Premier League: Manchester City 3 Tottenham 2

Mario Balotelli netted a stoppage-time penalty as Manchester City recorded a sensational 3-2 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

City took the lead in the 56th minute when Samir Nasri crashed the ball into the net after

latching onto David Silva’s delightful through ball, and Joleon Lescott then doubled their advantage minutes later scrambling in from a corner.

Spurs responded immediately and with Jermain Defoe capitalising on an error from Stefan Savic to beat Joe Hart and finish into an empty net.

Moments later, Gareth Bale looked to have completed the comeback for the visitors with a fantastic strike from outside the area as his left footed curler sailed into the top corner, but Balotelli was felled in the area by Ledley King with seconds remaining and the striker made no mistake from the spot to give City the three points.

Neither side could break the deadlock in a goalless first half, although Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko were both dangerous for City.

The match came to life in the second half though, with four goals in an incredible nine-minute period.

Nasri was the first to score in the 56th minute, his diagonal run connecting with Silva’s ball through the heart of the Spurs defence, and the Frenchman gave Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel no chance with a well-taken finish.

The home side doubled their lead in the 59th minute through Lescott, who scrambled the ball into the net after latching onto Dzeko’s flick-on from a corner.

It took Spurs just one minute get back into the game as Defoe pounced on a mistake by Savic, as the Montenegrin defender misjudged his clearing header.

The striker showed composure when one-one with Joe Hart, calmly rounding the England keeper and finishing into an empty net.

Redknapp’s side shocked the Etihad Stadium by getting an equaliser in spectacular fashion as Bale picked up the ball outside the area and curled a sublime effort over Hart into the net on 65 minutes.

Tottenham blew a gilt-edged chance to win the match on 90 minutes when Bale broke down the left and cut the ball back for an unmarked Jermain Defoe in the area, but his pass was slightly over-hit and Defoe sliced his shot from just outside the six-yard box.

That miss came back to haunt Harry Redknapp’s side four minutes later when King clumsily felled Balotelli and referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot.

The Italian took the penalty himself and calmly slotted the ball past Friedel, sealing a valuable three points for the league leaders.