Final: Tottenham Hotspur 0–1 AFC Bournemouth | MVP: Evanilson (editor’s pick)
Match Summary (TL;DR)
- Result: Tottenham Hotspur 0–1 AFC Bournemouth
- MVP: Evanilson — early, deflected winner and tireless pressing
- Turning Point: 5’ opening goal; Spurs had 0 shots and 0 corners in 1st half, never truly recovered
Football key metrics: xG 0.88–1.59 (TOT–BOU), shots 4–19, on target 1–6, possession 61.6%–38.4%.
Match Overview
| Competition | English Premier League 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| Date | Aug 30, 2025 10:00 AM ET |
| Venue | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London |
| Officials | Referee: Simon Hooper · 4th: Thomas Bramall · VAR: John Brooks · AVAR: Richard West |
| Weather | ~70°F (21°C), overcast with sprinkles late (forecast on day) |
| Scorers | AFC Bournemouth — Evanilson 5’ (assist: Marcos Senesi) |
Highlight Timeline
- 5’ — Evanilson scores via deflection (0–1), assist Senesi.
- 12’ — Semenyo (BOU) booked.
- 14’ — van de Ven (TOT) booked.
- 26’ — Bournemouth captain Adam Smith off injured; James Hill on.
- HT — Spurs 0 shots, 0 corners; BOU 10 shots.
- 54’ — Spurs double sub: Bergvall ⟷ Palhinha; Odobert ⟷ Johnson.
- 63’ — Bournemouth: Christie ⟷ Alex Scott.
- 64’ — Bournemouth: Adli ⟷ Brooks.
- 65’ — Djed Spence (TOT) booked.
- 69’ — Spurs record first shot on target.
- 71’ — Udogie ⟷ Porro (TOT).
- 72’ — Petrovic (BOU GK) booked.
- 76’ — Tel ⟷ Pape Sarr (TOT).
- 81’ — Bournemouth: Kluivert ⟷ Tavernier; Kroupi ⟷ Evanilson.
- 88’ — Tyler Adams (BOU) booked.
- 90+7’ — James Hill (BOU) booked; FT 0–1.
Top 5 Key Moments
- 4–5’: Bournemouth’s scripted press leads to the decisive, deflected strike by Evanilson.
- 1st half control: Cherries out-shoot Spurs 10–0 before the break; Tottenham create nothing.
- 69’: Spurs’ first shot on target finally arrives, but Petrovic is rarely tested.
- 72’: Petrovic time-wasting booking reflects Bournemouth’s game-state management.
- Stoppage time: Tel’s late effort drifts wide; Bournemouth’s block remains compact to the whistle.
Lineups & Tactical Flow
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro (Udogie 71’), Romero (c), van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha (Bergvall 54’), Bentancur, Pape Sarr (Tel 76’); Johnson (Odobert 54’), Richarlison, Kudus. Unused: Kinsky, Danso, Gray, Solomon, Davies.
AFC Bournemouth (4-1-4-1 → 4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith (c) (Hill 26’), Diakité, Senesi, Truffert; Adams; Brooks (Adli 64’), Alex Scott (Christie 63’), Tavernier (Kluivert 81’); Semenyo; Evanilson (Kroupi 81’). Unused: Dennis, Doak, Soler, Faivre.
Tactical notes: Iraola’s high press (front five stepping to Spurs’ first line) repeatedly trapped Spurs’ fullbacks and ‘6’. Despite 61.6% possession, Tottenham progressed slowly, registered 0 corners, and created low-value shots. Bournemouth’s PPDA profile was visibly aggressive; Spurs’ structure narrowed after the early goal and never destabilized the Cherries’ back four led by Senesi.
Statistical Validation
| Metric | Tottenham Hotspur | AFC Bournemouth |
|---|---|---|
| xG | 0.88 | 1.59 |
| Shots (On Target) | 4 (1) | 19 (6) |
| Possession % | 61.6 | 38.4 |
| Corners | 0 | 8 |
| Saves | 5 | 1 |
Context: Spurs’ first-half shot share was 0–10; halftime xG was roughly 0.00–0.77, underlining Bournemouth’s control before protecting the lead after the break.
Momentum & Flow
Bournemouth imposed the tempo immediately and sustained a high press that forced turnovers in Spurs’ build-up. After HT, Tottenham advanced their fullbacks and introduced Bergvall/Odobert to add ball carrying, but Bournemouth’s medium-low block plus Adams’ screening limited central access. The shot map (19–4) and 0 corners for Spurs reflect territorial dominance by the visitors once ahead.
Clutch & Pressure Performance
From 80’+, Bournemouth executed game management: slow restarts (GK booking), fresh wide runners (Kluivert, Kroupi), and compact distances in the last 20m. Spurs generated volume late but not quality; Petrovic faced only one on-target effort all game.
Errors & Missed Chances
- Spurs: Early build-up lapse before the 5’ goal and loose clearances; lack of first-half progressive connections to front three.
- Cherries: Wasteful finishing in transition (shots that could have killed the game earlier), but defensive structure covered it.
Duel / Matchup Analysis
Adams vs. Spurs’ #8s tilted midfield control toward Bournemouth; Senesi–Diakité handled Richarlison’s pin movements and crosses, with Truffert stepping out well to Porro/Johnson zones.
External Conditions & Officiating Impact
Overcast, mild conditions; no weather disruption. Hooper’s crew issued timely cautions; VAR interventions were minimal and non-controversial.
Player Ratings
| Player | Team | Key Stats | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evanilson | AFC Bournemouth | 1 goal (5’), relentless press | 7.8 |
| Marcos Senesi | AFC Bournemouth | 1 assist; led back line (also FotMob PoTM) | 8.5 |
| Guglielmo Vicario | Tottenham | 5 saves; kept scoreline close | 7.5 |
| Tyler Adams | AFC Bournemouth | Screened zone 14; late booking | 7.4 |
| Cristian Romero | Tottenham | Led defense under pressure | 6.8 |
Best vs Worst Performers
Top 3 (impact): Senesi, Evanilson, Adams. Struggles: Spurs’ midfield trio couldn’t progress under pressure; wide outlets seldom received in advantage.
Standings & Competition Impact
Tottenham stay on 6 points from three matches after a fast start to the season; Bournemouth climb to 6 points as well, aided by an away clean sheet at a top-six contender.
Final Assessment
Bournemouth’s plan—front-foot pressing, early strike, then disciplined block—was executed cleanly. Spurs’ possession lacked incision (0 corners; 1 shot on target). Until Tottenham add more structured final-third mechanisms and press resistance in first build-up, similar game states will stall their attack.
Stable drivers: (1) Bournemouth’s high press & compact block; (2) Spurs’ limited vertical progression; (3) Senesi’s leadership on the back line.
References
Sky Sports — Teams, officials, attendance · ESPN — Match stats (shots, possession, corners, saves) · FotMob — xG & event flow · The Guardian — Match report & context · NBC Sports — Goal clip & description · Evening Standard — Live blog context · Timeanddate — London weather (Aug 30, 2025) · TheSportsDB — Event page & artwork
Informational purposes only. No betting/investment advice. Trademarks belong to respective owners.