Joao Pedro ends goal drought as Chelsea win at Spurs

News Express |2nd Nov 2025 | 130
Joao Pedro ends goal drought as Chelsea win at Spurs




Joao Pedro ended his 10-game goal drought to give Chelsea a deserved victory as Tottenham were booed off after another dismal home performance.

The 24-year-old Brazilian has been struggling for both fitness and form but confidently chipped in the winner after persistent pressing by Moises Caicedo forced defender Micky van de Ven into a mistake inside his own box.

Pedro could have scored three by half-time but for two fine saves by Italian keeper Guglielmo Vicario who saved low to his right and then reacted quickly to tip away a volley.

But in the end, that solitary goal was enough to beat a Spurs side that lacked creativity and registered just three shots on goal.

Spurs were poor in attack with only Mohamed Kudus having efforts of any kind, shooting over in the 33rd minute from long range, before finally testing goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in the fifth minute of first-half added time.

Chelsea should have won by more though. Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez wasted good opportunities, while Vicario again denied Pedro, while substitute Jamie Gittens blazed a close-range effort over the bar.

But the Blues have risen to fourth, level with Spurs on 17 points, but behind their London rivals on goal difference.

However, Spurs' home form is punishing them. They have just three wins in their past 19 games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium across former manager Ange Postecoglou and now Thomas Frank's tenure.

Tottenham analysis: Spurs hit new attacking low

Tottenham remain third in the Premier League but the frustration among the fans was clear, with the players booed off at half-time and full-time, with particular anger raining down from the UK's largest single-tier stand, the 17,500-capacity South Stand.

The data explains the reaction: Spurs registered an expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.05 - their lowest on record in a Premier League game.

Kudus registered all three of their shots – one blocked, one over the bar and one saved.

It's remarkable that all of Xavi Simons, Richarlison, Randall Kolo Muani, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert managed to feature without registering a shot of any kind.

Simons was so ineffective that, despite coming on as a substitute early in the match after Lucas Bergvall was forced off with a suspected concussion, he was taken off with 17 minutes remaining.

It felt as though only a Chelsea red card could have turned the game, because none of Frank's substitutions made an impact in a lacklustre display.

And as Chelsea wrapped up a 10th win in their past 12 meetings, the Spurs fans, let their feelings known.

Chelsea analysis: Joao Pedro needed that goal

Chelsea's fans had had frustrations of their own but Pedro ending his goal drought against a rival was not a bad way to get the detractors off his back.

Since his last goal, in August against Fulham, the Brazilian had gone 705 minutes without scoring across all competitions – and without a shot on target.

Manager Enzo Maresca has admitted his striker has fitness concerns and must be managed on a game-by-game basis – especially with Liam Delap only recently back from a 10-week hamstring absence.

So Maresca will have been delighted to see a vintage Pedro performance that could have yielded three first-half goals and perhaps another in the second half.

Pedro also created chances, notably for Gittens, though the winger fluffed a sitter.

Despite his recent issues, Pedro has become vital to Chelsea's attack, as both a creator and goal scorer, with star forward Cole Palmer out injured until December.

But, as ever, Caicedo stole the show – his ferocious, Terminator-like pressing hounded Spurs, forcing the decisive error for the game's only goal. (BBC)

• PHOTO: Joao Pedro scored five goals in his first six Chelsea matches but went on a goal drought for 10 matches before scoring at Spurs. (Getty Images)




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