Tottenham, lost in 5 minutes of nightmare » Igor Tudor reaches 3 failures out of 3, and Radu Drăgușin's team is getting closer to relegation

The Romanian defender Radu Drăgușin (24 years old) was not even on the hosts' bench, after he suffered a concussion in the previous game and came under the strict protocol imposed by the Premier League.

The regulation provides for a break of at least six days after such an incident, and the Romanian international is currently in the non-contact training phase, being expected to return to the field at the weekend.

The end of the first half was a nightmare for Tottenham

The first half was extremely tense for the team coached by Igor Tudor. After half an hour of play, the visitors thought they had opened the scoring through Ismaila Sarr, who took advantage of an unfortunate deflection from Pedro Porro. However, the success was canceled after the intervention of VAR, for an offside position.

Tottenham reacted quickly and opened the scoring in the 35th minute. After a well-constructed move by Archie Gray, he crossed perfectly for Dominic Solanke, and the English striker finished first-time with his left foot, with no chance for the opposition goalkeeper.

Van de Ven “buried” Tottenham

However, the home team's advantage was short-lived. Two minutes later, Micky van de Ven fouled Sarr at full-back and referee Andy Madley showed a straight red card. Following the phase, Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty and Sarr calmly converted for 1-1.

Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, the guests returned the score just before the break. In the 45+2 minute, Tottenham lost the ball near their own box, Adam Wharton provided an excellent pass and Strand Larsen beat Vicario with a shot between the legs of the Italian goalkeeper.

The nightmare for the hosts was completed in the 45+7th minute. Crystal Palace continued to dominate, Wharton providing the assist again and Ismaila Sarr scoring the 'double' to set up the half-time score, which turned out to be the final score, 3-1. Unhappy with the team's performance, many of Tottenham's supporters began to leave the stands before the game resumed.

Radu Drăgușin's formation, ever closer to relegation

The second half brought no further changes on the table, although Crystal Palace continued to be more dangerous and create a few forays into the opposing box. For Igor Tudor, it is the third consecutive failure since being installed on Tottenham's bench, after the defeats against Arsenal (1-4) and Fulham (1-2).

After this result, Tottenham occupies 16th place in the Premier League and has only one point above West Ham, a team in a relegation position. For the team where the Romanian international plays, an extremely difficult trip to Anfield, against those from Liverpool, follows. The formation prepared by Igor Tudor is going through a very poor period, with four defeats and a draw in the last five games and without any victory in 2026.

On the other hand, Crystal Palace climbs to 13th place, with 38 points, and in the next stage they will receive a visit from Leeds United.

Premier League standings

FINAL » Tottenham – Crystal Palace 1-3

• Click HERE for statistics

• bullets: Solanke 35' / Sarr 40', 45+7', Strand Larsen 45+2'

• GOAL! Minute 45+7: The disaster continues for Tottenham! Palace continue to dominate and score the 3rd goal, to the displeasure of the London fans, who leave the stadium stands in large numbers. Again, Wharton provides the decisive pass and Ismaila Sarr pulls off the 'doppietta'.

• naked! In the 45+2 minute, Crystal Palace returns the score in numerical superiority, after Tottenham made a mistake and lost the ball around the box. Wharton made an excellent pass and Strand Larsen beat Vicario with a shot through the Italian's legs.

• naked! In the 40th minute, Ismaila Sarr, the author of the disallowed goal and the one who got the elimination, implicitly the penalty kick, converted without emotion and restored the tie.

• In the 37th minute, Van de Ven commits a foul from the position of the last defender on Sarr, and the “central” Andy Madley shows him the red card directly. Penalty for Crystal Palace.

• naked! In the 35th minute, Solanke opened the scoring, in the immediate next phase after the disallowed goal for Palace. After a move created by Gray, who crossed perfectly for the English striker, Solanke, from the first, sent the ball into the goal with his left foot.

• In the 30th minute, Ismaila Sarr managed to unlock the scoreboard after a Pedro Porro deflection into his own goal. The goal was disallowed after VAR analysis, due to an irregular position.

Tottenham – Crystal Palace, starting teams:

Tottenham (3-4-2-1): Vicario – Palhinha, Danso, Van de Ven – Porro, Sarr, Souza, Gray – Kolo Muani, Tel, Richarlison
reserves: Austin, Kinsky – Bissouma, Gallagher, Kyerematen, Oluessi, Richarlison, Rowswell, Simons
Coach: Igor Tudor

Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson – Canvot, Richards, Riad – Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell – Sarr, Guessand – Strand Larsen
reserves: Benitez – Clyne, Devenny, Hughes, Johnson, Lerma, Pino, Sosa, Uche
Coach: Oliver Glasner

Referee: Andy Madley
Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London