In a pulsating encounter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, AS Roma staged a dramatic late comeback to snatch a 2-2 draw against Tottenham in the dying moments of the match.
Mats Hummels’ crucial equalizer in stoppage time denied the home side a much-needed victory and highlighted a game filled with intensity, VAR drama, and missed opportunities.
Tottenham started brightly and were awarded a penalty in just the fourth minute following a VAR review. Heung-Min Son stepped up and confidently slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, giving the hosts an early 1-0 lead. The early breakthrough seemed to set the tone for Ange Postecoglou’s men, who looked in control during the opening exchanges.
However, AS Roma gradually found their rhythm, and in the 20th minute, Paulo Dybala’s perfectly weighted free-kick found Evan Ndicka in the box. The defender rose high and powered a header past Fraser Forster to level the score at 1-1. Roma’s equalizer shifted the momentum, and just two minutes later, Stephan El Shaarawy capitalized on a loose ball at the edge of the box, firing a superb strike into the bottom right corner to make it 2-1.
Tottenham pushed back immediately, with Dejan Kulusevski leading the charge. The Swedish winger came close to equalizing in the 36th minute, rattling the post with a fierce effort from the edge of the box. Moments later, Heung-Min Son had a golden chance from close range, but his shot sailed over the bar, much to the frustration of the home crowd.
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The second half saw Tottenham increase the pressure, with Dominic Solanke narrowly missing the target with a header that struck the crossbar in the 81st minute. Pedro Porro also tested Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar with a long-range effort, but the keeper was equal to the task, denying the Spaniard’s attempt to level the match.
AS Roma, meanwhile, remained dangerous on the counterattack. Artem Dovbyk thought he had extended their lead in the 55th minute, but his goal was disallowed after a VAR review for offside. The visitors continued to defend resolutely, with Gianluca Mancini and Mats Hummels keeping the Tottenham attackers at bay.
Postecoglou made a series of substitutions to freshen up his side, introducing Timo Werner and Lucas Bergvall in the 77th minute. The changes nearly paid off as Werner’s pace and movement created several openings, but Tottenham’s finishing continued to let them down.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Tottenham appeared to be heading for a narrow defeat. But in the 91st minute, a scramble inside the box allowed Angelino to flick the ball towards Mats Hummels, who made no mistake from close range, slotting it past Fraser Forster to make it 2-2. The late goal sent the traveling AS Roma supporters into raptures and left Tottenham lamenting missed chances.
The final minutes saw Tottenham throw everything forward, with Pedro Porro sending a dangerous cross into the box in the 95th minute, only for AS Roma’s defense to clear the danger. Moments later, the referee’s final whistle ended a dramatic contest, leaving both sides to share the points.
The draw means Tottenham missed an opportunity to climb higher in the standings, while AS Roma will be pleased with their resilience and ability to secure a point away from home. Both teams will now turn their attention to their next fixtures, where they will look to build on the positives from this enthralling encounter.