Tottenham stun Man City with 2-0 remarkable win at Etihad

Tottenham Hotspur claimed their first major victory of the Thomas Frank era with a deserved 2-0 win over Manchester City, punishing Pep Guardiola’s side with ruthless counter-attacking at the Etihad.

After an opening-day stroll at Wolves, City came into the game full of confidence, but familiar defensive frailties resurfaced. Spurs, meanwhile, arrived with a simple but effective plan: exploit City’s high line with the pace of Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson, supported by Richarlison through the middle.

For half an hour City enjoyed plenty of possession but created little of note. Spurs then struck decisively when Richarlison timed his run to perfection, escaping the offside trap before squaring for Johnson, who lashed his finish beyond James Trafford. The assistant’s flag went up but VAR overturned the decision, awarding Spurs the opener.

City never recovered from that blow. Goalkeeper Trafford, handed a surprise start ahead of Ederson, endured a difficult home debut. His hesitant distribution gifted Spurs a second before half-time, with Joao Palhinha pouncing on a loose ball after Richarlison’s initial effort had been blocked.

The hosts pushed forward after the break but looked strangely disjointed. Erling Haaland wasted a golden chance from close range, Phil Foden tested Vicario from distance, and Bernardo Silva’s late header flew wide, but Spurs defended with discipline and rarely looked threatened.

Guardiola threw on Rodri and Foden in search of inspiration, yet City’s play remained ponderous, with frustration growing in the stands. In contrast, Spurs played with energy and purpose, Kudus in particular working tirelessly at both ends of the pitch.

Frank’s men even had opportunities to extend their lead late on, with substitutes Solanke and Odobert forcing Trafford into sharp saves. By stoppage time the away end was in full voice, serenading their side as they stroked the ball around confidently.

The victory maintains Spurs’ perfect start to the season: six points, five goals scored, none conceded. It also extends their remarkable recent record at the Etihad, where they have now won on their last two visits by an aggregate score of 6-0.

For Guardiola, the defeat offers plenty of early-season headaches. City looked sharp in their opening win at Wolves but were toothless and error-strewn against a Spurs team that punished every mistake. With Brighton up next, the champions must find a quick response.

“Perfect,” was Johnson’s verdict after the game. “We came here, got a clean sheet, scored goals, that’s exactly what we wanted.” For Frank and his resurgent Spurs, this was not just a win but a statement.