Peter Crouch scores '£15m goal' against Manchester City to make Tottenham history

By premiernews On Nov 22, 2024

Soccer fans will always appreciate the intense joy that comes when their team scores a late winning goal.

The celebrations intensify even more when they leave home, with Tottenham big beneficiaries of this in May 2010.

City and Spurs faced off in 2010 for a coveted Champions League spotCredit: Getty

As the end approached, it was Crouch who emerged as the winner of the match.Credit: AFP

The Spurs traveled to city of manchester for their penultimate game of the 2009/10 Premier League season with a big prize at stake.

Qualification for the Champions League for the first time in each club's history was at stake during the clash at the Etihad Stadium.

City, who completed their £200m takeover by Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group the previous season, were the favourites.

However, it was their visitors from north London who took the three points and did so in spectacular fashion thanks to Peter bends down.

Younes Kaboul beat Craig Bellamy down the right flank and saw his cross deflected off Wayne Bridge towards Marton Fulop.

The goalkeeper could only stop him and he fell into the path of Spurs striker Crouch, who headed in from inside the six-yard box.

Crouch scored in the 82nd minute of the match and immediately ran towards the visiting fans behind the goal who were celebrating wildly.

Although it was far from the most glamorous of his 108 Premier League goals, it was arguably the most important of his career.

Crouch's header was dubbed the '£15m goal' given the acclaimed financial riches that come with Champions League qualification.

It also led to an iconic moment when David Bentley and some of his teammates threw an ice bucket. about manager Harry Redknapp during a post-match interview.

Crouch's goal was enough to send Spurs to the Champions League for the first timeCredit: Getty

It dealt a serious blow to City, who were above them in the table before kick-off.Credit: AFP

As expected, Spurs fans were delighted with their historic achievement.Credit: AFP

Previously, Spurs played only once in the European Cup in the 1961/62 season, when they lost 4-3 on aggregate to Benfica in the semi-finals.

The north London team had never appeared in UEFA's top club competition after adopting its current name in 1992.

A 6-3 aggregate play-off round win over Young Boys saw Redknapp's team reach the group stage in the 2010/11 season.

They topped Group A ahead of reigning champions Inter Milan, FC Twente and Werder Bremen, but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid.

Crouch scored four goals in his European campaign before leaving at the end of the season to join Stoke City.

Spurs had to wait until 2016 to return to Champions League play after finishing third in the Premier League.

Bentley iconically celebrated after pouring ice on manager RedknappCredit: Sky Sports Retro YouTube

Spurs impressed in their Champions League debut by reaching the round of 16Credit: Getty

They even reached the final for the first time in 2019, but lost 2-0 to Liverpool and have not been able to get past the last since.

City would have been devastated by the defeat against Spurs on May 5, 2010, as a victory would have put qualification in their hands for the final day.

However, they would make their debut in the competition just a year later thanks to a third place finish in the league.

They have played in the Champions League in all subsequent seasons, reaching the final for the first time in 2021, but losing to Chelsea 1-0.

Pep Guardiola, who has just extended his contract At the club, he helped to their first title in 2023 with a 1-0 victory against Inter.

The Spurs, hosts of the city again on Saturday night, with both coming into the game after defeats in their last Premier League games.

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