Tottenham Hotspur staged a late comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth in an electrifying Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The match, which saw Spurs trailing by two goals, showcased resilience from the home side and a costly error from Bournemouth’s goalkeeper, ultimately denying the visitors a crucial victory in their pursuit of European qualification.
The game began with Bournemouth asserting early dominance, capitalizing on a shaky Tottenham defense. Within the first minute, Spurs’ center-back Cristian Romero nearly gifted Bournemouth the lead with a misplaced pass straight to striker Evanilson. Only a superb save from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario prevented an immediate deficit. However, Bournemouth’s pressure paid off in the 17th minute when Marcus Tavernier opened the scoring. A swift move down the left flank, orchestrated by Milos Kerkez, allowed Tavernier to fire a precise shot past Vicario, silencing the home crowd.
Tottenham struggled to find their rhythm throughout the first half, with Bournemouth’s aggressive pressing and high defensive line stifling Spurs’ attempts to play out from the back. The visitors’ dominance was evident as they created several chances, with Evanilson and Justin Kluivert testing Vicario on multiple occasions. The half-time whistle was met with boos from the Tottenham faithful, reflecting their frustration with a lackluster performance.
Bournemouth doubled their lead shortly after the break, in the 53rd minute, when Evanilson latched onto a through ball from Kluivert. Slipping past substitute Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso, the Brazilian forward delicately chipped the ball over Vicario to make it 2-0. At this point, Bournemouth appeared poised to secure a statement victory, bolstering their hopes of a top-seven finish.
However, Tottenham’s fortunes changed in the 67th minute when Pape Matar Sarr pulled one back. What appeared to be an intended cross from the midfielder unexpectedly sailed into the top corner, catching Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga off guard. The goal, described by some as accidental, reignited the home crowd and shifted the momentum in Spurs’ favor.
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As the clock ticked down, Tottenham pushed forward with renewed vigor. In the 85th minute, their persistence paid off when Bournemouth’s Kepa made a critical error. The on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper rashly charged out of his box and fouled Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, conceding a penalty. Son stepped up to the spot and coolly dinked his effort down the middle, leveling the score at 2-2. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium erupted as Spurs completed their comeback from a seemingly hopeless position.
Bournemouth nearly reclaimed the lead in stoppage time when Kluivert found the net, only for the goal to be disallowed due to an offside call on teammate Antoine Semenyo. The VAR decision sparked celebrations among the home fans, who were relieved to see their team escape with a point.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou praised his team’s resilience but acknowledged their shortcomings. “We were poor for large parts of the game, and Bournemouth deserved to be ahead. But credit to the lads for digging in and finding a way back. We’ve got to be better from the start,” he said in his post-match press conference.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, meanwhile, expressed frustration at his team’s inability to hold onto the lead. “We controlled the game for 70 minutes and should have won. It’s disappointing to lose two points like that, especially with a mistake at the end,” he lamented.
The draw leaves Tottenham in 13th place in the Premier League standings, with their struggles in 2025 continuing. The point provides some relief for Postecoglou, whose side faces AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League last-16 second leg on Thursday, trailing 1-0 from the first leg. For Bournemouth, the result sees them remain in 8th place, with their goal difference keeping them above Newcastle United. The Cherries will rue the missed opportunity to strengthen their European aspirations.
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