Spurs 3-2 Brentford
by Layth Yousif
at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Three second half goals in seven minutes saw Spurs come from behind to blitz Brentford and post an important victory in their bid for Champions League qualification.
In front of 61,210 fans in N17 on the last day of January, Ange Postecoglu’s side beat the visitors from West London to leapfrog Aston Villa back into fourth place in the Premier League.
The win came despite Neal Maupay’s 15th minute opener putting Thomas Frank’s side 1-0 ahead. Ivan Toney’s initial effort was saved by Guglielmo Vicario, before the Bees No7 slotted home — prior to annoying the home crowd and James Maddison — by copying the Spurs No 10’s “darts” celebration.
In a lively London derby — with 28 shots in total from both sides — Spurs squabbled with Brentford during an increasingly fractious opening 45 minutes, before their early second half onslaught.
“It’s a young, maturing team,” Postecoglou said after the clash. “Friday [the FA Cup defeat by Manchester City] showed we have a long way to go and tonight was another test. Arguing with the opponents isn’t going to help us.”
However, two goals in a minute immediately after the interval put Spurs ahead.
Destiny Udogie levelled three minutes after the restart, prior to half time substitute Brennan Johnson putting the home side 2-1 ahead 60 seconds later, with his second goal of the season.
Worse was to come for Frank’s side when, momentum completely with Spurs, the Lilywhites went further ahead in the 56th minute, Richarlison getting his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-1 from close range.
Toney nearly pulled a goal back for the visitors, but his drive flew narrowly past Vicario’s far post just after the hour mark.
The coveted 27-year-old then waltzed through the Spurs backline leaving bodies everywhere but, just when the goal opened up, the Bees striker guided his low shot wide of the far post.
The lively Toney was eventually gifted the ball by Udogie in an advanced position and made no mistake firing past Vicario to pull a goal back for the Bees on 67 minutes to make it 3-2 — his second goal in two games since his return from an eight-month suspension.
In a frantic finale in the north London drizzle, Shandon Baptiste hooked the ball over when well-placed in the box, as Spurs saw out seven additional minutes to raise hopes of a top four finish.
