Manchester City's Carlos Tevez (L) runs clear of Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric during their English Premier League soccer match in Manchester, northern England May 10, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

MANCHESTER - Manchester City clinched a top-four finish in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday and secured at least a place in the Champions League qualifiers next season.

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A 30th-minute own goal by Spurs striker Peter Crouch handed City victory to give Roberto Mancini's expensively assembled side their first crack at the Champions League and end Tottenham hopes of another season in Europe's elite competition.

The feat, achieved with a dogged display against a Spurs side who dominated possession, provides a boost before Saturday's FA Cup final against Stoke City, where the Manchester side will be aiming to win their first trophy for 35 years.

It was sweet revenge for City, who were pipped to a Champions League playoff place by Spurs when they lost 1-0 to them at home a year ago and poetic justice for the Eastlands faithful as it was Crouch who scored the winner that day.