Tottenham Hotspur escaped with a 1–1 draw against bottom-of-the-table Wolves thanks to a dramatic injury-time equaliser from Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese midfielder curled home a precise finish in the 94th minute to salvage a point and deny Wolves their first Premier League win of the season.
⚽ Match Recap
Wolves took the lead in the 54th minute through Santiago Bueno, who pounced on a rebound after a chaotic corner. Spurs struggled to break down a resolute Wolves defense, with Mohammed Kudus having a goal ruled out for offside and hitting the crossbar earlier in the match.
Despite dominating possession (51%), Tottenham lacked cutting edge until substitute Pape Matar Sarr laid off a loose ball for Palhinha, who guided it into the bottom corner.
🧠 Tactical Breakdown
Thomas Frank’s side started brightly, with Kudus and Lucas Bergvall linking well. But Wolves manager Vitor Pereira made key halftime adjustments, switching to a back three and introducing Jackson Tchatchoua to nullify Kudus.
Spurs’ final ball was poor throughout, and Richarlison struggled to make an impact. Frank’s late switch to a 3-4-3 finally paid off, but the performance raised questions about Spurs’ ability to break down low blocks.
🗣️ Player Reactions
Palhinha was candid post-match:
“I’m not happy at all. These are the games we need to win. It feels like a loss”.
Vitor Pereira echoed the frustration:
“We deserved the three points. It’s difficult to accept. The spirit was there”.
📊 Key Stats
Possession: Spurs 51% – Wolves 49%
Shots on target: Spurs 4 – Wolves 3
Spurs remain unbeaten at home but drop to third in the table with 11 points.
Wolves earn their first point of the season but remain 20th.
🔍 What It Means
For Spurs, it’s a missed opportunity to go second after Liverpool and Chelsea both lost earlier in the day. For Wolves, it’s a morale boost—but Pereira will know his side must start converting performances into wins.
Frank’s Spurs are still a work in progress. The late equaliser shows resilience, but the lack of creativity in midfield and reliance on Kudus for spark could be a long-term concern.
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