It was one of the finest matches ever witnessed at Maine Road, City’s stadium from 1923 to 2003.
On Saturday 22 October 1994, Ossie Ardiles’ Tottenham were the visitors. Ardiles had assembled one of the most attacking, star-studded sides in English football history.
Ardiles’ Spurs, ultimately, were a failed experiment, but they were a vibrant, exciting glimpse into the future. They had World Cup ‘94 stars Gheorghe Popescu, Ilie Dumitrescu and the great Jurgen Klinsmann, as well as Teddy Sheringham and Sol Campbell.
City, managed by Brian Horton, were equally as attacking, with two old-fashioned wide men in Nicky Summerbee and Peter Beagrie, and a little-and-large strike partnership of Paul Walsh and Niall Quinn.
It was set up beautifully.
What ensued is a match that would be remembered forever, with BBC Match of the Day commentator John Motson describing it as one of the best matches he’d ever commentated on.
City were outplayed for the first 20 minutes, but an inspired Walsh, with something to prove against his old club, took over.
Ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Tottenham, watch the highlights above to relive one of the greatest ever games between the two sides.
City XI: Dibble, Edghill, Curle, Brightwell, Phelan, Summerbee, Flitcroft, Lomas, Beagrie, Walsh, Quinn
Subs: Margetson, Hill, Mike
Spurs XI: Walker, Edinburgh, Campbell, Kerslake, Dozzell, Scott, Barmby Popescu, Dumitrescu, Klinsmann, Sheringham
Subs: Calderwood, Thorstvedt, Hazard
