Crystal Palace clinched their maiden win of the season in a tightly contested 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s decisive first-half goal put Palace ahead, and with an organised, pressing approach, Oliver Glasner’s team kept Spurs at bay. This result exposed Spurs’ struggles in possession and forward creativity, leaving them to face pressing questions about depth and discipline.
First-half frustration and Palace’s aggressive breakthrough
The opening stages of the match saw both sides tentatively probing each other’s weaknesses. Tottenham held possession for spells but lacked a cutting edge, managing just two successful dribbles past Palace’s defensive line in the first half.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s intense pressing forced Spurs into repeated errors. Tottenham’s defensive players lost possession 42 times in the first 45 minutes alone, with Pedro Porro accounting for 20 of those moments.
Palace capitalised on one such misstep in the 31st minute. Under pressure from Daniel Munoz, Micky van de Ven lost possession, allowing Munoz to tee up Eberechi Eze. Eze’s flick found an unmarked Mateta, who slotted the ball past Vicario with ease.
The goal underscored Tottenham’s struggles against Palace’s relentless press, as they continued to turn over the ball deep in their half. At the interval, Palace’s 1-0 lead felt well-deserved, with Spurs’ xG stuck at 0.43, reflecting their lack of clear-cut chances.
Tottenham’s lethargic second half and Palace’s defence
Entering the second half, Tottenham aimed to pull themselves back into the game but continued to falter in execution. Despite a greater focus on attack, Spurs managed only one successful dribble in the attacking half throughout the second period, failing to unsettle Palace’s well-organised defensive line.
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Ange Postecoglou brought on Richarlison and Timo Werner to inject urgency into Tottenham’s play, yet they struggled to break through.
Palace’s impressive midfield duo of Eze and Will Hughes orchestrated dangerous counter-attacks, pinning Tottenham back and ensuring Palace remained a threat. The Eagles’ tenacity was underscored by more than 30 successful tackles over the course of the game, constantly disrupting Tottenham’s rhythm.
Tottenham’s fullbacks, Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro, accounted for a total of 48 turnovers, revealing just how thoroughly Palace’s pressing strategy took them out of the game. The high number of lost possessions by the Spurs backline led to frequent tracking back, exposing Tottenham’s lack of width in both defence and attack.
Key takeaways: Defensive depth and attacking limitations
For Crystal Palace, this victory marks a turning point, providing a needed confidence boost as they rise from the bottom of the table. Glasner’s side executed their pressing game perfectly, punishing Spurs’ defensive lapses and maintaining disciplined shape in the final third.
Tottenham, meanwhile, must quickly address their shortcomings, with a challenging League Cup tie against Manchester City looming. The absence of Son Heung-min’s leadership and creativity was glaring, as Spurs seemed devoid of direction in the final third.