
Palhinha strike salvages a draw against Wolves
Spurs 1-1 Wolves
Sat 27 September 2025, 21:58|
Tottenham Hotspur
Joao Palhinha's late, late strike rescued a point against Wolves in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening.
It looked like a frustrating second half was going to end with the visitors - winless so far in the Premier League this term - taking maximum points but as we ticked into the fourth minute of added time, Palhinha arrowed in from the edge of the box, levelling up Santiago Bueno's 54th-minute opener.
Thomas Frank made seven changes from the team that started against Doncaster in midweek and two from last weekend's 2-2 draw at Brighton - Djed Spence and Xavi Simons replacing Pedro Porro and Wilson Odobert.
The first half of the first half was a cagey affair, punctuated only by Sam Johnstone's incredible point-blank save to deny Mo Kudus, who stole in at the far post to meet Xavi Simons' cross on 15 minutes, his header touched onto the crossbar by the goalkeeper.
We grew into the game with Kudus the central figure. It looked like he'd opened the scoring with a beauty on 28 minutes, whipping into the far corner from Lucas Bergvall's backheeled pass, only for the offside flag to go up. Kudus' cross was then met with a spectacular flying volley over from Bergvall - think Richarlison against Burnley - on 41 minutes and the winger then pinged in a shot from the right angle, parried away by Johnstone. Palhinha got to the rebound ahead of Marshall Munetsi and went down - penalty appeals waved away. Richarlison was then inches away from Kudus' cross.
Wolves, tidy and well-drilled, only really offered Jhon Arias' lash wide from the right angle until the fourth minute of added time, when Arias' corner was flicked on and met on the half-volley by ex-Spur Matt Doherty, his effort clipping the top of the crossbar.
The second half was a different story. Wolves took the lead with a touch of fortune when Guglielmo Vicario parried out Ladislav Krejci's header from a corner, only for the ball to hit Palhinha and fall at the feet of Santiago Bueno, who tucked away from close range, 54 minutes on the clock. Vicario denied Hugo Bueno with his feet on 74 minutes as we huffed and puffed, but struggled to create chances.
Richarlison headed wide from Pedro Porro's cross and a couple of long-range efforts from Cristian Romero and Palhinha looked to be it - until the fourth minute of added time. Mathys Tel's cross was touched into the path of Palhinha by Pape Matar Sarr, the midfielder spotted a gap to the far corner and found it in style with a crisp, low finish from 22 yards.

Spurs 1-1 Wolves
Spurs: Vicario, Spence (Pedro Porro 62), Romero (c), van de Ven, Udogie (Tel 84), Palhinha, Bentancur (Johnson 62), Bergvall (Sarr 78), Kudus, Richarlison, Xavi (Odobert 78). Substitutes (not used): Kinsky, Danso, Gray, Scarlett.
Wolves: Johnstone, Doherty (c) (Agbadou 46), S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, J Gomes (Bellegarde 63), Andre, Arias (Toti 90+2), Munetsi, Hwang (Tchatchua 46), Strand Larsen (Arokodare 83). Substitutes (not used): Sa, Wolfe, R Gomes, Lopez.
Match data
Goals: Spurs - Palhinha 90+4; Wolves - S Bueno 54.
Yellow cards: Spurs - Simons, Bergvall, Palhinha; Wolves - Doherty, J Gomes.
Referee: Michael Salisbury.
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Weather: Clear night, 14 degrees.
Attendance: 60,537.