun started in the 56th minute as David Silva slipped a delightful ball into the run of Samir Nasri who smashed it first time in the top corner of the net.
City were suddenly on the rampage and extended their lead just three minutes later as Edin Dzeko flicked Nasri's corner into the six-yard box and Joleon Lescott was on hand to bundle it agonisingly over the line.
Spurs looked down and out at that point but Stefan Savic failed to deal with a long ball and Jermain Defoe raced in behind to round Joe Hart and slide into the empty net less than a minute later.
The visitors then found themselves back on terms with the goal of the game as Aaron Lennon cut inside to feed Gareth Bale who took aim and bent the ball over Hart and into the top corner just four minutes later.
Amidst the drama, Mario Balotelli entered the fray and the striker was at his controversial best as he was booked almost immediately before aiming a clear stamp at the head of Scott Parker which was missed by Howard Webb.
Both sides continued to go for it as time ticked down and Defoe was agonisingly close to winning it for Spurs as he just failed to connect with Bale's low cross.
And Spurs were made to pay when, with twenty seconds of added time left, Balotelli was felled in the box by Ledley King and the Italian stepped up to roll the ball into the net under immense pressure.
The result sends City six clear at the top and leaves Tottenham eight off the pace but Harry Redknapp will surely rue the referee missing Balotelli's intended stamp on Parker.
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