London, April 22 (AP): An ill-fated week for Manchester City and Tottenham, two of the rebel clubs in the dying Super League project, was further complicated on Wednesday, when both found themselves at a disadvantage, on their return to activity in the English Premier League.
Both teams rallied for vital triumphs that left them in good spirits for their next engagement. The two will meet at Wembley on Sunday in the League Cup final.
City allowed a goal in just 20 seconds but ended up beating Aston Villa 2-1 and stretched their lead at the top to 11 points as they approach what will almost certainly be their third league title in four years.
Both City and the host lost a player to red card at Villa Park. City defender John Stones was sent off for a reckless foul late in the first half.
Tottenham’s ambition to play in a lucrative Super League may have been buried, but the team is still fighting for a spot in the European cups next season after an agonizing 2-1 victory over Southampton.
Son Heung-min converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute to leave Spurs just two points behind Chelsea, fourth in the overall table, in the contest for English tickets to the Champions League.
Ryan Mason made his right foot debut as an interim manager. He replaces José Mourinho, who was fired on Monday with Tottenham in the seventh seat in the league.
Mason, a former Tottenham midfielder who was forced to retire in 2018 after failing to recover from a skull fracture, made history by becoming the youngest manager in a Premier League game at 29 years and 312 days.
Tottenham had to come back after being at a disadvantage in the 30th minute due to a goal by Danny Ings, who defined with a header that first hit a post. Ings was injured in the second half.
Gareth Bale, starting for the first time in more than a month, leveled at 60 with a superb warped shot.
Son was in charge of certifying the victory from 12 steps, after his teammate Sergio Reguilón was the victim of a foul just inside the area.
Mason couldn’t count on Harry Kane. The Premier League top scorer watched the game from the empty stands of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after hurting his ankle in the game against Everton last week.
Mason did not rule out that Kane could play in the League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, the only chance Tottenham has left to win a title this season and another avenue to access the European cups on Sunday. the next course.
Both City and Tottenham played their first games since abandoning the Super League project, which they launched with 10 other elite clubs in Europe.
A small group of fans protested in front of the Spurs stadium, before the game against Southampton. He asked for the removal of President Daniel Levy and that the ENIC Group, owner of the team, sell it.
