Rampant Manchester City shredded the Premier League’s meanest defence with a 6-0 home thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to roar into the title race.
Sergio Aguero and Jesus Navas both scored twice for City who have now scored 13 goals in their last two home games while hapless Tottenham conceded as many in one match as they had in their previous 11 league outings. A sixth home win in six put City in fourth place on 22 points, although they could slip down a place.
Tottenham actually controlled periods of the first half but were always playing catch-up after falling behind after 15 seconds following a mistake from their goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. From the kickoff, Tottenham played the ball back to the French international whose clearance went straight to Aguero.
The lead
Lloris saved from the Argentine striker but the ball rolled to Navas whose chip curled over the out-of-position keeper to give City the lead. It was the second-fastest goal of the season after the wind-assisted one scored by Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic against Southampton in 13 seconds.
{{/usCountry}}Lloris saved from the Argentine striker but the ball rolled to Navas whose chip curled over the out-of-position keeper to give City the lead. It was the second-fastest goal of the season after the wind-assisted one scored by Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic against Southampton in 13 seconds.
{{/usCountry}}“It was a difficult start, conceding after 15 seconds. That puts your plans in doubts and everything you’ve been preparing,” stunned Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said.
Another poor clearance by Lloris led to City doubling their lead after 34 minutes when Younes Kaboul’s clearance from Aguero’s shot cannoned in off of Tottenham midfielder Sandro.
Aguero’s deft finish just before halftime effectively killed off Spurs and when he and Alvaro Negredo both produced superb finishes early in the second half Tottenham were in danger of suffering their worst Premier League defeat. Navas ran through alone to complete the rout in stoppage-time as City’s goal tally for the season rose to 34.