Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Bentancur 12, Johnson 45+3) Wolves 2 (Hwang 7, Strand Larsen 87)
The Vitor Pereira era at Wolves headed into 2025 unbeaten after his side battled back valiantly in the second half of their trip to north London to secure a point against Tottenham Hotspur.
Hee Chan Hwang gave the visitors the perfect start inside the opening 10 minutes when he found the corner of the net with a well-hit strike, but Spurs fought back to take a lead into the break through Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson - either side of Jose Sa's penalty save to deny Heung-min Son from the spot.
However, after coming on a half time, Jorgen Strand Larsen netted his seventh Premier League goal of his debut campaign in England to secure a point for the Old Gold when he hit a fantastic strike from a tight angle in the closing stages of an engaging contest in the capital to round out 2024.
Buoyed by their successive wins under Pereira, Wolves came out of the blocks strong at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri linking well down the left as they looked to put the hosts under pressure.
Although the defence had to be strong to stop Spurs on the counter, it was at the other end of the pitch where Wolves struck first.
A free-kick routine straight off the training ground saw Andre play the set-piece – 22 yards out from goal – short to Ait-Nouri and the Algerian set the ball up for Hwang on the edge of the D, who hit a sweetly struck curling effort past Fraser Forster and inside the post.
However, it didn’t take long for the hosts to equalise and it was a corner which was Wolves’ downfall once more. Johnson’s out swinging delivery was met by the head of Bentancur, who got up highest in the box, to power his header past Sa.
In an end-to-end first 45 minutes, Wolves had chances to regain the lead as Matheus Cunha struck two powerful efforts wide of the post, while also striking the wall from a free-kick, but it was Spurs who looked likely to add a second as they tried to exploit the visitors’ set-piece troubles- but Radu Dragusin headed just wide of Sa’s post from a corner.
A mix-up between Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski stopped a good chance for the hosts on the half hour mark as the former bundled over the latter as they both went for the ball inside the Wolves box, while Yves Bissouma shot well over the crossbar from a dangerous position.
Wolves were given another lifeline just before the break when referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the penalty spot after Andre was adjudged to have felled Johnson in the box. However, the Portuguese pulled off a big save to get across to his right to push Son’s effort away from goal.
But the hosts eventually broke through the Wolves defences with the last kick off the first half when Johnson was picked out in space inside the box by Kulusevski and fired a low driven effort past Sa.
Half-time | Tottenham 2-1 Wolves
Tottenham came out the break the stronger of the two sides as Pereira’s side had to ride the wave of pressure put on them by the hosts, but as the half wore on, the men in the purple shirts began to regain their confidence and believed there was a way back into the match.
The Portuguese made changes at the break to try to get level, with Strand Larsen and Goncalo Guedes providing a much needed spark in the attacking third.
After Santi Bueno fired high over the crossbar from 25 yards out after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross was blocked, it was Guedes who found space to have a go at goal, but he only found Craig Dawson’s midriff, leaving the defender in a painful heap.
Moments later, Dawson had a chance to head at goal himself, only to put the ball well wide of the post, while Spurs tried to extend their lead when Solanke battled with Bueno but the Uruguayan came out on top.
It was Bueno who was Wolves’ hero once again with less than 10 minutes remaining on the clock when he was able to clear off the line after Kulusevski was played into space and rounded Sa before seeing his effort turned behind.
Wolves secured a well-earned point in the dying moments of the contest when Ait-Nouri cut inside and played a perfect ball into the run of Strand Larsen who took a touch before finishing powerfully into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
The visitors were able to see out the remaining minutes of the 90 as well as almost 15 minutes of added time to claim the point which leaves the Old Gold unbeaten in Vitor Pereira’s reign.
Full-time | Tottenham 2-2 Wolves
Tottenham | Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Udogie (Reguilon 50), Bissouma (Sarr 63), Bentancur, Kulusevski, Johnson (Maddison 63), Solanke, Son (Werner 63).
Unused subs | Austin, Dorrington, Bergvall, Olusesi, Lankshear.
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Bueno, Dawson (R. Gomes 78), Ait-Nouri, Andre (Doyle 69), J. Gomes, Bellegarde (Guede 45), Cunha (Strand Larsen 45), Hwang (Forbs 78).
Unused subs | Johnstone, Lima, Pond, Meupiyou.
Referee | Chris Kavanagh
