Dejan Kulusevski scored a 90th-minute header to earn Tottenham a 3-3 draw at defending champion Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Jack Grealish had looked like settling a thrilling game at Etihad Stadium with a goal in the 81st minute.
But Kulusevski rose to meet Brennan Johnson’s cross and head in off the underside of the bar to secure a point for Spurs.
City has now drawn its last three games in the league and is third in the standings, three points behind leader Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s team has also conceded eight goals during that winless run.
City had gone behind to a goal from Son Heung-min in the sixth, but led at halftime after the Tottenham captain put through his own net in the ninth and Phil Foden struck in the 31st minute.
Giovani Lo Celso hit a low, curling effort into the bottom corner to level at 2-2 in the 69th before substitute Grealish scored what seemed to be the winner.
Even after Kulusevski’s equalizer there was further drama when referee Simon Hooper stopped play to award City a free kick despite Grealish appearing to be running through on goal.
The draw halts Spurs’ three-game losing run and moves Ange Postecoglou’s team above Newcastle to fifth.
Guardiola had predicted an exciting game against a Spurs team that has been the surprise package in England’s top flight this season.
Postecoglou, meanwhile, had said he wouldn’t compromise his attacking style, even in the face of an injury crisis and a recent losing streak.
And when Son raced away early to fire past Ederson, Spurs’ intentions were clear.
But their celebrations were short-lived as Son inadvertently put the ball into his own net three minutes after giving the visitors the lead.
Julian Alvarez’s free kick on the right was glanced on by Erling Haaland and Son then got the last touch to beat his own goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Foden then gave City the lead from close range and Alvarez hit the post in a period when Postecoglou later admitted his team could have been blown away.
Vicario saved impressively against Bernardo Silva after the break before Tottenham evened the score as Lo Celso cut inside and curled a shot from the edge of the area beyond the dive of Ederson.
Grealish had come off the bench early in the second half and the stadium erupted when he swept Haaland’s cross into the back of the net from close range.
There was another twist as Kulusevski headed into the top corner.
City still went in search of a winner and that chance looked to have come when Grealish burst away just beyond the halfway line.
But his run was cut short as the referee blew up for a City free kick, having appeared to have played the advantage following a foul on Haaland.
Team news
Josko Gvardiol came in for Nathan Ake in the one change to the Manchester City team that drew with Liverpool as Jeremy Doku continued ahead of Jack Grealish.
Yves Bissouma returned in place of the Rodrigo Bentancur as Tottenham continued with four natural full-backs in defence and Bryan Gil in the starting line-up.
Player ratings
Man City: Ederson (6), Walker (6), Akanji (5), Dias (6), Gvardiol (6), Rodri (6), Silva (6), Foden (7), Doku (6), Alvarez (6), Haaland (6).
Subs: Grealish (7), Lewis (6), Ake (n/a), Kovacic (n/a).
Tottenham: Vicario (6), Porro (6), Royal (6), Davies (7), Udogie (6), Bissouma (5), Lo Celso (7), Kulusevski (7), Gil (6), Son (7), Johnson (7).
Subs: Hojbjerg (7), Skipp (6), Richarlison (n/a), Donley (n/a).
Player of the match: Dejan Kulusevski
WHAT MANAGERS SAID
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he could not understand the referee's decision to stop play for a foul on Erling Haaland when Jack Grealish was through on goal.
Speaking to Sky Sports about the unusual decision of the referee who appeared to play on before bringing play back with Grealish through on goal, Guardiola was reluctant to discuss it. "Next question. I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment," he said.
"It is hard when you review the image, the referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already said to play on. After the pass, the whistle, so I do not understand this action.
"It was a good game, that is the most important thing. It was a pity, same as the Liverpool game, I had the feeling that today that we made an incredible performance in all departments, against a really good team and manager and how they play.
"We created a lot of chances, we were aggressive, incredibly concentrated, and the feeling is that we still want to be there.
"It is a pity. Sometimes football is like life, you do not get what you deserve."
Postecoglou:
Son struck early for Tottenham following a brilliant counter-attack
"It was an entertaining game, plenty in it, Postecoglou told Sky Sports.
"We were lucky to be in it by half-time, City could have blown us away in that period, a bit similar to what happened to us against Villa last week.
"We hung in there, second half were a lot better, a lot more control and a lot more belief in the team. We got our reward for that which is great for the lads."
On the character his side showed, he added: "It has been there all year, the last few results have hidden that a little but we are at the bare bones a little bit. I have asked players to play in unfamiliar positions but we have still played some decent football.
"I think the character has been there all year but we certainly needed it today."
What's next?
Manchester City face a tricky trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday, kick-off 8.15pm. They then head south to play Luton on Sunday, kick-off 2pm.
Meanwhile, Tottenham host West Ham in a spicy London derby on Thursday, kick-off 8.15pm. Next up, Newcastle are the visitors to north London on Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm -
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