Wolves 1-2 Tottenham: Late Jan Vertonghen goal seals win for Jose Mourinho's side

Jan Vertonghen's late winner takes Tottenham to within three points of the top four

Jan Vertonghen scored a dramatic late winner as Tottenham ended Wolves' 11-match unbeaten Premier League run to narrow the gap on the top four with victory at Molineux.

Vertonghen headed in from a corner in injury time, after Wolves' relentless approach had been rewarded as Adama Traore thumped in a deserved equaliser from the edge of the box midway through the second half.

Following a breathless opening period, Lucas Moura's mazy run and exquisite finish into the roof of the net had put Tottenham ahead after eight minutes.

Spurs had to withstand intense pressure as Wolves chased an equaliser, but it was they who went closest before half-time as Eric Dier struck the post from Dele Alli's delightful, dinked pass.

Tottenham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga produced an excellent save from Romain Saiss' header in the closing stages as Jose Mourinho's visitors hung on, before Vertonghen's decisive goal.

Victory sees Tottenham climb above Wolves to fifth, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea who they face next Sunday (16:30 GMT).

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Spurs weather Wolves storm

Ahead of his side's trip to Molineux, Tottenham boss Mourinho made clear his belief that Spurs will qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Vertonghen's late header has suddenly turned that into a very realistic prospect, with Spurs set to welcome the Blues - who slumped to a fourth league defeat in five against Bournemouth on Saturday - to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next weekend.

With the top-four door ajar, Spurs made a purposeful start as Son Heung-min saw an attempt stopped by Rui Patricio, but it did not take long for their early enthusiasm to pay off as Moura's fast feet and emphatic finish stunned Wolves.

A second goal always appeared crucial for Mourinho's side, who had conceded at least two goals in five of their six games under the Portuguese prior to kick-off, as the energetic hosts dominated in possession and territory.

Often unconvincing, the Spurs backline weathered the storm and allowed for counter opportunities - but Dier was unable to provide the finish that Alli's sublime pass over the Wolves defence deserved.

Outplayed and having not kept a clean sheet away from home since New Year's Day - a club-record run of 16 matches - Traore's equaliser came as no surprise.

What will delight Mourinho, however, was the determined manner of his side's response to conceding, and a confidence-boosting late winner that puts their top-four hopes firmly in their own hands.

More to follow.

Line-ups Match Stats Live Text

Line-ups

Wolves

11Rui Patrício

32DendonckerBooked at 89mins

16Coady

27SaïssBooked at 75mins

2Doherty

8Neves

28João MoutinhoBooked at 60mins

19Castro OttoBooked at 65mins

37Traoré

9Jiménez

18Jota

Substitutes

5Bennett

7Neto

10Cutrone

21Ruddy

29Vinagre

49Kilman

56Ashley-Seal

Tottenham

22Gazzaniga

24Aurier

6D SánchezBooked at 64mins

4AlderweireldBooked at 69mins

5Vertonghen

17Sissoko

15DierBooked at 77mins

27Lucas MouraSubstituted forEriksenat 89'minutes

20AlliSubstituted forWinksat 90+2'minutes

7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forFoythat 90+2'minutes

10KaneBooked at 83mins

Substitutes

8Winks

18Lo Celso

19R Sessegnon

21Foyth

23Eriksen

29Skipp

41Whiteman

Referee:

Stuart Attwell

Attendance:

31,674

Match Stats

Home TeamWolvesAway TeamTottenham

Possession

Home58%

Away42%

Shots

Home18

Away9

Shots on Target

Home5

Away5

Corners

Home11

Away2

Fouls

Home14

Away10

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2.

Full TimePosted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Romain Saïss.

Posted at 90'+4'

Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Toby Alderweireld.

SubstitutionPosted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Juan Foyth replaces Son Heung-Min.

SubstitutionPosted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Winks replaces Dele Alli.

Goal!Posted at 90'+1'

Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2. Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Christian Eriksen with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 90'

Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Raúl Jiménez.

SubstitutionPosted at 89'

Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Christian Eriksen replaces Lucas Moura.

BookingPosted at 89'

Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 88'

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 86'

Hand ball by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 85'

Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Serge Aurier (Tottenham Hotspur).

Posted at 84'

Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is too high following a set piece situation.

Posted at 84'

Attempt saved. Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by João Moutinho with a cross.

BookingPosted at 83'

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 83'

Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur).

Posted at 82'

Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Moussa Sissoko.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 81'

Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 79'

Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lucas Moura.

Posted at 79'

Attempt blocked. Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adama Traoré.

BookingPosted at 77'

Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 77'

Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur).

Posted at 77'

Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Moura.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 76'

Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 75'

VAR Decision: No card change Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

BookingPosted at 75'

Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 75'

Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Posted at 73'

Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 72'

VAR Decision: No Penalty Tottenham Hotspur.

Posted at 71'

Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Eric Dier tries a through ball, but Son Heung-Min is caught offside.

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Source: bbc.com