Navas 1', 90', Sandro 34' (O.G.),
Aguero 41', 50', Negredo 55'
Sensational City hit Spurs for six.
Tottenham Hotspur were treated to a sizzling Spanish menu of misery on Sunday afternoon as Jesus Navas, Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo ran rampant at the Etihad Stadium. The Spanish speaking trio perfectly performed a goalscoring lesson to their visitors who have managed only 9 goals since the start of the season.
With Jesus Navas in the starting line-up, the tie was always going to be a pacy encounter and after just fourteen seconds, the Spanish speedster followed up from an Aguero effort to curl a delicious finish into the top corner. The weekend has been a platform for goalkeeping mistakes and Hugo Lloris's comedic clearance into the path of Sergio Aguero can certainly be added to that list.
Jesus Navas scored his first Premier League goal of the season after just fourteen seconds.
City were sizzling; Spurs were sickened and not even the bullish Sandro could hold in his spew at the sight of his Brazilian counterpart Fernandinho running the show.
The visitors reacted positively and Erik Lamela was unlucky not to level when Martin Demichelis was on hand to stop his shot on the line. Possession was in Spurs' hands but a carnivorous City were ready to pounce on their goal-shy guests. With ten minutes of the half left to play, Hugo Lloris palmed an Aguero chip into the path of Alvaro Negredo who acrobatically finished to make it 2-0. However, a ricochet off the foot of Sandro on its way in denied the Spaniard his fifth goal of the season.
Negredo's shot canons in off Sandro.
The fixture, tipped to be a 'close one' by the majority of pundits, was taking a turn for the worst for Andre Villas Boas as Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela drifted out of the game and deeper into their own half. But Manuel's minions weren't finished and marched to a third goal courtesy of Kun Aguero four minutes before the break. Jesus Navas was displaying all the speed and wide play he was brought in for and slipped in a sumptuous ball for Aguero to net his ninth of the season.
Aguero makes it three before the break.
As the blues headed down the tunnel for a feast of complements from their manager, Spurs underwent a Portuguese grilling after tarnishing their impressive defensive league record. AVB's words went unheard and the most prolific home side in English football went in for the kill.
Just five minutes into the second half, Yaya Toure decided to come to the party. The Ivorian left a chasing Kyle Walker for dead on a characteristically supreme surge into the box and selflessly squared to Aguero for his second brace of the week. With Spurs dead and buried, the Chilean chancellor could begin preparing for City's midweek tie with Viktoria Plzen and City's leading scorer was applauded off the field of play.
Sergio Aguero celebrates his second goal of the afternoon.
Surprisingly, given the sparkle of the performance, the best was yet to come for the home side. After witnessing Sandro being awarded his goal in the first half, Alvaro Negredo went into 'Beast mode' and exquisitely turned Michael Dawson to curl a mouthwatering finish into the far corner of Lloris's goal. The effort can definitely be considered an early contender for goal of the season.
Alvaro Negredo curls in a peach to make it five.
The Etihad was in party mode and memories from the Stadium of Plight two weeks ago began to fade fast. Spurs were never likely to compete for the title, but the gulf in class between the sides almost sealed their minimal hopes of clinching the crown shut.
With seconds left to play, James Milner switched an incredible sixty yard ball into the path of Jesus Navas who slotted past Lloris for six. The rout was over and the Etihad roared in all its invincible might.
Jesus Navas completes the scoring.
It was yet another prolific afternoon at the Etihad where City have now scored twenty-six times (17 more goals than Spurs have managed both home and away all season).
On home form, the title is already ours, but on the road, we're fighting to stay in the league. If Manuel Pellegrini and his magical minions can find a remedy for their repulsive away form, we could see City rocketing uncontrollably up the table.
Player Ratings
Costel Pantillimon 7A couple of fumbles from crosses almost made for an embarrassing afternoon, but the Romanian keeper showed how safe his hands are with a solid display.
Pablo Zabaleta 8Allowed Navas to exhibit his true qualities and saved Demichelis's bacon on a number of occasions.
Martin Demichelis 6.5Struggles to find his own men with passes on too many occasions, but he solidified in the second half.
Matija Nastasic 7A sturdy display from the Serbian before being taken off at half time.
Gael Clichy 7Linked up with Nasri well and despite struggling with Lennon's pace early on, had a satisfying game.
Samir Nasri 8.5Tormented his old foes with his trickery and played a part in the second goal.
Fernandino 8.5Went unnoticed in a game that exhibited so much attacking flair, but he quietly went about threading in passes for the players in front of him.
Yaya Toure 7Poor and anonymous in the first half which left him frustrated, but he livened up in the second and expertly provided for Aguero's second of the match.
Jesus Navas 9Displayed everything Manuel Pellegrini brought him into the club for with a 100mph performance. Assisted, scored and scared the life out the Tottenham back four with his pace.
Sergio Aguero 9
Two customary finishes for the Argentine who now has 14 goals in 11 games for the blues. It's hard to picture him not scoring.
Alvaro Negredo 10It's not often I award a 100% rating for a player, but Negredo was on another planet today. Brings other players into the game with his touch and composure and his goal was nothing short of brilliant. What a player and what a buy. Substitutes
Lescott 7 - Solid and didn't let Adebayor have a sniff.
Garcia 6 - Brought Yaya into the game.
Milner 7 - Brilliant ball into Navas to make it six.
