Tottenham vs Crystal Palace: Eze scores twice amid Kulusevski injury scare
Tottenham vs Crystal Palace
On a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Crystal Palace delivered a commanding performance, securing a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, thanks to a scintillating brace from Eberechi Eze. The defeat marked a sobering comedown for Spurs, who had returned from Norway buoyed by their triumph in reaching the Europa League Final against Bodo/Glimt just days earlier. However, the jubilant mood quickly dissipated as Palace, led by Eze’s clinical finishing, dominated proceedings and completed their first-ever Premier League double over Tottenham. The result snapped Spurs’ run of nine consecutive league victories against Palace at home, exposing frailties in Ange Postecoglou’s side despite the return of star forward Heung-Min Son from a seven-match injury layoff. The afternoon was further marred by an early injury to Dejan Kulusevski, compounding Tottenham’s woes as they struggled to find rhythm against a relentless Palace outfit that carved out chance after chance, particularly in a one-sided first half.
The match began with Tottenham still basking in the afterglow of their midweek European heroics, but Postecoglou’s decision to make eight changes to the starting lineup signaled a pragmatic approach to managing squad fatigue. Only Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Kulusevski retained their places from the Bodo/Glimt victory, with Bentancur handed the captain’s armband, becoming the 41st player to lead Spurs out in a Premier League match. Young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, making his first league start since February 2, was thrust into the spotlight, while the likes of Son and other key players were either rested or eased back into action. Palace, by contrast, approached the game with intensity and purpose, wasting no time in asserting their attacking intent. Just three minutes into the contest, Tyrick Mitchell latched onto a pinpoint cross from Daniel Munoz at the far post, forcing Kinsky into a sharp low save to keep the scores level. The early scare set the tone for a first half in which Palace’s right flank, spearheaded by Munoz, repeatedly exposed Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities. Five minutes later, Palace thought they had taken the lead when Ismaila Sarr tapped in after a slick team move, only for VAR to intervene and disallow the goal for an offside in the build-up, offering Spurs a temporary reprieve.
Tottenham’s response was muted, with their attacking forays lacking cohesion. Kulusevski, one of the few constants from the midweek lineup, briefly ignited the home crowd when he muscled his way through a pair of challenges on the edge of Palace’s box, only to see his shot deflected for a corner. However, the Swede’s afternoon was cut short in the 19th minute when a robust challenge on the right flank left him unable to continue, forcing Postecoglou to introduce teenager Mikey Moore as his replacement. The injury disrupted Tottenham’s already fragile rhythm, and Palace capitalized on their opponents’ disarray. The Eagles’ dominance down their right flank became a recurring theme, with Munoz proving a constant menace. In the 25th minute, Kinsky produced a stunning save to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had found space in the box to meet a teasing cross. Moments later, Munoz unleashed a thunderous strike that crashed against the crossbar, leaving the Tottenham defense rattled. The Colombian wing-back then squandered a golden opportunity when he broke clear with only Kinsky to beat, inexplicably overhitting a pass intended for Mateta instead of shooting. Palace’s relentless pressure continued unabated, with Jefferson Lerma’s header forcing another save from Kinsky, while Ismaila Sarr’s effort was thwarted by a heroic block from Ben Davies. Chris Richards also went close with a header, only to be denied by the increasingly busy Czech goalkeeper. Palace’s profligacy in front of goal kept Tottenham in the game, but their luck ran out in first-half stoppage time. Munoz, once again exploiting space down the right, raced away from his marker and squared the ball to Eze, who calmly slotted home to give Palace a deserved lead. Tottenham attempted a late rally before the break, with Porro curling a free-kick just over the bar, but the half-time whistle confirmed Palace’s dominance and left Spurs with a mountain to climb.
The second half began with Tottenham hoping to harness the energy of their home crowd, but any aspirations of a comeback were swiftly extinguished. Just three minutes after the restart, Eze struck again, showcasing his individual brilliance and exposing Tottenham’s defensive lapses. The Palace talisman initiated the move deep in his own half, threading a sublime pass to Sarr before embarking on an unchecked run into Tottenham’s penalty area. Sarr duly returned the ball, and Eze, with time and space, rifled a low shot into the bottom corner, leaving Kinsky with no chance. The goal was a masterclass in attacking incision, highlighting Eze’s ability to influence games both as a creator and a finisher. Palace’s 2-0 lead reflected their control, and they continued to press for more. Kinsky, who emerged as one of Tottenham’s few bright sparks, produced a string of saves to keep the scoreline respectable, denying Mateta’s close-range effort and tipping away a glancing header from Kevin Danso off a Palace corner. At the other end, Tottenham’s attacking threat remained sporadic. A rare moment of promise came when Porro delivered an inviting cross to the back post, where Pape Matar Sarr arrived unmarked, only to direct his header wide of the target. The miss encapsulated Spurs’ struggles to convert their limited opportunities, as Palace’s compact defensive shape and disciplined pressing stifled their attempts to build momentum.
The introduction of Son provided a flicker of hope for Tottenham, as the South Korean’s return injected urgency into their play. The talismanic forward, who had missed the previous seven matches, saw a pair of shots blocked as he sought to inspire a comeback, but Palace’s backline, marshaled by Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi, held firm. The visitors remained the more dangerous side, with their counter-attacking threat ever-present. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Eddie Nketiah broke clear, bearing down on goal with only Kinsky to beat. The young goalkeeper, capping a commendable performance, stood tall to deny Nketiah with a fine save, ensuring the scoreline did not reflect an even greater margin of defeat. The final whistle confirmed Palace’s superiority and left Tottenham to reflect on a lackluster display that stood in stark contrast to their midweek euphoria. For Crystal Palace, the victory was a statement of their growing ambition under their management, with Eze’s brace underscoring his status as one of the Premier League’s most exciting talents. The result lifted Palace’s spirits and their position in the league table, while Tottenham were left to regroup ahead of a challenging run of fixtures, their aspirations of a top-four finish now under scrutiny.
