Tottenham 2-0 Crystal Palace: Three-Game Winning Streak, De Zerbi Praises Tonali
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Tottenham Hotspur secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace in Sunday's London derby, achieving their first league winning streak since February 2025. The match turned when Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta received a straight red card in the 13th minute for a reckless challenge. Young midfielder Archie Gray opened the scoring with a header from a corner in the 25th minute, before Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke doubled the lead with a remarkable "lying down" header in the 73rd minute, becoming the first player in Premier League history to score such a goal.
Key Points
- Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off in the 13th minute for a crude challenge, giving Tottenham a man advantage for most of the match
- Archie Gray, the young midfielder, opened the scoring in the 25th minute, heading in from a corner to give Tottenham a 1-0 lead
- Jan Paul van Hecke scored the second goal in the 73rd minute with a unique "lying down" header, the first such goal in Premier League history
- Van Hecke delivered an outstanding all-round performance with 143 successful passes, 14 penetrating passes, 4 aerial duels won, and 5 shots on goal
- Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi praised midfielder Sandro Tonali for his exceptional display, saying he performed the duties of two players
Why It Matters
The victory propels Tottenham back into the top half of the Premier League table after a difficult start to the season that saw them bottom of the standings . Crystal Palace's defeat leaves them in the relegation zone, with manager Pierre Sage promising intensified training sessions to reverse their fortunes . Tottenham's winning streak, combined with their solid defensive display, suggests the team is building momentum under De Zerbi's leadership .
The victory propels Tottenham back into the top half of the Premier League table after a difficult start to the season that saw them bottom of the standings . Crystal Palace's defeat leaves them in the relegation zone, with manager Pierre Sage promising intensified training sessions to reverse their fortunes . Tottenham's winning streak, combined with their solid defensive display, suggests the team is building momentum under De Zerbi's leadership .