Without ideas in the first period, Spurs scored four goals after returning from the locker room to bring Unai Emery’s players to their knees.
Initially listless, Tottenham overthrew Aston Villa (4-1) thanks to a spectacular and successful second half, Sunday in their London stadium, where a double from Dominic Solanke in particular made the difference. The “Spurs” moved up to seventh place in the Premier League standings after ten days and prevented their visitors, fifth, from climbing the podium.
The meeting, marred by numerous mistakes and initially disappointing, illustrated the chronic irregularity of Tottenham, capable of the best or the worst, from one match to another, or from one period to another. Before half-time, the north London side failed to establish the sparkling football of coach Ange Postecoglou, and it was Aston Villa who took the lead.
Solanke sees double
Lucas Digne, for his 200th appearance in the Premier League, took a corner which was extended to the near post, pushed back on his line by Guglielmo Vicario then taken back at point blank range by Morgan Rogers (32nd, 0-1). Despite this, Tottenham returned from the locker room with increased determination and it quickly paid off, with a cross from captain Heung-Min Son cut by Brennan Johnson (49th, 1-1). The choice to take Son out before the hour mark created astonishment among the supporters, but the outcome proved Postecoglou right, helped by Solanke’s close-range double (75th, 79th).
The center forward deceived Emiliano Martinez with a chipped ball after a superb pass from Dejan Kulusevski, then made it 3-1 with a pass from Richarlison, Son’s replacement.
The Brazilian striker, injured on the occasion, in turn had to give up his place in favor of James Maddison, the last scorer with a nice direct free kick (90th + 5, 4-1).
Aston Villa concedes its second defeat of the season in the Premier League, the first since August (2-0 loss against Arsenal), and marks time: the Birmingham club has only won one of its last five league matches.
Senegal
