Aston Villa mounted an impressive second-half comeback to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in North London, as goals from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendía exposed the home side’s persistent fragilities. The result marked Villa’s fifth consecutive victory in all competitions and continued Tottenham’s disappointing home record.
Tottenham started brightly and took the lead inside five minutes when Rodrigo Bentancur finished off a well-worked move with a composed half-volley from just inside the penalty area. Mohammed Kudus and João Palhinha were instrumental in the build-up, with the Uruguay midfielder firing home to lift the crowd’s spirits. Kudus thought he had doubled the advantage soon after, only to be flagged offside.
For much of the first half, Tottenham looked in control, dominating possession and creating several chances. However, they failed to extend their lead and were punished just before the break. Villa’s right-back Matty Cash applied pressure high up the pitch, forcing an opening that allowed Rogers to seize the moment. The England international curled a fine strike from the edge of the box past Guglielmo Vicario, levelling the contest and shifting momentum.
The equaliser rejuvenated Villa, who came out stronger after the interval. Donyell Malen went close with a shot into the side-netting before Villa found the decisive goal 13 minutes from time. Following a cleared corner, Cash launched a pinpoint half-volley wide to Lucas Digne, who set up Buendía. The Argentine attacker cut inside from the flank and calmly slotted past Vicario to seal the comeback.
While Tottenham’s early intensity faded, Villa’s resilience and clinical finishing stood out. Rogers’ strike was significant, marking his first league goal of the season and a confidence boost after a slow start following summer transfer speculation. Buendía, meanwhile, continued his fine form with his third goal in four games, underlining his growing influence under Unai Emery.
Tottenham’s defeat extended a worrying trend at home, where they have won just three of their last 18 league matches. Despite a £200m summer overhaul and optimism under new manager Thomas Frank, the side continues to struggle for consistency and composure when under pressure. Villa’s victory, by contrast, confirmed their resurgence and hinted at the return of the attacking fluency that defined their success last season.
