EPL: Tottenham score first goals of season but lose 3-2 to Villa

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Tottenham Hotspur finally ended their Premier League scoring drought but still suffered another defeat as Aston Villa held on for a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

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The defeat leaves Roberto De Zerbi’s side without a league win after five matches, with two draws and three defeats leaving Spurs on two points and 18th in the table as the international break begins.

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Villa, meanwhile, climbed to 15th with four points after recording their first league victory of the 2026/27th campaign under Unai Emery.

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Tottenham had gone into the game without scoring in their opening four Premier League matches, but their long wait for a goal ended after Aston Villa had built a three-goal lead.

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Johan Manzambi put Villa ahead in first-half stoppage time before Nicolas Jackson doubled the advantage in the 67th minute.

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Emiliano Buendia then appeared to have settled the contest when he made it 3-0 in the 79th minute.

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But Spurs mounted a late comeback.

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Conor Gallagher pulled one back in the 86th minute before Jan Paul van Hecke headed home in the eighth minute of stoppage time to make it 3-2.

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Tottenham pushed for an equaliser in the closing seconds, but Villa held on to secure their first Premier League win of the season.

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The result extends a difficult start for De Zerbi, who arrived at Tottenham looking to rebuild a side that narrowly avoided relegation last season.

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Spurs had opened the campaign with defeats to Brentford and Newcastle before consecutive goalless draws against Nottingham Forest and Everton.

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They also suffered a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the League Cup in midweek.

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The latest loss means De Zerbi heads into the international break still searching for his first Premier League victory, with Tottenham sitting 18th on two points, PUNCH Online reports

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For Emery, the victory provides a much-needed boost after Villa’s difficult opening to the campaign.

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Villa had taken only one point from their first four league games, losing to Brighton, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest and drawing with Hull City.

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Saturday’s win lifted them to 15th with four points from five matches — one victory, one draw and three defeats.

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Despite Tottenham’s late fightback, Villa’s counter-attacking approach proved decisive, with goalkeeper Zion Suzuki making five saves as the visitors survived a sustained late assault. Spurs finished with 64 per cent possession and 11 corners to Villa’s one, but could not turn their territorial dominance into a point, ESPN noted on Saturday.

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The 16 days international break now gives both managers time to regroup, with Tottenham facing an early-season battle to climb away from the relegation zone while Villa seek to build on their first league victory.n

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