Spurs’ First-Half Collapse Hands Everton Crucial Win
Everton secured a vital 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on Saturday, easing their relegation fears while piling more pressure on Ange Postecoglou, whose side has now lost seven of their last ten Premier League games.
The Toffees, under returning manager David Moyes, stormed into a 3-0 halftime lead thanks to goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye, and an unfortunate own goal from Archie Gray. While Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison led a late fightback for Spurs, Everton held on to claim all three points.
Match Recap: Everton Punish Spurs’ Defensive Errors
First Half: Everton Dominate
- 1′ – Fast Start from Everton
- Idrissa Gueye set up Calvert-Lewin, who turned defenders inside out before finishing low past Antonin Kinsky.
- Everton 1-0 Tottenham – ending Calvert-Lewin’s 16-game goal drought.
- 10′ – Son Wastes Huge Chance
- Dejan Kulusevski provided a cutback, but Son’s tame effort was saved by Jordan Pickford.
- Spurs failed to capitalize, and Everton made them pay.
- 26′ – Ndiaye Doubles the Lead
- Iliman Ndiaye spun past Gray and Dragusin, dribbled into the box, and smashed his shot into the roof of the net.
- Everton 2-0 Tottenham – another moment of poor defending from Spurs.
- 38′ – Own Goal Gives Everton a Third
- Calvert-Lewin flicked the ball across the goal, and Archie Gray inadvertently deflected it into his own net.
- Everton 3-0 Tottenham – an embarrassing first-half collapse for the visitors.
Half-Time Score: Everton 3-0 Tottenham
Second Half: Spurs’ Late Fightback Falls Short
- 65′ – Kulusevski Pulls One Back
- The Swede produced a brilliant chipped finish, looping the ball over a crowded Everton box.
- Everton 3-1 Tottenham – a lifeline for Spurs.
- 79′ – Richarlison Makes it 3-2
- Mikey Moore’s cross found Richarlison, who finished from close range.
- Everton 3-2 Tottenham – game on with 10 minutes left.
- 90+5′ – Everton Hold On
- Despite late pressure from Spurs, Everton’s defense stood firm to secure a crucial win.
Full-Time Score: Everton 3-2 Tottenham
Player Ratings & Analysis
Everton (4-2-3-1 Formation)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Jordan Pickford | 6.7/10 (Solid stops, but untested for long spells) |
| RB: Jake O’Brien | 7.0/10 (Strong defensive display) |
| CB: James Tarkowski (C) | 7.7/10 (Led the backline well, dominant in the air) |
| CB: Jarrad Branthwaite | 7.1/10 (Composed under pressure) |
| LB: Vitalii Mykolenko | 6.7/10 (Decent performance, but caught out late) |
| CM: Orel Mangala | 7.4/10 (Controlled midfield, unlucky not to score) |
| CM: Idrissa Gana Gueye | 8.7/10 (Outstanding performance, dominated midfield) |
| RM: Jesper Lindstrom | 7.9/10 (Energetic, linked up well) |
| AM: Abdoulaye Doucoure | 6.6/10 (Not as influential as usual) |
| LM: Iliman Ndiaye | 8.0/10 (Brilliant goal, constant attacking threat) |
| ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 8.4/10 (Scored, created another, led the line well) |
Substitutes:
- Ashley Young (70’ for Lindstrom): 6.1/10
- Nathan Patterson (81’ for Ndiaye): N/A
- Michael Keane (88’ for O’Brien): N/A
🔹 Player of the Match: Idrissa Gana Gueye (8.7/10)
Tottenham (3-4-2-1 Formation)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Antonin Kinsky | 6.5/10 (Made some stops, but struggled with Everton’s press) |
| CB: Archie Gray | 4.7/10 (Own goal, poor positioning, tough day) |
| CB: Radu Dragusin | 5.1/10 (Struggled to contain Ndiaye) |
| CB: Ben Davies | 6.0/10 (Poor first half, improved after halftime) |
| RWB: Pedro Porro | 7.0/10 (Tried to push forward, but caught defensively) |
| CM: Pape Sarr | 6.6/10 (Energetic, but lost midfield battle) |
| CM: Lucas Bergvall | 7.2/10 (One of Spurs’ better players) |
| LWB: Djed Spence | 7.4/10 (Defended well, created some chances) |
| AM: Dejan Kulusevski | 7.8/10 (Best player for Spurs, scored a superb goal) |
| AM: James Maddison | 6.7/10 (Struggled to influence the game) |
| ST: Son Heung-min (C) | 6.6/10 (Missed big chances, lacked impact) |
Substitutes:
- Richarlison (46’ for Dragusin): 6.9/10 (Scored, but not enough)
- Mikey Moore (74’ for Sarr): 6.8/10 (Assist for Richarlison’s goal)
🔹 Player of the Match (Spurs): Dejan Kulusevski (7.8/10)
Key Takeaways from the Match
✅ Everton’s Fightback Begins
- Moyes’ men secured their first win of his second tenure, moving four points clear of the relegation zone.
✅ Tottenham’s Defensive Crisis Continues
- Spurs have now conceded 19 goals in their last 10 games, highlighting their defensive struggles.
✅ Dominic Calvert-Lewin Back Among the Goals
- The striker ended his 16-game drought, producing a top-class performance.
✅ Ange Postecoglou Under Pressure
- With seven losses in ten games, Spurs are losing ground in the top-four race.
✅ Richarlison & Kulusevski Show Fight for Spurs
- Both found the net in the second half, but it was too little, too late.
What’s Next?
- Everton: Look to build on this win with another strong showing next week.
- Tottenham: Must find defensive solutions quickly to salvage their top-four hopes.
FAQs
- Who scored for Everton?
- Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye, and an own goal from Archie Gray.
- What was Spurs’ biggest issue?
- Defensive fragility and a poor first half.
- Who was Everton’s best player?
- Idrissa Gana Gueye dominated midfield.
- Can Tottenham still make the top four?
- Yes, but they must improve defensively.
