Balotelli gives City 3-2 victory over Spurs

By AGENCIES

Published: Jan 22, 2012 19:37 Updated: Jan 23, 2012 19:39

MANCHESTER, England:  Mario Balotelli converted a stoppage-time penalty to give leader Manchester City a dramatic 3-2 victory over Premier League title rival Tottenham on Sunday.
Just after Jermain Defoe had missed Tottenham's own chance to win the game, Balotelli was fouled by Ledley King and the Italy striker netted to give City an 11th straight home league win this season.
"I was calm, like every time I take a penalty," Balotelli said.
City had thrown away a two-goal lead after Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott scored in a four-minute span early in the second half. Tottenham immediately hit back, with slack defending allowing Defoe to score on the hour and Gareth Bale to equalize five minutes later.
City moved eight points ahead of third-place Tottenham, with only Manchester United separating the sides.
The game came to life in the 56th minute with a flurry of goals. David Silva, who had been pulling the strings of City's midfield, was the provider.
After a quick break forward, Silva slipped the ball through the heart of the Tottenham defense and Nasri lifted the ball past Brad Friedel.
Nasri played a part in City's second, three minutes later, sending in the cross that Edin Dzeko flicked toward the far post.
While Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker initially blocked the ball he failed to keep hold and clear, allowing Lescott to scramble it over the line.
City appeared to be on course to match its crushing 5-1 rout of Tottenham in August, only for the visitors to be gifted a route back into the game inside a minute.
Younes Kaboul launched the ball forward and Stefan Savic's attempt to make a headed clearance only directed it back into the path of the onrushing Defoe.
The England striker met the ball and rounded keeper Joe Hart on the edge of the penalty area before coolly slotting home.
The comeback was on, with the equalizer coming five minutes later.
Aaron Lennon broke free on the left flank before squaring to Bale, who lifted the ball beyond the reach of Hart into the top corner.
Tottenham could have snatched a late winner. Bale charged down the left and picked out Defoe at the far post, but the striker couldn't get a touch to nudge the ball over the line.
And then came a rare blip for King in the Tottenham defense, having not been on a losing side since August 2010, and Balotelli's winner.

Milan beats Novara to remain hot on Juve's heels
In Rome, strike pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho scored the goals as AC Milan emerged with a 3-0 victory from their trip to Novara on Sunday and remain hot on the heels of league leaders' Juventus.
Juve won 2-0 at Atalanta on Saturday night and had briefly put daylight between themselves and the rest but Milan's success closes the gap to a single point.
Udinese are also hanging on in third, three points behind Juve, after their comfortable 2-1 win over Catania, whose consolation came five minutes into time added on.
Ibrahimovic scored a brace and is now level with Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale at the top of the goalscoring charts.
Unlike the Italian Cup meeting between the pair on Wednesday - which Milan squeaked through 2-1 after extra-time - Novara couldn't make life particularly difficult for the champions.
Almost all the pressure in the first half was put on the Novara goal but the hosts managed to hold firm.
Ibrahimovic hit a vicious free-kick that Samir Ujkani couldn't hold but Robinho fired the follow-up from a tight angle across the face of the goal.
The big Swede had another free-kick from a good position that he hit with venom and again it was too hot for Ujkani to handle but the ball spooned up and over the bar.
From the resulting corner Philippe Mexes teed up Thiago Silva but his close range header was miraculously cleared off the line by Andrea Caracciolo.
Milan kept pushing and Ujkani twice denied Ibrahimovic while Antonio Nocerino fired a shot narrowly past the upright.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri wasted little time in trying to inspire his team, throwing on young forward Stephan El Shaarawy at half-time in place of full-back Luca Antonini.
And the hosts cracked just 12 minutes after the re-start as Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini picked out Ibrahimovic at the back post with a short, dinked cross.
The Sweden forward had lost his marker and had time to control the ball on his thigh before volleying past Ujkani.
El Shaarawy should have sealed the points 20 minutes from time when played in by Robinho but having skipped around Ujkani he sliced his finish wide.
But moments later Robinho slid in at the back post to divert in El Shaarawy's shot that appeared to be going wide.
And the coup de grace came from Ibrahimovic in the final minute with a clever flick that fooled Ujkani and three defenders before trickling over the line.
Udinese were comfortable in dismissing Catania to contain their stunning campaign in which they have now proved they are no flash in the pan.
Colombia wing-back Pablo Armero opened the scoring on 20 minutes and enigmatic striker Di Natale added the killer second eight minutes into the second period.
They did concede with virtually the last kick of the game but it was too little too late.
Napoli, however, appear definitely out of the title running and probably also Champions League contention as they drew 1-1 at Siena.
Emanuele Calaio opened the scoring for the hosts midway through the second period before Goran Pandev rescued a point four minutes from time for Walter Mazzarri's men.
The game of the day was in Sicily where Palermo trumped Genoa, who have now conceded 16 goals in their last four games, in a 5-3 thriller.
Inter Milan will look for their seventh straight win as they host Lazio, one point and one place above them in fourth, in the late game.