Richarlison delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 victory for 10-man Tottenham Hotspur over Chelsea in Sydney. The result maintains a perfect pre-season record for Tottenham under manager Roberto De Zerbi, marking their fourth consecutive win during the summer tour.
Tottenham opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Sandro Tonali, who notched his first goal for the club following his £100 million transfer from Newcastle United. The midfielder’s effort found the net via a deflection, though Chelsea responded quickly when Estevao headed home an equalizer just four minutes later.
The momentum shifted shortly after the interval when Tottenham defender Kevin Danso was issued a straight red card. Introduced at half-time, Danso was sent off just four minutes into his appearance for a foul on Joao Pedro as the Chelsea forward broke toward the goal. Despite Xabi Alonso’s side dominating possession with the numerical advantage, they struggled to capitalize on their opportunities. Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky proved vital, making key saves to deny both Joao Pedro and Estevao.
Spurs defended with discipline and looked for chances on the counter-attack. Before the decisive goal, Rio Kyerematen struck the crossbar, signaling a threat. In the second minute of added time, Richarlison reacted fastest after a shot from Jamie Donley rebounded off the post, bundling the ball home from close range to seal the match.
The game highlighted an encouraging pre-season start for De Zerbi, with new signings Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke delivering impressive performances. While Chelsea matched Tottenham’s number of shots on target, they were left to rue missed chances. Tottenham is set to continue their preparations with a behind-closed-doors friendly against Getafe next week, while Chelsea will look to regroup for the remainder of their tour.
