Manchester City lost 1-0 (0-1) to London’s leading club Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the Premier League. In a game that went a long way between the penalty areas, Son Hyung-min made the counter-attack difference on the winning goal (55th minute) and ensured Nuno Esperito Santo’s successful debut at Tottenham’s duckout.
Citizens, who were in the starting lineup for the first time, entered the Jack Greelish Register, signed by Aston Villa for 117.5 million euros, and started furiously. International lkay Gündoğan A deflected free-kick flew into the left corner of Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Loris (4th) and in the following corner Fernandinho lost his head (5th) lead.
But as Pep Cardiola’s team became dangerous, the initial offensive feeling subsided again. The game was fast-paced, but goal-area shots became rare — when they did, the home side had opportunities for their quick change game. With a shot from 16 meters, the son approached the goal (40th) before the break and the ball missed the right post.
The absence of Kane is not important
After the break, the South Koreans did it even better: through Steven Bergwig, Tottenham quickly brought up a ball that was deeply caught in their own half. The attacker re-entered the center and the son initially took it to the right before hitting the far corner with a left foot shot (55th). In the future the son can often play an unfamiliar central role: the regular Harry Kane is missing from the Spurs squad after the extended EM vacation, and the striker is considered a candidate for sale.
If relocated, Kane could become the most expensive English footballer in history. So far the title has been held by national teammate Saga Grilish, but even the new star of Sky Blues could not give the game a new twist in the final: a shot from a sharp angle (75th), a yellow card tactical error at the end of the game (90th + 1) – and then it was over City defeated.