Raul Jimenez scored a smart winner as Wolves recovered to move above Tottenham in the Premier League and boost their hopes of earning a Champions League spot with a 3-2 win.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side trailed twice in north London before Jimenez latched on to Diogo Jota’s pass to finish with his left foot.
Spurs first led when Steven Bergwijn poked in and then from Serge Aurier’s curling effort before the break.
🗣👏 @Raul_Jimenez9 pic.twitter.com/nPyLt6SvJd
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 1, 2020
But Matt Doherty and Jota combined to bring Wolves level on both occasions.
Jota’s ball was fired home by Doherty after Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga failed to clear and then Jota tapped in from close range following Doherty’s low cross.
Dele Alli had missed the chance to send Tottenham into a 3-1 lead moments earlier when he headed wide while unmarked inside the box.
The win sends Wolves sixth in the table and three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Can Wolves mount Champions League chase?
Both of these sides harbour hopes of reaching the Champions League next season but it is Wolves who boast the better form and now also the better platform to do so.
The task of qualifying for Europe’s premier competition could be made easier if Manchester City’s continental ban is upheld and fifth place comes into play.
Wolves, who could also book a place through the Europa League, showed resilience to twice come from behind and were largely inspired by their two wide forwards – Jota and Adama Traore.
Jota is in superb form and had a hand in all three of Wolves’ goals, with his pass sending Jimenez away to slot the winner beyond Paulo Gazzaniga 17 minutes from time.
The visitors, who are now level on points with Manchester United in fifth, had the phenomenal Traore to thank for bringing them level as he rode a heavy tackle by Tanganga to keep alive a move that ended with Doherty crossing for Jota to score from close range.
That was the Portugal international’s sixth goal in his past three games in all competitions.
Spurs find goals, but struggle at the back
Tottenham’s striker crisis is well documented and home fans will have welcomed the news England captain Harry Kane’s return from a hamstring injury appears ahead of schedule, but Jose Mourinho’s side need a short-term solution if they are to keep their European hopes on track.
Spurs, with Son Heung-min also absent after surgery on a fractured arm, have struggled to find a focal point in attack recently and opted for a fluid front three of Bergwijn, Alli and Lucas Moura, though it was Aurier who proved their most penetrative threat.
It was from the Ivory Coast international’s driven cross that Spurs took the lead, as Bergwijn pounced after Alli’s initial effort was saved to score his second Tottenham goal since a January move from PSV.
Alli then found Aurier in space on the edge of the Wolves penalty area and the 27-year-old cut inside before curling left-footed effort into the far corner.
But it was at the other end Tottenham struggled, looking nervy and disorganised on occasions with both Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen on the bench, as they failed to stop Wolves’ quick, attacking breaks.
Despite enjoying large spells of possession, Spurs failed to register a shot on target in the second half and Mourinho brought 18-year-old Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott on in added time.
The youngster’s arrival earned a cheer from the home fans, but was too late to make a difference to the scoreline.
