It was a game that could be up there as one of the most entertaining matches of the season. Tottenham came away with the three points, 3-2 victors. Agonising for Aston Villa who many would argue deserved a point from the game at the very least.
Both teams boasted a centre half each who both played contrasting hot and cold performances. Villa’s Bjorn Engels scored a great header to equalise for the home side in the second half. But, he also gave away the penalty in the 45th minute and his mistake gave Heung Min Son his winning goal in the 94th minute.
On the flip side, fellow Belgian Toby Alderweireld scored an own goal to gift the home side a lead in the opening ten minutes. He also scored a cracker of an equaliser from a corner in the opening half. A finish that any centre forward would be proud of.
Belgium dominated the pros and cons of the goals in this affair.
‘Super’ Jack Grealish orchestrated the Villa’s performance like he has done most weeks this campaign. A hard-fought performance from the captain, inspiring his teammates around him. Jack was one player who deserved a goal as a reward for his efforts.
How did it all unfold?
As mentioned, Villa took the lead in the 9th minute when El Ghazi flew a splendid cross in and Alderweireld turned the ball into his own goal. The Belgian scored a great equaliser in the 27th minute to bring the away side level.
Spurs pressed hard and once again, VAR came back to victimise Aston Villa. A missed foul on Steven Bergwijn by Engels inside the box, given by VAR, gifted Son a perfect opportunity to put his side ahead at the break. Pepe Reina saved the first shot tremendously but it came back out to the South Korean who nestled in the ball.
2-1 lead for Tottenham at the break.
Both teams matched the intensity of the first half in the second. Villa drawing level from a corner. Bjorn Engels leaping over his compatriot in Toby Alderweireld to equalise in front of the Holt End. Deafening noise rang out over Villa Park.
Each side had players who could have scored decisive goals for them. For Tottenham, Dele Aili, Steven Bergwijn, Heung Min Son and Lucas Moura all had chances to put their team ahead. For Villa, Douglas Costa, Jack Grealish and Anwar El Ghazi all had opportunities to send Villa Park into raptures.
After an entertaining game, the whole stadium fell into the feeling that a draw as the outcome. So much so that Villa’s defender Bjorn Engels missed a simple trapping of the ball and it ran through in the wet conditions to Heung Min Son. The South Korean had been denied by Reina countless times showed composure to slot it past the Spaniard.
In the 94th minute, away from home Jose Mourinho found his hero.
What does this mean for both sides?
Tottenham climb to 5th place, just behind their London rivals in Chelsea. Aston Villa sit bleakly in 17th place, one point and one place ahead of West Ham. Who travel to Manchester mid-week to visit the controversial City. Spurs travel to neighbours Chelsea in a massive ‘4th place game’ next Matchday, whilst Aston Villa travel south to Southampton in a must-win game.
Man of the Match: Heung Min Son (Tottenham)