Erling Haaland made a triumphant return from injury, scoring the decisive goal in Manchester City’s hard-fought 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. The win lifted City to fourth place in the Premier League, overtaking Chelsea by a single point.
Haaland had been sidelined due to a knee injury sustained against Newcastle on February 15. His absence was felt as City suffered defeats to Real Madrid in the Champions League and Liverpool in the league.
However, the Norwegian striker wasted no time in making an impact upon his return, securing his 28th goal of the season. Ten of those goals have come in his last 11 appearances, proving his ability to bounce back after a rough patch earlier in the campaign.
City, who had lost four of their last six matches in all competitions, needed a win to regain confidence. The team started the match with intensity, creating early chances.
Haaland tested Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in the opening moments, but his breakthrough came in the 12th minute. Jeremy Doku made a strong run into the box and delivered a precise cross to Haaland, who easily slotted the ball home from close range.
Despite City’s strong start, Tottenham grew into the game and had several opportunities to equalize. Kevin Danso forced a crucial save from Ederson just before halftime, and Brennan Johnson’s dangerous cross early in the second half nearly resulted in a goal. Wilson Odobert also had a chance to bring Spurs level, but his close-range shot went off target.
Tottenham, who fielded their second-youngest Premier League starting lineup in history, struggled defensively but still managed to put City under pressure in the closing minutes.
Substitute Son Heung-min came close to scoring, but Ederson made an outstanding save to preserve City’s lead. Pape Sarr also had a late chance but headed over the bar, allowing City to secure all three points.
