Wolves twice came from behind to claim a historic victory over Tottenham Hotspur on their first trip to the North London club’s new home. Raul Jimenez fired home with winner 17 minutes from time to send the travelling Wolves support into pandemonium, after Matt Doherty and Diogo Jota had kept the visitors’ hopes alive earlier in the contest.
Doherty fired home from close range following Steven Bergwijn’s opener, but the hosts had led at the break after Serge Aurier curled home. However, back came Wolves again when Doherty set up Jota to level things up once again and continue his personal good form.
The Portuguese played a starring in the Wolves’ dramatic winner too. Carrying the ball up field and feeding Jimenez, who had the composure to cut on to his left foot and fire into the top corner to complete a stunning victory in the capital.
Familiarising themselves with fresh surroundings, Wolves began confidently and Adama Traore dragged the first effort wide of the mark on eight minutes. However, once Romain Saiss’ wayward pass was recovered by the hosts, they made Wolves pay as Aurier got in behind and crossed for Alli, who was denied by Patricio, only for Bergwijn to fire in the rebound.
However, being behind doesn’t affect this Wolves group and within 14 minutes they were level as the two wing backs flew forward. Ruben Vinagre’s one-two with Jota released the former and his cross wasn’t properly cleared by Japhet Tanganga, allowing Doherty, in the right place at the right time, to bury the chance from close range.
However, following a flurry of late chances in the half, Spurs regained the lead. First, Doherty couldn’t rise high enough to connect with Saiss’ flick, before Alli ended some penalty box pinball at the other end by hooking into Patricio’s arms. However, Spurs did find a way through once Aurier cut past Vinagre and curled into the far top corner.
Half-time: Tottenham 2 Wolves 1
Jota’s thumping header from a Joao Moutinho free-kick, which whistled narrowly over the bar, made Wolves’ intentions clear straight after the interval. However, they needed to be wary at the other end still, as Alli headed wide from a Davies cross.
Fortunately, Jota’s close call was a distant memory on 57 minutes when the Portuguese claimed his sixth goal in three matches. Traore played a key role, by charging forward and riding the challenges, before feeding Jimenez, who quickly found Doherty to roll across goal for Jota to tuck home from close range.
That second equaliser gave Wolves the momentum they craved and it was Jota once again who inspired the third goal. His unbelievable close control took the Portuguese past Moura and flying up field, then Jota showed the composure to pick out Jimenez, who steadied himself, chopped on to his left foot and fired into the top corner to send the travelling fans into raptures.
For the first time, Wolves led and quickly produced Pedro Neto and Leander Dendoncker off the bench to provide fresh legs for the final ten minutes. Neto even had time to feed Jimenez for another big chance which the Mexican smashed over, but it mattered not and it was the travelling fans celebration when the whistle went.
Full-time: Tottenham 2 Wolves 3
Tottenham: Gazzaniga, Aurier (Fernandes 82), Sanchez, Tanganga (Ndombele 76), Davies (Parrott 90), Dier, Winks, Le Celso, Bergwijn, Alli, Moura.
Unused subs: Vorm, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Skipp.
Wolves: Patricio, Doherty, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Vinagre, Neves, Moutinho, Traore (Neto 74), Jota (Dendoncker 79), Jimenez (Podence 90).
Unused subs: Ruddy, Buur, Kilman, Gibbs-White.
