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

ESPN | (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

But Spurs mounted a late comeback.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.