Tottenham’s winning run came to a miserable end at Elland Road as Noah Okafor struck late to give Leeds a 1-0 victory.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side arrived chasing a fourth successive Premier League win, but instead, they head into the international break with a defeat and a fresh injury concern over Mathys Tel.
Spurs had scored seven goals and conceded just once across those victories, a run that had given supporters reason to believe their season was improving.
The Lilywhites had chances to make their afternoon easier, but struggled to put Leeds under sustained pressure.
Omar Marmoush tested James Trafford in the first half after Tel found him in the middle, while Archie Gray was unable to turn in a dangerous Mohammed Kudus delivery.
The opening period also brought a lengthy argument over Jayden Bogle’s challenge on Tel.
Total | Leeds | Tottenham |
|---|---|---|
Goals | 1 | 0 |
Possession | 39.1% | 60.9% |
Expected goals (xG) | 2.02 | 0.77 |
Total shots | 16 | 7 |
Shots on target | 4 | 4 |
Big chances missed | 3 | 1 |
Corners | 6 | 4 |
Goalkeeper saves | 4 | 2 |
Passing accuracy | 79.4% | 82.5% |
Fouls committed | 11 | 15 |
Offsides | 2 | 1 |
Yellow cards | 2 | 3 |
Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Bogle caught the winger around the back of the ankle, with VAR checking whether the Leeds defender should be dismissed. He stayed on, and Tel eventually had to give way to Dominic Solanke before half time.
That left De Zerbi with an early change to make and plenty to be frustrated about.
Leeds became more threatening after the interval, with Ao Tanaka wasting a good opening after Dominic Calvert-Lewin set him up.
Conor Gallagher went close at the other end, but Spurs were finding it difficult to build attacks that asked enough questions of Leeds.
Antonin Kinsky then produced an excellent stop to keep out Sean Longstaff as the hosts pushed for the breakthrough.
Daniel Farke’s substitutions eventually settled it, with Harry Wilson helping to create the opening for fellow substitute Okafor, who beat Kinsky in the 79th minute.
Tottenham tried to force a late escape, with Jan Paul van Hecke’s header drawing a sharp save from Trafford in added time, but there was no equaliser, leaving Spurs with 12 points from ten league matches and plenty to think about during the pause.
Their lack of attacking threat will concern De Zerbi, while Tel’s withdrawal added another sour note to an already frustrating afternoon.
An earlier incident involving Mateus Fernandes also brought a fierce response from Wayne Rooney.
Wayne Rooney blasts ‘absurd’ Mateus Fernandes decision as Tottenham lose at Leeds
The Spurs midfielder escaped a penalty after stretching across to block Gabriel Gudmundsson’s cross inside the opening few minutes.
John Brooks allowed play to continue, despite appeals from Leeds, and his decision survived the subsequent VAR check.
Rooney was unimpressed by both Fernandes’ judgement and the response from the referee, calling it an ‘absurd’ decision from Fernandes.
It was a blunt assessment of a moment that could easily have left Tottenham facing a much earlier setback.
Fernandes had extended his arm while moving towards the delivery, giving Leeds an immediate reason to appeal.
The officials’ explanation rested on where the ball made contact.
According to the Premier League Match Centre, VAR judged it to have struck the very top of Fernandes’ arm, within the permitted area described as the “green zone”, and that assessment protected Spurs from a spot kick.
For Tottenham, it was a favourable decision in a match which still ended in disappointment.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
