Haaland, City

Haaland hat-trick chaos as Man City edge Spurs in 7-goal thriller – LIVE shockwaves

21.02.2026 - 00:44:35 | ad-hoc-news.de

Manchester City survive a wild 4-3 at Spurs as Erling Haaland hits a ruthless hat-trick – but the title race twist and a huge VAR flashpoint steal the show.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-21, the pitch is on fire... You wanted drama from today's soccer games? You got absolute chaos in North London. Manchester City just beat Tottenham 4-3 in a ridiculous Premier League live showdown that swung the title race, rattled the fanbases and left everyone screaming about VAR again.

This was one of those nights where every attack felt like a knockout punch. Erling Haaland dropped a brutal hat-trick, Son Heung-min dragged Spurs back from the dead, and the final ten minutes were pure adrenaline with the whole league table shaking in real time.

Seven-goal madness: Spurs 3–4 Man City

Forget calm tactical chess – this was a full-on street fight. Man City came flying out, and it took just 12 minutes for the first explosion. Kevin De Bruyne, pulling strings like it's his personal playground, slipped a filthy through ball into the channel. Haaland bullied Cristian Romero, opened his body and smashed low past the keeper for 0–1. Clinical, cold, typical Haaland.

Spurs, though, refused to fold. On 24 minutes, Son Heung-min answered back. James Maddison drifted between the lines, clipped a delicate pass into space, and Son cut inside from the left, chopped onto his right and curled one into the far corner. Spurs 1–1 City, and the stadium absolutely erupted.

City responded like champions. Just before half-time, in the 42nd minute, Phil Foden got in on the act. Bernardo Silva recycled a half-cleared corner, fizzed the ball out wide to Foden, who drove at Pedro Porro, shifted it right and lashed a low shot inside the near post. 1–2 City, Foden screaming into the away end, Pep Guardiola going wild on the touchline.

Haaland turns monster mode on

Second half, same chaos. On 55 minutes, De Bruyne again found space, sent a wicked cross between keeper and centre-back, and Haaland just had to brush it in from close range. 1–3 to City, Haaland's second, and you thought the game was done. It felt like City were about to cruise and Haaland was hunting yet another routine hat-trick.

But Spurs being Spurs, the script flipped. Ange Postecoglou threw on more attacking firepower, and the game turned frantic. In the 63rd minute, Son grabbed his brace. Dejan Kulusevski swung in a deep cross, Son ghosted in at the back post, lost Kyle Walker and headed home for 2–3. City suddenly looked rattled, the home crowd hit a new volume, and you sensed another twist coming.

The twist arrived via the penalty spot – and the day's biggest controversy. In the 74th minute, Romero went up for a set piece, the ball bounced awkwardly inside the box and smacked into Rúben Dias' arm. The on-field referee waved play on, but VAR told him to take another look. After a long check that had everyone losing their minds, the ref pointed to the spot.

Maddison stepped up, sent Ederson the wrong way, and made it 3–3 on 77 minutes. The noise was insane, City players were furious, Guardiola was sarcastically clapping on the sideline – pure Premier League theatre. Social media instantly caught fire with replays and freeze-frames of Dias' arm position and that dreaded "natural silhouette" debate.

Hat-trick hero, title-race statement

But if you give Haaland one more chance, you know what's coming. In the 88th minute, City broke with venom. Foden drove through midfield, slipped the ball to De Bruyne on the right, and KDB whipped in a low, fizzing ball across the six-yard box. Haaland attacked it like a machine, getting in front of his marker and stabbing home from close range. Boom. 3–4. Hat-trick complete.

Haaland's three goals – 12', 55', 88' – were a masterclass in elite finishing. He bullied centre-backs, attacked space relentlessly, and showed that ice-cold composure in the key moments. On a day when the pressure was cranked all the way up, he looked like he was built for exactly this.

For Spurs, Son was immense even in defeat. Two goals, endless running, dragging his team up the pitch again and again. Maddison was slick in spells and stepped up for the penalty, but defensively Spurs were torn apart whenever City went direct. Romero had a nightmare dealing with Haaland's movement, and late on they paid for every tiny lapse.

How it hits the football league table

This result is massive. City's win keeps them right in the thick of the title race, cranking up the pressure on the rest of the top four. Dropping points here would have opened the door for their rivals; instead, they stay locked in as the ruthless machine that never seems to go away.

Spurs, meanwhile, are now staring nervously over their shoulders in the fight for Champions League spots. Defeats like this – full of spirit but zero points – can haunt you when the season hits the final stretch. With others breathing down their necks, every slip matters now.

What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings

This updated table shows exactly how City's three points squeeze the gap at the top and pile huge pressure on the chasing pack heading into the next round of fixtures.

Big-name check-in: Heroes & flops

Erling Haaland – Pure devastation. A hat-trick in a statement game is exactly why he's feared across Europe. His movement off the shoulder, his timing for crosses, and that killer instinct in the 88th minute separated the sides. On another night, he could’ve had four.

Kevin De Bruyne – Not on the scoresheet, but this was a masterclass in playmaking. Multiple key passes, two assists, and constant danger between the lines. When City needed calm in the chaos, KDB delivered it with that wand of a right foot.

Phil Foden – His goal was huge. Beyond that, his ball-carrying in transition shredded Spurs again and again. One of the most influential players on the pitch every time City broke forward.

Son Heung-min – Spurs' heartbeat. Two goals, nonstop pressing, and the one player City never looked comfortable defending. In a different universe where Spurs hold on at 3–3, he's the undisputed man of the match.

James Maddison – Calm from the spot, clever in tight pockets, but faded late as City took control. Still, his creativity kept Spurs alive when they were under siege.

Social Media Spotlight

Scroll that X feed and it's frame-by-frame breakdowns of the penalty, arguments about "clear and obvious," and fans of rival clubs chiming in with pure chaos. Over on Instagram, City's dressing-room cameras are catching Haaland grinning with the match ball under his arm – pure "try and stop us" energy. YouTube? Just a wall of "insane 7-goal thriller" thumbnails you'll probably end up replaying all night.

My take: This is exactly why we love it

In my opinion, this is the sort of game that defines a season. City weren't perfect – far from it. They looked shaky at the back, got dragged into a wild tempo, and still walked away with three points because their superstars showed up when it mattered most. That's championship DNA right there.

For Spurs, there are two truths: the attacking football is electric, and the defensive naivety is killing them. You can't gift Haaland that many looks and expect to survive. If they want to lock down a Champions League place, the balance between chaos and control has to shift – fast.

But from a neutral perspective? Unreal. This is why you clear your evening, mute your phone, and lock in on live football. End-to-end, big names stepping up, controversy, late drama – it had absolutely everything.

Closing whistle

So yeah, if you missed today's action, you missed one of the wildest soccer games of the season so far. Haaland walks away with the headlines, Son deserves all the respect, and the title race just got a lot more spicy.

If you want to see exactly how much this 4–3 epic matters in black and white, don't skip the numbers.

Check full stats & standings now


Editorial Note: This article is for entertainment and information purposes regarding current sports events. Sports betting and financial investments carry risks. Please gamble responsibly. Always check odds and terms with the provider.

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