Gareth Bale returned to Tottenham Hotspur with a big bang. He shot the final goal in 3-1 home win against Manchester City on Sunday. This result ultimately resurrected Spurs' top-four challenge and effectively finished City's title defence.
Samir Nasri spearheaded the City in the fifth minute but Spurs proved themselves again via late comeback through goals shot by Clint Dempsey, Jermain Defoe and Bale, who had skipped the recent two games due to injury.
Tottenham occupied fifth place, but are lagging behind by two points behind third-placed Arsenal with a game in line. City’s defeat implies that Manchester United will reclaim the title from them if they thrash Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Monday.
This victory will surely boost Tottenham, whose claim for the Champions League was diminished due to the victory over Arsenal in the north Londonderby last month had placed them on the third place and pushed them to within two points of City. That difference had enhanced to 10 points ahead of Sunday's game. The most crucial fact is that, Andre Villas-Boas' side had crashed out of the top four.
The return of Bale was ushered enthusiastically, following the Wales international skipped two matches due to ankle injury received in the Europa League quarter-final against Basel. Bale wonderfully made his presence felt by swiftly firing in a 35-yard shot that brought City’s goalkeeper Joe Hart into the action. But any applause produced by Bale's early contribution soon waned away when Nasri pushed the visitors ahead after only five minutes.
City came back confidently in north Londonafter seven days of their FA Cup semi-final victory over Chelseaat Wembley. Manager Roberto Mancini brought five changes in the team that defeated Wigan Athletic in the mid-week dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final. However there was no sign of any short of cohesion as the visitors comfortably penetrated the Tottenham defence.
Carlos Tevez's dominant run towards the byline on the right increased the home defence before the forward sneaked the ball inside for James Milner. Milner cross picked out Nasri and hit home from eight yards. All the spectators focused their attention on Nasri just after three minutes. But this time it was a high challenge for Kyle Walker that went unchallenged which could have easily earned the France international a red card. Fortunately, Walker recovered after treatment. The early goal and Bale’s operation on the periphery of the action deflated Spurs and their play lost momentum. An intelligent pass from Dempsey brought back the home side with their first real opening, but that was wasted by Kyle Walker.
Obviously Villas-Boas needed to find a way to exalt his team. Tottenham's assault lacked bite while Emmanuel Adebayor was ineffective as a lone striker against his former club.
The Spurs manager eventually introduced Tom Huddlestone and Lewis Holtby, 10 minutes before substituting Adebayor for Defoe. Bale’s influence enhanced momentum of Tottenham quickly. Bale played a magnificent cross with his left boot across the face of the City goal, where Dempsey ended up from close range in the 75th minute. As a result, Spurs were exalted and mysteriously City fell apart. Defoe finished excellently, striking a shot beyond Hart after receiving Holtby's through ball four minutes after the leveler.
Bale bagged an inspiring recovery with an equally fine finish, controlling the ball over the advancing Hart after being received by Huddlestone's pass. The last part of the game had completely transformed the environment.
