EPL: Tottenham Edges Leeds 2-1 in Thrilling Premier League Match
Tottenham Hotspur extended their head-to-head dominance over Leeds United, winning 2-1 at Elland Road to notch up their sixth victory in the last seven meetings between the two teams.
The win marked a significant milestone in the rivalry, showcasing Spurs' consistency against their opponents...
Tottenham Hotspur secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Leeds United at Elland Road, thanks to Mohammed Kudus' first goal for the club. The match was intense, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Leeds had the better of the early exchanges, with Joe Rodon hitting the post in the seventh minute. However, Spurs took the lead in the 23rd minute through Mathys Tel, whose deflected shot rocketed into the top corner.
Leeds equalized in the 34th minute when Noah Okafor tapped in from close range after Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario parried Brenden Aaronson's shot. The first half was filled with end-to-end action, with Tel hitting the crossbar with a looping header in stoppage time.
Kudus restored Spurs' lead just before the hour mark, scoring his first Tottenham goal with a powerful shot that deflected off Gabriel Gudmundsson and past Karl Darlow. The win moves Spurs up to second in the Premier League table, just one point behind leaders Liverpool. Leeds, on the other hand, suffered their first league defeat at Elland Road since September 2024, dropping to 12th place with eight points from seven games.
The victory highlights Tottenham's resilience under Thomas Frank, who has stamped out the habit of dropping points after taking the lead in a match. Spurs will look to build on this momentum when they host Aston Villa, while Leeds will face Burnley in their next league match.
Tottenham's attacking approach nearly paid off early on when Sean Longstaff's free-kick flew over Guglielmo Vicario's head, only to be saved by Joe Rodon's header crashing off the post. Despite their energetic start, Leeds' solidity was eventually breached by a clinical Spurs side.
Mathys Tel's inclusion in the starting lineup raised some eyebrows, but he silenced his critics with a standout moment. He drove forward and set up the opening goal when his shot deflected off Pascal Struijk and past Karl Darlow, showcasing his impact on the game.
Bentancur narrowly escaped disaster when Dominic Calvert-Lewin failed to capitalize on a mistake, skewing his effort wide despite being in a promising position. Thomas Frank's team was left regretting their missed opportunities, particularly after Mohammed Kudus squandered a gilt-edged chance. However, their lapse in concentration was swiftly punished. Brenden Aaronson's deflected shot proved too hot for Guglielmo Vicario to handle, and the goalkeeper could only parry it into the path of Noah Okafor, who calmly tapped the ball into an empty net from inside the six-yard box, leveling the score.
Mohammed Kudus is the matchwinner as @SpursOfficial move up to second in the Premier League ✌️ pic.twitter.com/kIK9JM33eL
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 4, 2025
This turn of events came after Tottenham had taken the lead when Mathys Tel's effort deflected off Pascal Struijk and past Karl Darlow. The momentum shifted back and forth, with Leeds creating several chances, including a notable effort from Joe Rodon, who hit the post with a header following a Sean Longstaff free kick. Ultimately, Tottenham regained the lead thanks to Mohammed Kudus' clever reverse finish from the edge of the box, securing a 2-1 victory.
The match remained intense as both teams traded close chances. Mathys Tel had a header hit the crossbar at the stroke of halftime, while Leeds' Dominic Calvert-Lewin saw a fierce drive repelled by Guglielmo Vicario's outstretched boot shortly after the restart. The game was far from over, with both teams pushing hard for the win. Ultimately, Tottenham's persistence paid off when Mohammed Kudus scored the decisive goal, securing a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
Vicario's impressive save was followed by an even more crucial moment shortly before the hour mark when Spurs regained the lead. Some questionable defending from Leeds was punished by Mohammed Kudus' fizzing drive from the edge of the area, which skidded off the turf and flew past Karl Darlow. Despite Daniel Farke's desperate attempt to find an equalizer by introducing new players, Leeds couldn't manage to level the score, even with three strikers on the field.
Spurs were relatively untroubled in seeing out their first Premier League win since early September, and they provisionally moved up to second in the table with 14 points from seven games. This win marks a significant milestone for Tottenham, who are bidding for only their second top-four finish in the last seven seasons. The victory also highlights the team's newfound resilience under Thomas Frank, who has stamped out the habit of dropping points after taking the lead.
Key Stats:
Expected Goals (xG): Leeds 1.47 - Tottenham 0.52
Total Shots: Leeds 15 - Tottenham 9
Shots on Target: Leeds 4 - Tottenham 3
Big Chances: Leeds 3 - Tottenham 1
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