Harry Kane’s milestone goal gives Tottenham win against Manchester City, helps Arsenal too
Harry Kane broke Tottenham’s all-time scoring record with a goal — his 267th for the club — that will have been celebrated almost as jubilantly the other team in north London.
The England captain’s milestone strike earned Tottenham a 1-0 win Sunday over Manchester City, which was looking for a victory to trim the gap to Premier League leader Arsenal to two points.
In the end, Arsenal wasn’t punished for losing 1-0 at Everton on Saturday — and maybe that’s no surprise. After all, City now hasn’t won, or even scored, in five games at Tottenham’s new stadium in either the Premier League or the Champions League.
In esteemed company, @HKane 👏#PL | @SpursOfficial pic.twitter.com/0tmsbgDAtg
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 5, 2023
Even the absence of Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, recovering in his native Italy after having his gallbladder removed this week, couldn’t change the narrative around this particular fixture.
Kane swept home the winner in the 15th minute after Pierre-Emile Højbjerg intercepted a pass out from the back City midfielder Rodri and set up the striker to score his 200th Premier League goal. Only two other players — Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) — have reached that figure.
Kane broke the tie for all-time Tottenham goals he had with the late Jimmy Greaves, who played for the club from 1961-70.
City was the architect of its own downfall for the goal, just as it was when conceding two sloppy first-half goals against Tottenham last month before rallying for a 4-2 win at Etihad Stadium.
Harry Kane’s 200th #PL goal moves Spurs within one point of the top-four 💪#TOTMCI pic.twitter.com/J6WCyeV9xM
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 5, 2023
This time, there was no comeback despite a second-half resurgence sparked the introduction of Kevin De Bruyne, who was benched for the second straight game against Tottenham, and the 87th-minute sending-off of Crian Romero for a second yellow card.
City lost for the fourth time this season in the league and stayed five points behind Arsenal, which has a game in hand as it bids for a first top-flight title since 2004.
Fifth-place Tottenham moved a point behind fourth-place Newcastle in the race for Champions League qualification.
NAVAS DEBUT
Keylor Navas swapped a contender for the Champions League for a relegation candidate in the Premier League. He immediately looked at home.
The Costa Rica goalkeeper made a string of great saves on his debut for Forest in its 1-0 win over Leeds that moved the team six points clear of the relegation zone.
“Outstanding and composed,” Forest manager Steve Cooper said of the three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, who moved from Paris Saint-Germain this week. “The obvious talking points are the saves, and rightly so, he deserves all the credit for that, but I loved his composure and game management and decision-making.”
Five matches unbeaten for @NFFC 💫#NFOLEE pic.twitter.com/C2nfO4geTu
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 5, 2023
Brennan Johnson scored the 14th-minute winner for Forest, which has won three of its last four league games and is up to 13th.
Leeds is in 17th place in the 20-team league and only out of the relegation positions on goal difference.
AMERICAN INFLUENCE
U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie came on for his debut for Leeds as a second-half substitute and played alongside international teammate Tyler Adams.
With Brenden Aaronson also in the squad, Leeds became the first team to have three U.S. internationals play in the same season in the Premier League since 2012-13, when Stoke had Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Maurice Edu.
Leeds manager Jesse Marsch is another American at the club and knows he is under pressure ahead of a match at Manchester United on Wednesday, which is Leeds’ game in hand.
“I have to find a way of turning good performances more into winning because that’s exactly where we are and have been for a little while,” Marsch said.
“I understand the frustration and doubts. Internally, we have belief here. We do.”