Aston Villa Fight Back To Defeat Tottenham

A superb individual goal from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia’s late winner helped Aston Villa to a comeback win over Tottenham, who missed the chance to go second in the Premier League.
Substitute Buendia proved to be the match-winner when he cut inside to shoot into the bottom corner in the 77th minute with boss Unai Emery bouncing in celebration on the touchline.
Villa’s win, only their third in the league this season but fifth on the trot in all competitions, looked a long way off when the hosts took a fifth-minute lead thanks to Rodrigo Bentancur’s first club goal in 2025.
It came from Mohammed Kudus’ cross from deep on the left as Joao Palhinha headed the ball back into the danger zone and Bentancur was able to blast home the loose ball on the half volley from eight yards out.
But in an entertaining clash played in heavy rain, Rogers also got his first club goal of the season – and first since April – in some style.
The England midfielder found the space, despite four home players being in close attendance, to fire a sublime looping 20-yard strike which went over home goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and dipped under the crossbar.
Both sides thought they should have had a penalty in the second half.
Tottenham defender Kevin Danso – a late replacement for Cristian Romero after the Spurs captain was injured in the warm-up – slid in and caught Lucas Digne on the ankle with his follow-through, but was not penalised.
The hosts also appealed after the ball hit Villa defender Ezri Konsa’s arms, which were raised over his chest, but on both occasions the referee was not interested.
But, just when the game appeared to be heading towards a tame finale, Matty Cash played a superb cross-field ball from defence to find Digne and he set up Buendia to fire home his third goal in four games.
Rogers, who can perform in a variety of attacking positions, has established himself as a vital part of the England team and featured in all eight of the Three Lions matches since Thomas Tuchel took over.
His first international goal came in the 3-0 friendly win over Wales on 9 October and Villa are now reaping the rewards of a player clearly full of confidence.
Rogers failed to score or register an assist in each of his side’s opening five Premier League matches of the season, despite playing almost every minute of them, with Emery’s struggling team only picking up two points in that run.
But he has now recorded a spectacular goal and two assists in his past three league matches as Villa revive their fortunes after a miserable start that saw them fail to win any of their opening five league games – failing to score in four as well – and exit the Carabao Cup at the hands of Brentford.
They have now won five in a row with this victory taking them 10th and into the top half of the table for the first time this term.
Before Sunday’s match, Emery admitted Rogers had not been “performing very well, not confident” at the start of the campaign, but said he was “getting better and feeling confident”.
The Spaniard will be delighted with the 23-year-old’s stunning opener in north London though and hope his form can continue.
Rogers faces plenty of competition for an England attacking midfield role – and a place in next summer’s World Cup squad – and his recent resurgence will also have pleased Tuchel.