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Played
August 28, 2011 8:30 AM EDT
White Hart Lane — London
Referee:‬ P. Dowd‎
Attendance:‬ 36150‎
 
Edin Dzeko 34′
 
Edin Dzeko 41′
 
Edin Dzeko 55′
 
Kun Agüero 60′
 
Edin Dzeko 90+3′
 
   
 
 

Player Ratings: Tottenham 1-5 Manchester City

Edin Dzeko steals the show with staggering four goals, while Samir Nasri provides three assists on debut and Luka Modric feels the ire of the Spurs fans.

By Steven Saunders

Brad Friedel
33
18
3.0

Excellent low save from Silva's sharp drive on 18 minutes, but rendered utterly helpless by Dzeko's sublime finishing, Aguero's clipped finish and some delightful City assists.

Vedran Corluka
23
24
2.5

Needed more support on his flank, especially in the first half when Nasri and Silva decided to focus their attentions on Spurs' right side, to devastating effect.

Michael Dawson
14
25
2.5

Let down badly by center back partner Kaboul for the most part, but wasn't entirely blameless for Spurs' fragility. Torched by Aguero for No.4.

Younes Kaboul
17
29
2.0

If only he had attacked every ball the way he did the corner which produced his goal. To blame for the first two City goals which set the tone for the afternoon.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto
14
26
2.5

Booked for a cynical lunge on Aguero as the Spaniard burst forward, giving himself 80 minutes to survive without making a mistake in the tackle. As a result, was frozen when Yaya Toure burst forward to cross for No.3.

Aaron Lennon
13
31
2.5

A quiet afternoon from the winger, who left the field with an injury on 53 minutes, Defoe replacing him. Left Corluka exposed throughout.

Luka Modric
Flop of the Match
48
57
2.0

Some sporadic booing of the want-away midfielder, who did little to suggest his mind and heart are still with Spurs. Could have a long and forlorn season ahead of him. More audible booing when he was substituted, perhaps because he personifies a disjointed Spurs afternoon.

Niko Kranjcar
25
26
2.5

Curled an early effort just wide of Joe Hart's far post. Excellent pass to Corluka set in motion the move that Bale eventually blazed over the bar. Taken off at half-time due to a groin injury, replaced by Tom Huddlestone.

Gareth Bale
28
33
3.0

Not scored since New Year's Day in the Premier League and kept that inauspicious run going with a dreadful effort when presented with only Hart to beat midway through the first half. Wonderful cross gave Crouch diving header chance that flashed past Hart's post. Came alive when Spurs were 4-0 down - sound familiar?

Rafael van der Vaart
33
19
3.0

Spurs' best player in an attacking sense. Held the ball up well to create a shooting opportunity for himself on 10 minutes which Hart did well to parry away for a corner. Even better effort from a free kick brought the best out of the City goalkeeper. Added to the growing list of bookings in the first half thanks to a gentle shove on Zabaleta. Had to go off in the second half with yet another leg injury, which is a huge concern for Redknapp.

Peter Crouch
17
30
2.5

Repeatedly beaten to aerial balls by the City defenders, despite his height advantage. Finally granted a heading opportunity on goal by Bale's ingenious cross, but his diving effort shaved the outside of Hart's post. Did little to dampen Harry Redknapp's pursuit of better strikers before the window shuts.

• Substitutions
Tom Huddlestone
13
19
2.5

On for Kranjcar at half-time. Did little but threaten Zabaleta's chances of having children with a crude lunge.

Jake Livermore
17
15
3.0

Came on for Lennon, but his only contribution of note was an excellent challenge in his own box as City tormented their hosts.

Jermain Defoe
29
13
3.0

Lively when he came on, and brought a good save out of Hart with a long-range shot.

Joe Hart
55
12
3.0

Not as comfortable an afternoon as the scoreline suggests. Got down sharply to push away a surprisingly fierce effort from Van der Vaart, then also covered ground well to save the Dutchman's curling free-kick. Was beaten by Crouch's diving header which flew wide, and eventually conceded to Kaboul's drilled header.

Pablo Zabaleta
38
16
3.0

Perhaps unfortunate to go in the book for a sliding challenge on Bale in the middle of the park. Took a sore one from Huddlestone in the second half on an otherwise comfortable afternoon before making way for Micah Richards on the hour.

Vincent Kompany
82
10
4.0

Supreme. A tackle on the spinning and whirling Gareth Bale in the second half typified his poise, timing and composure. City's title hopes rest as firmly on his shoulders as any of the attacking talents'.

Joleon Lescott
38
17
3.0

A capable ally to Kompany's brilliance, he kept Spurs at arm's length from Hart's goal for the most part.

Gael Clichy
48
14
3.0

Coped fine with the under-par Lennon. A gentle return to north London for the Frenchman.

Yaya Touré
60
14
3.0

Needlessly booked in the first half for kicking the ball away. Looked assured in a deeper midfield role than he has had previously, and provided a classy assist to complete Dzeko's hat-trick.

Gareth Barry
49
17
3.0

Recklessly late with one sliding challenge on Van der Vaart, for which he was rightly booked. Fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box on the half-hour mark. Going to be key to achieving the balance City need with so many bodies flying forward.

David Silva
122
13
3.5

Premier League defenses will be dreading facing Silva and Nasri, who already appear to have a telepathic understanding just days into their partnership. Off target with a couple of first-half shots, but pulled the strings throughout.

Samir Nasri
208
13
4.0

Immediately set to running directly at Spurs, and neat interchange with David Silva bodes well for City. Selflessly set up Dzeko in the opening quarter of an hour when a shooting opportunity was there. Provided his first assist as a City player with an inviting cross for Dzeko to toe home the opener, then a second just six minutes later. Maybe it was being in north London that helped him feel right at home in City colors.

Kun Agüero
122
23
3.5

Hadn't had all that much of a say on proceedings until a startling run and superb finish to make it 4-0. Switch off for a moment against Aguero and he will make you pay.

Edin Dzeko
Top of the Match
409
13
4.5

A far better striker when he has to rely on instinct than when given time and space to think, as was evidenced in just 45 contrasting minutes here. Wasteful twice on the right side of the penalty area, but absolutely deadly when first Nasri presented him with a gorgeous cross along the face of goal, then with a deft header from Nasri's flighted delivery. Couldn't do anything but score with another low cross, this time from Toure, 10 minutes into the second half. A three-touch, game-defining hat-trick. The nonchalance with which he curled in his fourth of the day could not have been in starker contrast to his wild efforts in the opening stages.

• Substitutions
Micah Richards
62
8
3.0

Marked the signing of a new four-year deal last week by appearing for a half-hour run-out with the match already won.

Stefan Savic
55
15
3.0

Replaced Aguero with 15 minutes remaining and a lead to sit on. Managed to get himself booked without even playing a second by entering the field of play without permission as Aguero wandered towards the sideline.

Results
 
Player Ratings
Tournament
Position
Ranking
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Arsenal
30 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Man United
27 6
Kun Agüero Kun Agüero
Striker
Man City
23 3
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker
Blackburn Rovers
17 4
Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker
Tottenham
17 3