Harry Kane was at his magnificent, glorious best on Saturday as he scored a brace to hand Manchester City its first Premier League loss since Oct. 2021. There aren’t enough adjectives in the dictionary to describe how entertaining Tottenham’s victory at Etihad Stadium was.
In the span of three minutes Manchester City’s players went from thinking they had scored a game-tying penalty kick in the 92nd minute to picking the ball out of their own net after Kane did what he does best.
HARRY KANE ARE YOU SERIOUS #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/mi704C4vTG
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 19, 2022
Kane was brilliant in Tottenham’s victory from start to finish. He had a peach of a pass in the fourth minute to Son Heung-min who set up Dejan Kulusevski for the opener.
City was dominant in possession and finished the game with 72% possession. It took the Premier League leaders 33 minutes to finally break through Tottenham’s defense. Ilkay Gundogan capitalized off Hugo Lloris spilling a ball.
Spurs refused to settle for a draw and were clinical with the few chances they did create. Antonio Conte’s side had six shots all game and scored half of them. City recorded 21 shots.
In the second half Kane and Son switched roles and it was the South Korean providing the Englishman with the assist in the 59th minute.
Heung-Min Son Harry Kane
The Premier League record for most goal combinations between two players (36) has just been equaled."We are glad to have this record and I hope that there many more to come as well now!"#THFC | #COYS | #MCITOTpic.twitter.com/EJw4VqViLV
— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) February 19, 2022
From that moment on every viewer was glued to their screen to see what would happen next. Kane had another opportunity denied by the outstretched leg of Ederson and had a goal called chalked off by VAR for offside.
When Kane’s goal to make the score 3-1 was chalked off it was like City was jolted to life. Tottenham was in full "park the bus" mode as wave after wave of attacks came down on Lloris’ goal.
VAR would intervene again in stoppage time as a clear handball in the box from Cristian Romero was spotted. Riyah Mahrez then blasted in an unstoppable shot and the feeling was that City had tied it and could still possibly get a winner.
Then Kane stepped up again.
This was the internet’s reaction to Kane’s game-winning goal.
HARRY KANE!!!! IT'S 3-2 SPURS IN THE DYING MINUTES!
BUVEY FUMING! THE TITLE RACE IS ON!https://t.co/h7mAV40rrS pic.twitter.com/AABcMHnoXK— The Kick Off (@thekickofftg) February 19, 2022
OH MY!!!! pic.twitter.com/8eguIkWsRX
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 19, 2022
IMAGINE NOT LIKING FOOTBALL!!!!!
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 19, 2022
THE GHOST OF TRANSFER WINDOWS PAST pic.twitter.com/NstXeijQ2f
— GOAL (@goal) February 19, 2022
…and here’s why Manchester City had four formal approaches and two official bids turned down for Harry Kane last summer. Last one: €150m plus add ons. ‘Untouchable’ for Spurs. #THFC
His relationship with Antonio Conte is something else. More than special. What a game. pic.twitter.com/NHEAQIoK9R— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 19, 2022
95 - Harry Kane’s winner for Tottenham, timed at 94:25, was the latest winning goal scored against Manchester City in the Premier League since Michael Owen for Manchester United in September 2009 (95:27). Madness. pic.twitter.com/pbzwOdhpcF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 19, 2022
If the English striker does make a transfer to Manchester City in the summer, it will be an awkward first day after Saturday’s performance.
The big picture is that with City dropping points Liverpool is only six behind with a game in hand. Every neutral should take a moment to thank Kane for blowing the title race wide open.
