Tottenham staged a thrilling late comeback to beat Coventry 2-1 in the League Cup on Wednesday, narrowly avoiding a shock exit. The Championship side took a deserved lead through Brandon Thomas-Asante in the 63rd minute, and for much of the game, it looked as if Spurs were heading for a third consecutive defeat. However, two late goals from Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson turned the tide and secured Tottenham’s place in the next round.
Coming into the match, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou was under pressure following a 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby. The loss, which marked Tottenham’s second consecutive defeat, had raised questions about Postecoglou’s squad management and tactical decisions. The Australian manager, who has a history of winning silverware in his second season at multiple clubs, had promised to bring that same success to Spurs, but his side’s performance against Coventry left much to be desired for the first 80 minutes.
Coventry, who came close to making the FA Cup final last season after an impressive semi-final run, started the match full of confidence and energy. Tottenham, by contrast, appeared sluggish, with several first-team players rested as Postecoglou rotated his squad. Despite the change in personnel, the expectation remained that Spurs should be able to overcome the challenge posed by Coventry, who are currently in the second tier of English football.
As the first half wore on, Coventry grew in confidence and began to test Tottenham’s defense. Brandon Thomas-Asante, Coventry’s lively forward, was a constant threat, and it wasn’t long before he made his mark. In the 63rd minute, Thomas-Asante latched onto a cross from Norman Bassette, calmly slotting the ball past Spurs’ goalkeeper to give Coventry a deserved 1-0 lead. The goal sparked celebrations from the traveling fans, who could sense an upset was on the cards.
Spurs’ Late 2-1 Comeback Stuns Coventry
With Tottenham trailing, Postecoglou was forced to respond. His decision to substitute Lucas Bergvall early in the second half, however, drew jeers from the home supporters, who were unimpressed with the change. Bergvall, one of Spurs’ brightest young talents, had been showing flashes of creativity, and many in the crowd felt the decision to remove him was premature. The boos from the stands reflected the growing tension around the stadium as fans feared a cup upset was looming.
Despite the discontent in the stands, Tottenham slowly began to rally. The introduction of Dejan Kulusevski injected some much-needed creativity and drive into Spurs’ attack. With time running out, Tottenham began to press forward with greater urgency. Their persistence paid off in the 87th minute when Kulusevski played a pivotal role in setting up Djed Spence. The young right-back, who had been searching for his first goal in Spurs colors, found himself in the right place at the right time, prodding the ball into the net to level the score.
The late equalizer shifted the momentum entirely in Tottenham’s favor. Sensing an opportunity to avoid extra time and complete the comeback, Spurs pressed forward in search of a winner. Their efforts were rewarded in stoppage time when Rodrigo Bentancur, who had been controlling the midfield, slipped a perfectly timed pass to Brennan Johnson. The forward kept his composure, slotting the ball past Coventry’s keeper to complete the turnaround and secure a 2-1 victory for Tottenham.
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The dramatic nature of the win will have relieved Postecoglou, who now has some breathing room after a tough week. While the performance was far from convincing, the late rally showed Spurs’ resilience and determination not to suffer an embarrassing cup exit.
In other League Cup action, Brighton secured their place in the last 16 with an entertaining 3-2 victory over Wolves. The Seagulls took control of the match thanks to goals from Carlos Baleba, Simon Adingra, and Ferdi Kadioglu. Wolves fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short, with Brighton’s attack proving too strong on the day.
For Tottenham, the late comeback may have spared them from embarrassment, but it also served as a reminder that they need to improve quickly if they are to challenge for silverware this season. Postecoglou’s side will need to build on this victory as they navigate through a busy fixture schedule in the coming weeks.
