Balotelli strikes late as City down Spurs 3-2

Jan 22, 2012, 15:34 GMT

London - Mario Balotelli converted a penalty in the fifth minute of injury-time to give Premier League leaders Manchester City a 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Italian striker had earlier been the centre of controversy when he wasn't sent off after appearing to stamp on the head of midfielder Scott Parker.

The defeat leaves Spurs eight points behind the league leaders, who are seven clear of Manchester United, who are at Arsenal in the afternoon's other game.

Four goals came in an astonishing nine-minute burst that began 11 minutes after half-time.

Strikes from Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott seemed to have City in control, but Jermain Defoe and a Gareth Bale wonder-strike pegged them back before Balotelli settled it at the death.

Spurs began promisingly, passing the ball around calmly and preventing City settling into the sort of rhythm they often have at home this season.

The opening quarter of the game, in fact, was full of neat passing that was admirable and attractive to watch without being particularly threatening.

Spurs were clearly dominant in midfield, with Luka Modric pressing high up the pitch, although that did leave space for Sergio Aguero to drop into alongside Scott Parker.

It was Aguero who had the first clear chance of the game, seizing on Micah Richards's pass after the full-back had pinched possession from Parker and drawing a fine low save from Brad Friedel.

That was a sign of the decisiveness that gradually began to give City a slight edge, and they took advantage 11 minutes into the second half, David Silva sliding in Nasri with a majestic through ball.

The France midfielder hasn't really convinced since his move from Arsenal, but he finished superbly.

Three minutes later, City doubled their lead. Nasri's corner was flicked on by Edin Dzeko, and Lescott bundled the ball - just - over the line.

Within a minute, Stefan Savic misjudged a long clearance from Younes Kaboul, and Jermain Defoe ran on, rounded and rounded Joe Hart to score.

Dzeko then blazed over when clean through, and five minutes after their first goal, Spurs pulled level through Gareth Bale, who struck a wonderful curling left-footed effort into the corner form 25 yards.

Defoe just couldn't reach a Bale cross to give Spurs the lead in the final minute, and the game was settled by Balotelli after he'd been brought down by Ledley King.