Noah Okafor struck shortly after coming off the bench to give Leeds United a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and end their five-match wait for a Premier League win.
The Switzerland forward made an immediate impact at Elland Road, combining with fellow substitute Harry Wilson before firing past Antonin Kinsky in the 79th minute, less than two minutes after entering the action.
His second goal of the campaign secured Leeds’ first league victory since September and halted Tottenham’s run of three successive wins.
The contest was overshadowed by a contentious first-half challenge, with Leeds defender Jayden Bogle avoiding punishment for a reckless tackle on Mathys Tel.
Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi reacted furiously to the incident shortly after the half-hour mark.
Following a VAR review lasting more than four minutes, referee John Brooks decided against a dismissal, while Bogle also escaped a yellow card.
Tel was subsequently unable to continue and was replaced by Dominic Solanke, adding to the visitors’ frustration.
Solanke then played a crucial defensive role five minutes after the restart, clearing Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header off the line following a corner.
Leeds continued to apply pressure, with Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff threatening as the hosts took control of the second half.
Their persistence eventually paid off when Okafor seized on a loose ball inside the penalty area and powered his finish beyond Kinsky, sparking jubilant celebrations.
The victory was Leeds’ first against Tottenham since May 2021 and moved them up to eighth.
Spurs slipped to 10th after their first defeat in five matches.
Leeds find their attacking edge
The celebrations at the final whistle reflected the significance of a result that sends Leeds into the international break with fresh confidence.
Despite losing only twice in their opening nine league fixtures, they had struggled to turn competitive performances into victories.
Before Tottenham’s visit, Leeds had won just twice, most recently against Newcastle in September.
Their lack of cutting edge had left supporters waiting for a convincing attacking display, and the second half provided plenty of encouragement.
Leeds registered 13 attempts after the interval, repeatedly stretching Tottenham’s defence.
Calvert-Lewin, Tanaka and Longstaff all threatened before Okafor supplied the decisive finish.
The narrow margin understated the hosts’ dominance, with their performance offering as much reassurance as the three points.
Spurs lose momentum after controversy
De Zerbi had reason to question the decision to allow Bogle to remain on the pitch, particularly with Tel forced off following the challenge.
A red card would have changed the balance of the match, but Tottenham’s problems extended beyond that incident.
The visitors struggled to regain their composure and offered little attacking threat during a second half controlled by Leeds.
While the hosts created chances regularly, Spurs failed to fashion meaningful openings of their own and increasingly relied on defensive interventions to stay level.
After three consecutive league victories, the manner of this defeat will concern De Zerbi.
Tottenham arrived with renewed momentum but departed having been outplayed for much of the second half.
