
Here we all were again. The Etihad Stadium was enjoying a glorious celebration. In fact, for a good two minutes they cavorted and enjoyed their deserved victory. They had left it late, Gabriel Jesus waiting until added time to turn in Kevin De Bruyne's corner. Yet they had overwhelmed Tottenham, who had Hugo Lloris to thank for one of those fabled Roy of the Rovers type performances to defy City.

Everyone had resumed their places for the restart. Even the Tottenham players, even with their history here, seemed resigned to defeat. Only referee Michael Oliver remained resolutely by the penalty area refusing to start. Back in Stockley Park, on a soul-less industrial estate in West Drayton, a group of men were adjudicating while a watching world waited.

Then, hesitantly, as though aware of the enormous fuss he was about to create, Oliver made that signal with his hands to indicate a television screen, like Give Us A Clue contestant yet without the levity. En route to Jesus, Aymeric Laporte had deflected the ball with his arm. And the new rules now state that any hand ball leading directly to a goal, unintentional or not, will be punished.

Gabriel Jesus complains to referee Michael Oliver after his stoppage-time goal is ruled out as Man City draw with Spurs

Jesus thought he won it for Manchester City as he fired in a third goal for the champions in stoppage-time

Jesus, who was brought on a second-half substitute, celebrates after scoring what he thought was City's third goal

However, just like the Champions League quarter-final between the two sides last season, VAR ruled out another City late goal

Jesus shows his disappointment at the final whistle after his stoppage-time winner was ruled out by VAR

An upset Jesus confronts Michael Oliver over the decision after the game before walking away in anger

Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino (left) talks over the controversial moment with Pep Guardiola (right) before the final whistle

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND LEAGUE TABLE MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson 6; Walker 6.5, Otamendi 7, Laporte 6, Zinchenko 6; Gundogan 6.5, Rodri 7 (D. Silva 78, 6), De Bruyne 8; Bernardo Silva 7.5 (Mahrez 80, 6), Aguero 5 (Gabriel Jesus 65, 7), Sterling 8.5 Subs not used: Bravo, Fernandinho, Joao Cancelo, Foden Goals: Sterling 20, Aguero 35 Booked: Sterling Manager: Pep Guardiola 7 TOTTENHAM (4-3-2-1): Lloris 6; Walker-Peters 6, Sanchez 5.5, Alderweireld 6.5, Rose 6.5; Sissoko 7, Winks 5.5 (Lucas Moura 56, 6), Ndombele 7; Lamela 8.5 (Lo Celso 85), Eriksen 6 (Skipp 90+1); Kane 7 Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Dier, Davies Goals: Lamela (23), Moura (56) Manager: Mauricio Pochettino 6 Referee: Michael Oliver 7 MOM: Raheem Sterling (Man City) VENUE: Etihad Stadium *Ratings by Derek Hunter Season at a glance Live tables

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In the far corner, Tottenham's fans caught a glimpse of Oliver's signal and roared with joy, just as they had here back in April when Raheem Sterling's goal was ruled out in the dying seconds and Tottenham were reprieved and sent into a Champions League semi-final.

On the touchline, Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino, who do not always seem to be the closest of colleagues, chatted amiably. Here, in a stolen moment in front of millions of TV viewers worldwide, Pochettino would reveal later they had briefly bonded over the vagaries of VAR.

Of course, there was heavy irony in the fact that, back in April, Fernando Llorente's crucial third goal had been aided by an accidental hand which would now deem it disallowed. Guardiola was exasperated about this and by the inconsistencies in general. In reality, the both seem bewildered. Not just at the uncanny sense of déjà vu. But by the weird, overarching narrative of this game.

'People say you can do better!' Guardiola said, almost plaintively. 'Better than this, I don't know if it's possible? We played incredible. The best game we have played in our time together.' That was some claim given that it was the first time that they hadn't won a Premier League game since January. Yet statistics would back him up. Manchester City had 30 shots on goal to Tottenham's three; they had 56 per cent of the possession; they had 13 corners to Tottenham's two. In short, they utterly overwhelmed Tottenham here. And yet they didn't

How could that be? Everything suggested that Tottenham ought to fold. There was a cameo which offered a clue. On 84 minutes there was a lengthy break to treat a City player and Spurs seized the moment to regroup. Initially it was only Moussa Sissoko, Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen who had gathered round. But soon the whole team was there, other than Hugo Lloris, who remained in goal. The players leaned in, enraptured by the figure in front of them. And there was Pochettino, cajoling, encouraging.

You wondered how they had survived thus far, so unrelenting had City been. Even in the final moments, they were unceasingly pressing Tottenham's back four. Never did they allow them to establish any rhythm. The result made no sense. Certainly, the stats cannot compute it. Yet part of the answer was there in that stolen time out.

There is something about Spurs, certainly against City. There is a palpable tension at the club and some of those players hanging on Pochettino's every word want to leave or expect to do so soon. 'Our coaching staff are the world champions at adapting to different circumstances,' Pochettino said. He means the uncertainty at the club regrading contract negotiations. 'With all the circumstances we have inside our team, to get 2-2 is a massive credit.'

And still, there is an undeniable charisma in their leader. Tottenham are a team fashioned in the image of their manager, the tough farmer's kid from an Argentina backwater. They defy the stats. Their character is undeniable. They were a long way from matching City. And yet, they matched City.

Lucas Moura celebrates after scoring Tottenham's equaliser during the second half at the Etihad Stadium

The Brazilian was sent on by Mauricio Pochettino for Harry Winks as Tottenham had a corner

Just 19 seconds later, Moura leaps in front of Kyle Walker to head in Tottenham's equaliser during the second half

Moura's brilliant header beats City goalkeeper Ederson as the City defenders watch the ball fly into the net

The Brazilian winger celebrates after scoring with his very first touch as he makes it 2-2 from a set-piece

The tale of the game was a festival of City attacking, featuring Kevin De Bruyne as the leading man. City enjoyed 85 per cent possession in the run up to their opening goal on 20 minutes, which Raheem Sterling headed home, angled with power, an additional repertoire to his ever-growing game. Yet it was the genius of De Bruyne's in-swinging cross, with pace, curl and accuracy, which stood out. It would not be his last mesmeric contribution.

City stuttered immediately. On 23 minutes, Tanguy Ndombele threaded a ball through for Erik Lamela. Ilkay Gundogan failed to track so the Argentinian grew in confidence, ran, shot and scored almost before Ederson had considered the possibility.

City resumed normal service soon after. On 35 minutes, Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne combined for the Belgian to slide in one of those tantalising low crosses for Sergio Aguero to touch in at the near post to make it 2-1. Half time brought only a temporary reprieve. Here was Lloris diving low to scramble a deflected Olek ZInchenko shot. There was Lloris blocking an Aguero strike. Up he sprung to deny Bernardo Silva.

Yet City should have known. On 56 minutes, Harry Winks trotted off and Lucas Moura came on as Spurs lined up a corner. You might forgive Kyle Walker for not paying attention; the Brazilian didn’t seem the obvious target man. Yet Lamela lifted the ball beautifully into the near post, Moura stole in front of his man, flicked a header across the goal and into the corner of the net. He had been on the pitch barely ten seconds. The Brazilian knows how to make a mark with iconic interventions.

Still, Lloris would have to produce a flying save from a Rodri shot on the hour and defend a flurry of corners and chances, the best of which were a Bernardo Silva looping shot which hit the bar and fell into the goalkeeper’s arm and a Nicolas Otamendi header which Danny Rose hacked off the line. They rode their luck commendably. They relied on those unseen officials in Stockley Park. And yet Tottenham made their point. Not many will here this season.

Raheem Sterling is congratulated by his City team-mates after breaking the deadlock inside 20 minutes at the Etihad

The in-form winger heads in De Bruyne's deep cross as Lloris can only stand and watch it fly across him and into his net

The superb header is Sterling's fourth goal in two matches after he scored a hat-trick on the opening day of the season

Sterling celebrates breaking the deadlock for his side after scoring with his head at the back post

Erik Lamela holds out his arms as he celebrates scoring Spurs' equaliser moments after they conceded the opening goal

The Argentine forward curled in a left-footed shot from outside the area which caught City goalkeeper Ederson off guard

Lamela shushes as his Tottenham team-mates come over to congratulate him on his equaliser at the Etihad Stadium

Sergio Aguero wheels away in celebration after restoring Manchester City's lead over Tottenham at the Etihad

The Argentine striker (right) got in front of Toby Alderweireld to poke Kevin De Bruyne's (not pictured) past Hugo Lloris

Aguero watches his shot curl into the net as Lloris is left rooted to the spot as City go 2-1 up in the first half

The City squad celebrate as the home support applaud their side for restoring the lead after the half-hour mark

Spurs were lucky to not concede a penalty early on after Erik Lamela clumsily brought down Rodri at a corner

Tottenham captain Lloris comes out to punch a cross as he leaps over City defender Nicolas Otamendi

City playmaker Bernardo Silva has a shot at goal and was a constant thorn in Tottenham's side throughout the match

Christian Eriksen (centre) vies with his former Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker (right) as the two battle it out for possession