London, Nov 3: Tottenham Hotspur staged a remarkable second-half comeback to dismantle Aston Villa 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, reaffirming their top-four aspirations in the Premier League and ending Villa’s impressive 11-game unbeaten streak across competitions.
Forward Dominic Solanke emerged as the hero, breaking his personal goal drought since late September with two quickfire goals in the second half, ultimately sealing the victory with contributions from Brennan Johnson and a late free-kick masterclass from James Maddison.
Aston Villa had initially looked the more poised of the two sides, taking advantage of some lax Tottenham defending. Morgan Rogers capitalized on a poorly-defended corner to put the visitors ahead in the first half. Villa’s aggressive press and precise passes unsettled the hosts, and Spurs looked at risk of crumbling under the pressure. Midfielder Amadou Onana nearly extended Villa’s lead with a powerful header that hit the post, giving Tottenham a clear warning of Villa’s attacking threat.
However, Tottenham emerged from the break with renewed vigor. Shortly after halftime, they found their equalizer through Brennan Johnson, who met a teasing cross from Heung-Min Son and slotted the ball past Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The goal reinvigorated the Spurs crowd and gave Tottenham the confidence they needed to assert control. Yet the hosts faced an unexpected setback when Cristian Romero limped off with an injury, joining defensive partner Micky van de Ven on the sidelines. Losing two key defenders could have left Tottenham vulnerable, but their forward line had other ideas.
Dominic Solanke, who had not scored in over a month, found his moment to shine in a sensational four-minute burst that left Villa reeling. His first goal was a delicate chip over Martinez after a slick through-ball from Dejan Kulusevski, showcasing Solanke’s composure under pressure. Moments later, Solanke struck again, this time finishing a precise cross from Richarlison at close range, turning the scoreline on its head and placing Tottenham firmly in the driver’s seat.
As the clock wound down, Aston Villa struggled to regain control. Their compact defensive shape, so effective in the first half, was shattered by Tottenham’s relentless attacks and Solanke’s clinical finishing. In stoppage time, substitute James Maddison added a touch of brilliance with a superbly curled free-kick, ensuring the home side’s dominant performance was capped off in style.
The win gives Tottenham a vital three points as they seek to climb back up the Premier League standings. Following their recent Carabao Cup triumph over Manchester City, Spurs have now bounced back from their previous league defeat to Crystal Palace, showcasing a renewed resolve under manager Ange Postecoglou.
For Aston Villa, the loss was a bitter blow as they missed an opportunity to move into third place in the table. (Agencies)
