Tottenham Thrash Villa 4-1 to Boost Top-Four Hopes
Tottenham Hotspur stormed back from a first-half deficit to thrash Aston Villa 4-1 on Sunday, reigniting their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League.
After Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead in the first period, Spurs exploded in the second half with a flurry of goals. Brennan Johnson equalized shortly after the break, setting the stage for Dominic Solanki’s heroics.
Solanki’s delicate dinked finish in the 75th minute put Spurs ahead, and he doubled his tally four minutes later, converting substitute Richarlison’s cross. James Maddison added the icing on the cake with a stunning free kick deep into stoppage time.
The victory lifts Tottenham to seventh in the table, just two points behind Villa, who missed out on the chance to climb into third spot.
Villa, who wore training tops reading “Fuerza Valencia” in solidarity with the victims of the deadly floods in Spain, started brightly but failed to capitalize on their early chances.
Spurs, despite the return of captain Son Heung-min from injury, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the first half. However, they came out firing after the break, with Johnson’s equalizer setting the tone for a dominant second-half performance.
Solanki’s goals were the result of Tottenham’s increased intensity and attacking prowess. The England international showed great composure and skill to put Spurs ahead and then seal the victory.
Villa, who had been in good form under Unai Emery, were unable to match Tottenham’s second-half surge. They failed to create any real chances and were punished for their defensive lapses.
The result is a major boost for Tottenham’s top-four hopes. They are now just two points behind Villa and have a game in hand. Villa, on the other hand, will be disappointed to have missed out on the chance to move into the top three.