Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa: Buendia and Rogers strikes intensify pressure on Frank despite Spurs rally
Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers each found the net in the first half, leading Aston Villa to a 2-1 victory over Tottenham in London and securing their place in the FA Cup Fourth Round draw.
Following a chorus of boos from parts of the home crowd at the conclusion of the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a rejuvenated Spurs side mounted a spirited comeback, narrowing the gap with a goal from Wilson Odobert.
However, their efforts were ultimately insufficient as the damage had been inflicted before half-time, continuing to heighten the scrutiny on manager Thomas Frank.
For Unai Emery’s squad, their excellent streak of results persists.
A match of two halves
Aston Villa sought to maintain their dazzling form, and they made significant headway after 22 minutes when a flowing move concluded with Buendia unleashing a thunderous shot into the top of the net to open the scoring.
Spurs, donning an all-white kit to commemorate the 125th anniversary of their legendary 1901 FA Cup-winning side, faced another setback when their leading scorer Richarlison limped off with a hamstring injury just prior to the half-hour mark.
Randal Kolo Muani had a goal disallowed for offside shortly before the interval, but that wasn’t the final action of the half, as Rogers extended the visitors’ lead in stoppage time with a well-placed finish following another slick Villa maneuver.
The jeers resounded among sections of the home supporters at half-time, yet Spurs fans were given something to celebrate shortly after the break when their team reduced the margin.
Just after Xavi Simons tested Marco Bizot from long range, Odobert slotted a low shot past the Villa goalkeeper from Kolo Muani’s through ball.
Simons subsequently struck the post as momentum shifted firmly in favor of the hosts.
In a match rapidly turning exhilarating, Buendia came close to stifling Spurs’ comeback hopes when his effort was cleared off the line by Pedro Porro.
Spurs had another goal canceled for offside, this time courtesy of Simons, but despite a commendable second-half display, Frank’s side was unable to secure the equalizer, allowing Villa to advance.
Published: 2026-01-10 19:54:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
