Manchester City’s Erling Haaland made history once again, becoming only the second player to score at least 20 goals in each of his first three Premier League seasons. His early strike proved decisive as City edged past Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 on Wednesday, reclaiming a spot in the top four.  

Returning from injury after missing City’s 2-0 defeat against Liverpool, Haaland wasted no time making his presence felt. The Norwegian striker latched onto Jeremy Doku’s low cross in the 12th minute, slotting the ball past Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for what turned out to be the game’s only goal.  

Manchester City controlled the first half, creating several chances to extend their lead. Vicario was kept busy, making crucial saves from Haaland and Doku, while Savinho squandered a golden opportunity, blasting his shot over the crossbar.  

Despite City’s dominance early on, the second half was a different story. Tottenham, despite fielding one of their youngest-ever Premier League starting lineups, put the reigning champions under sustained pressure. Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel both missed prime scoring chances, while substitute Son Heung-min was denied by a brilliant save from City’s goalkeeper Ederson.  

As City clung to their narrow lead, Haaland thought he had doubled the advantage in stoppage time, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Spurs nearly capitalized on City’s wastefulness, but Pape Matar Sarr’s late header went over the crossbar, ensuring Guardiola’s side held on for a crucial victory.  

The win lifted Manchester City to fourth place in the Premier League table with 47 points from 27 matches, helping them recover from the disappointment of their recent loss to Liverpool. However, despite their victory, City’s second-half struggles will be a concern for manager Pep Guardiola, as his side looked vulnerable under Tottenham’s relentless attacks.  

For Haaland, the night was another milestone in his prolific career. With his latest goal, he joins Ruud van Nistelrooy as the only players to score 20 or more goals in their first three Premier League seasons. Van Nistelrooy achieved the feat for Manchester United between 2001 and 2004, and Haaland’s consistency continues to set him apart as one of the league’s most dangerous forwards.  

Meanwhile, Tottenham, who left key players Son, Dejan Kulusevski, and Djed Spence on the bench—possibly with an eye on next week’s Europa League clash—will feel unlucky to have come away empty-handed. After three consecutive league victories, Ange Postecoglou’s side remains in 13th place with 33 points, but their spirited second-half performance suggests they are more than capable of climbing higher in the standings.  

While the result was far from comfortable for City, the night ultimately belonged to Haaland, whose goal secured three crucial points and kept his team firmly in the race for the title.