Tottenham 2–2 Manchester City: Solanke’s Scorpion Kick Stuns Champions as Spurs Fight Back

Tottenham produced a dramatic second-half comeback to draw 2–2 with Manchester City, as Dominic Solanke’s outrageous scorpion-kick equaliser transformed a toxic night in north London into one of the most raucous atmospheres of Spurs’ season.

City looked in complete control at half-time after first-half goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo put the champions 2–0 up and seemingly on their way to a routine win. Tottenham, sloppy in possession and repeatedly exposed in midfield, were booed off by their own fans at the interval as frustration around their recent form boiled over.

The opener came on 11 minutes, when Spurs tried to play out from the back and lost the ball in a dangerous area. Yves Bissouma was dispossessed and City pounced, working the ball to Cherki, who drilled a low finish inside the near post to silence the home crowd. Just before the break, the visitors doubled their lead as Bernardo Silva found space on the right and cut the ball back for Semenyo, who calmly side-footed into the corner.

Thomas Frank’s side emerged a different team after the restart. Spurs pushed higher, played with more aggression and began to pin City back. Their pressure told in the 53rd minute when Solanke halved the deficit, timing his run perfectly to meet a low ball into the box and finishing at the near post to lift the noise levels inside the stadium.

The turning point – and moment that will replay on highlight reels for years – came in the 70th minute. Conor Gallagher whipped in a cross from the right that was slightly behind Solanke, but the striker improvised brilliantly, flicking the ball backwards with a scorpion-kick motion that flew past the goalkeeper and into the net. The goal sparked wild celebrations among players and fans, completing a comeback that had looked highly unlikely 25 minutes earlier.

Both sides had chances to win it late on. Spurs, buoyed by their resurgence, pushed for a third, while City threatened on the counter, with Tijjani Reijnders among those going close. In the end, neither could find a decisive breakthrough, and the points were shared after a chaotic, end‑to‑end final spell.

The result carries major implications for the title race. Having led 2–0, City’s failure to see out the game costs them two valuable points and leaves them further adrift of league leaders Arsenal, increasing the pressure on the champions heading into a crucial stretch of the season. For Spurs, the comeback offers both a morale boost and a potential turning point, with Solanke’s heroics and the team’s second-half response easing some of the scrutiny on Frank after a difficult run.

From boos at half-time to utter disbelief at full-time, this was a night defined by one breathtaking piece of improvisation and a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in the Premier League.
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