Late Drama As Tottenham Salvage Draw Against Burnley

It was a brisk January afternoon at Turf Moor as Burnley hosted Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League contest that had both clubs desperate for a spark. With Burnley languishing in 19th place, eight points adrift from safety, and Tottenham sitting in 14th after a patchy league run, the stakes couldn’t have been higher for managers Scott Parker and Thomas Frank.

Kickoff arrived at 10 a.m. ET, with the air thick with anticipation. Tottenham, fresh off a morale-boosting 2-0 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund, entered as narrow +105 favorites according to DraftKings Sportsbook, while Burnley were +265 underdogs, and the draw sat at +245. Still, the form guide offered little comfort for either side—Spurs had not won in four domestic matches, while Burnley’s winless streak had stretched to 13 games, including nine losses.

Tottenham’s lineup reflected their injury woes: Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Richarlison, and Mohammed Kudus were all sidelined, leaving Thomas Frank to rely on the versatility of his squad. Dominic Solanke, back from ankle surgery, led the line, supported by Xavi Simons and Odobert. The defensive trio of Danso, Romero, and Van de Ven started ahead of goalkeeper Vicario. Burnley, too, were hampered, missing captain Josh Cullen for the season, along with Amdouni, Beyer, Roberts, and Trésor. Martin Dubravka, who would soon become a key figure, started between the posts for the Clarets.

From the opening whistle, Spurs showed their intent. Within 30 seconds, Djed Spence nearly capitalized on a miscue from Burnley’s Kyle Walker, but the danger was scrambled clear with Solanke lurking. Moments later, Pedro Porro’s free kick whistled inches wide, and another soon after forced Dubravka into his first save of a busy afternoon. Burnley, meanwhile, looked to sit tight and pounce on the counter, a strategy that had earned them recent draws against Manchester United and Liverpool.

Tottenham’s attacking edge finally paid off in the 38th minute. A short corner routine saw the ball whipped to the back post, where Burnley failed to clear. Micky van de Ven pounced, smashing home a clinical low finish to put Spurs ahead. It was a familiar sight—Tottenham have now scored more goals from corners (12) and from defenders (8) than any other Premier League team this season.

But just as the visitors looked poised to take a lead into halftime, Burnley struck back. In first-half stoppage time, Kyle Walker delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, finding Axel Tuanzebe unmarked at the back post. The defender made no mistake, leveling the score at 1-1 and sending the Turf Moor faithful into raptures. As one live blog put it, "Spurs have dominated the first half but Burnley are level and Thomas Frank will not be happy with that defending."

The second half opened with both sides trading blows. Tottenham pressed for a go-ahead goal, with Xavi Simons smashing the crossbar and Dubravka producing a string of fine saves—denying Solanke’s close-range header, Gallagher’s follow-up, and a curling effort from Odobert. Burnley, for their part, were dangerous on the break. Broja was twice denied by Vicario, and substitute Mathys Tel forced another sharp stop from Dubravka on the other end.

In the 76th minute, Burnley’s persistence paid off. Anthony fed Foster, whose first effort was saved, but the rebound fell kindly and Udogie couldn’t keep it out. Foster’s goal put Burnley ahead 2-1, raising the possibility of a first league win in 14 attempts and a lifeline in their relegation battle.

Tottenham, however, refused to wilt. With five minutes left in regulation, they surged forward with renewed urgency. Simons came agonizingly close to equalizing, only to see his shot rattle the woodwork. Then, in the 90th minute, Spurs found their moment of salvation. A well-flighted cross found Cristian Romero, who rose above the Burnley defense to power home a header. The away section erupted—Spurs had snatched a 2-2 draw at the death.

"Romero heads home! Spurs equalize in the 90th minute with a wonderful header from Romero. Yet another goal from a center back for Spurs," read the live update, capturing the drama of the moment. For Tottenham, it was a testament to their resilience—and their remarkable knack for goals from defenders.

The final whistle brought a mix of relief and frustration for both sides. Burnley, despite leading late, saw another chance for a vital win slip away. Their winless run now stands at 14 games, and with just 15 points from 23 matches, the threat of relegation looms ever larger. "Burnley’s captain Josh Cullen is out for the season which is a huge blow as he is the captain and heartbeat of this Burnley side from midfield," noted one report, underscoring the scale of Parker’s challenge.

For Tottenham, the draw halted a run of three straight league losses and offered a glimmer of hope to embattled head coach Thomas Frank. The squad’s injury crisis remains severe, but the return of Solanke and the continued heroics of their defenders have kept their European ambitions alive. Frank, reflecting on the week, said after the Dortmund win: "We need to bring this win and this performance into momentum." Saturday’s result, though not the win he craved, at least keeps that momentum from stalling completely.

Looking ahead, both teams face daunting schedules. Burnley must find a way to turn hard-fought draws into victories if they’re to avoid a third relegation in as many Premier League campaigns. Tottenham, meanwhile, remain in European contention and will hope to get key attackers fit as the season enters its decisive stretch. For now, the spoils are shared—a result that leaves questions lingering for both sides, but also a reminder that in the Premier League, drama is never in short supply.