Two goals from Dominic Solanke in the second half and a brilliant James Maddison free-kick propelled Tottenham Hotspur to come back and decisively defeat Aston Villa 4-1 on Sunday. This put an end to the visitors’ seven-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League. Spurs moved to seventh place in the standings with 16 points, just two behind Villa, who remained in fifth position. If Chelsea manages to win or at least draw against Manchester United later on Sunday, Villa will slide down to sixth place.
Unai Emery’s Villa was ahead at halftime thanks to a goal from Morgan Rogers, but Spurs equalized shortly after the break when Brennan Johnson scored with a tap-in at the far post. Solanke’s two goals within four minutes, including a beautifully executed team play finished with a lob over Emiliano Martínez, assured the victory, while Maddison sealed the game with a curled free kick in stoppage time.
Villa’s goal highlighted an uneventful first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Rogers tapped in from close range after Lucas Digne’s corner was nodded on into the six-yard box. Spurs captain Son Heung-min made a comeback from injury by providing an assist, delivering a superb out-swinging cross for Johnson to finish at the back post shortly after halftime.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs found it difficult to penetrate Villa’s defense in the first half, mainly relying on shots from outside the box, but they increased their pressure after the break, and two quick goals from Solanke clinched the victory. His first came from a smooth one-touch team sequence, with Solanke receiving a clever pass from Dejan Kulusevski and chipping the ball over the advancing Martínez.
Just minutes later, a blunder by Villa defender Pau Torres allowed Spurs to surge forward again, with second-half substitute Richarlison laying it off for Solanke to net his second goal. The £65 million summer signing increased his league goal count for the season by netting two goals within four minutes in the second half, helping Ange Postecoglou’s team to clinch a remarkable win. Postecoglou lauded the English striker, describing his effort levels as “unbelievable.”
Maddison capped off an impressive performance late in the match by skillfully curling the ball around the Villa wall from 20 yards out into the top corner, leaving Martínez helpless. Spurs have responded well after their disappointing loss to Crystal Palace last week, eliminating Manchester City from the League Cup in midweek, but Postecoglou emphasized the need to remain humble.
I just can’t speak highly enough of what he’s contributing to our team at the moment. You don’t fall off cliffs, and you don’t climb mountains within a week. I’m focused on the long game here, the Spurs’ head coach told reporters.
We always believe we can score many goals. It all came together today in the second half. We had to adapt to the way they were playing, Solanke told the media. At halftime, we had time to regroup and discuss what we had to do. It’s been a few games without one goal. I’ve been trying to get one, and I got two. Buzzing with it. Nice dink finish; I enjoyed that, the 27-year-old striker added.
When we are playing well, we can score many goals, and we showed that today we’ve had some great games but haven’t managed to do it the whole season, but we think we’re capable of it, he concluded.
Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo’s blistering goal in the second half equalized after Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty, allowing Chelsea to secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Sunday, disrupting United’s celebrations in their first Premier League match following the dismissal of manager Erik ten Hag. Chelsea currently sits in fourth place with 18 points, while United holds the 13th position with 12 points.
