Tottenham Hotspur

Our Women’s Under-19s succumbed to an 8-2 defeat away at Leicester City in the opening game of the second phase of the Professional Game Academy League.

The hosts surged into a four-goal lead within half an hour to give us an uphill challenge after the first period at Belvoir Drive. Matters got worse just seven minutes after the break as they grabbed their fifth of the afternoon.

We did show fight after the hour mark and managed to pull two goals back in quick succession with Grace Bellwood and substitute Eloise Summers-Mee on target to give us a glimmer of hope. However, that quickly faded in the final stages of the contest, as the Foxes added a further three goals to condemn us to a heavy loss in the league.

On a positive note, Rania Oukriss started and completed 54 minutes in her first competitive game back from injury since late September while Under-16 full-back Aimee Bush made her second consecutive start for the Under-19s.

Leicester started on the front foot and within the opening minute of the contest, they had opened the scoring as the ball was teed up for Crista Chetcuti-Ganado just inside the box, on the left, and she picked out the bottom right corner with a composed first-time effort. Then, just three minutes later, it was 2-0 as a ball was played to Samantha Kazmar to the far left of the area and she slotted home.

On 13 minutes, the referee pointed to the spot after a Leicester City player was adjudged to have been brought down as a ball came in from a corner. Captain Jenna Whinney stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Rose Mylam the wrong way to grab their third in the opening quarter of the game. We looked for a response to the disappointing start, Grace Breen heading over from a corner before Mia Endacott drilled low from the edge of the box, however, just after the half-hour mark, we gifted the home side their fourth as a wayward pass across our backline was stolen by Chetcuti-Ganados who then slipped Savannah Mollis through one-on-one with Mylam and she slotted low past our shot stopper.

Kazmar then saw her effort from close range deflected on to the underside of the crossbar before Breen cleared off the line, as the hosts finished the first period strongly. Leicester City picked up where they left off seven minutes after the restart as Chetcuti-Ganado, who raced down the left side of the box, squared the ball across to Beau King to convert from close range.

Blue Bartlett-Antwi’s free-kick from around 30 yards forced Phoebe Baker to tip the ball over the bar at full stretch while Mylam produced a good save to push away a curling shot from the edge of the box. Despite the scoreline, we continued to show fight and, on 76 minutes, Bellwood grabbed a consolation goal for our young side. Substitute Lucy Barraclough, who made an instant impact on her introduction, set substitute Eloise Summers-Mee down the right and she then delivered an inch-perfect low ball to Bellwood in the middle of the area who sent a first-time effort into the roof of the net.

Gaitely had an effort deflected wide after more good work from Summers-Mee and, from the resulting corner, Bartlett-Antwi was brought down as the referee pointed to the spot once again. Summers-Mee stepped up and fired low into the bottom corner, despite the goalkeeper going the right way. However, our hard work to pull two goals back were undone just a minute later as, at the other end, Leicester were awarded their second penalty and Poppy Groves converted for their sixth of the afternoon.

The hosts continued to push in the final stages and made it 7-2 with five minutes left to play in normal time when Groves headed home from close range from a corner. Then, in the first minutes of stoppage time, Freya Pearce advanced into the box and slotted home to wrap up a frustrating afternoon for our Under-19s.

We can confirm the date and kick-off time for our Subway Women’s League Cup quarter-final tie against Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village.

The tie will take place on Sunday 21 December. Kick-off time will be at 1pm UK and the match will be televised on Barclays Women’s Super League Official YouTube channel.

Ticket information has already been confirmed for our trip to Leigh Sports Village, with supporters able to secure their seats here.

We return to action on Sunday following the final international window of the year, with three huge games left to play in 2025 – starting with our Barclays Women’s Super League clash at home to Aston Villa.

The Villans are the visitors to Brisbane Road this weekend (12pm UK) in what will be our final home game of the calendar year – with two trips to Manchester United to follow this month in the WSL and Women’s League Cup respectively.

Supporters can still grab their tickets for the encounter at Brisbane Road online via our eTicketing platform – secure your seats now.

We will look to continue our strong run of form at home this season, losing just one of our seven fixtures at Brisbane Road this term across all competitions (winning four and drawing two).

Plus, we’ve one of the strongest defensive records in England’s top flight after nine games, with Lize Kop and the whole backline registering four clean sheets in the league – seven in all competitions – the joint-highest with Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton at this stage of the season.

Alongside the main event on the pitch at midday, we also have a host of festive activities taking place before the match for supporters to enjoy.

We'll have a DJ playing festive tunes before the match and at half time while there'll be a number of festive giveaways for supporters. Alongside this, you will be able to take on a number of games around Brisbane Road plus get in the festive mood with face painters.

Heung-Min Son will return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since leaving the Club to bid farewell to our home fans at our UEFA Champions League fixture with SK Slavia Praha on Tuesday 9 December.

Our legendary former captain, who led the side to Europa League glory in Bilbao in May, announced his departure in August during our summer tour in his home nation of South Korea, playing his final game in a Spurs shirt in front of a sold-out Seoul World Cup stadium in front of his adoring Korean following.

Having then made the move straight to Los Angeles FC in the MLS – where he scored an impressive nine goals in 10 games before exiting the competition at the Play-Off stage in defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps on 23 November – Sonny has chosen the Slavia fixture as his opportunity to return to London and say his goodbyes to the Spurs faithful.

Sonny will take to the pitch before the team walk-outs ahead of the 20:00 kick-off against the Czech champions. He will then have the opportunity to personally address the supporters that took him into their hearts following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and treasured him for the next 10 years – it is sure to be an emotional occasion in N17.

Further details and timings will be communicated to ticket holders ahead of the match.

Working with our Fan Advisory Board, work has now commenced on a street mural on Tottenham High Road, to be completed by December 9, further celebrating the legacy that Sonny has left in this part of North London.

The design of the mural has been chosen by Sonny himself and is being created by Murwalls – the team behind the iconic artworks of fellow Spurs legends Ledley King and Harry Kane that also adorn the thoroughfare to the stadium.

Sonny said: “When I announced my difficult decision to leave Spurs in the summer, it was in Korea and I never got a proper chance to say goodbye to fans at the stadium.

"Now I am so happy because I am going to come back to London on 9th December, for the Champions League match, and be able to tell the Spurs fans in person just how much their support and love over 10 years has meant to me and my family. It will be emotional, but it's important for me and the Club that this happens.”

Watch | That magic moment in Bilbao...

Sonny won the FIFA Puskas Award in 2020 for an extraordinary solo goal against Burnley, which saw him dribble the length of the pitch before finding the net. Both a scorer of great goals and a great goalscorer, he added to his personal accolades in 2021/22, receiving the Premier League Golden Boot for his 23-goal return in the division.

During his time at the Club, Sonny also became the highest-scoring Asian player in Premier League history and, in addition to leading South Korea to Asian Games success in 2018, has been named ‘Best Footballer in Asia’ a record nine times.

Sonny’s greatest achievement in our colours came in May, 2025, as he led the Club to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao. By doing so, he wrote his name into Spurs folklore, becoming one of 13 captains in our history to lift a major trophy.

Cuti Romero produced a ‘wow’ moment for Thomas Frank, who spoke about his captain’s ‘textbook striker’s goal’, Guglielmo Vicario’s character and the support of our travelling fans after our resilient 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Tuesday night.

The team displayed all the traits Thomas was looking for after a tough week – defeats against PSG, Arsenal and Fulham – and then had to dig deep, twice, to secure a point against a side that had racked up six wins on the trot in the Toon.

Bruno Guimaraes broke the deadlock on 71 minutes, but Cuti responded with a brilliant diving header from Mo Kudus’ cross to level seven minutes later. Anthony Gordon fired Newcastle back in front from the spot after a VAR penalty call with four minutes left but we picked ourselves up again and, in the fifth of nine minutes of added time, Cuti produced his moment, an overhead kick after Aaron Ramsdale punched Mathys Tel’s corner skywards.

“Cuti today, wow, what a performance overall – aggressive defensively, good on the ball, and of course, tops it off with two goals,” said Thomas. “The first, the header, exceptional, that's a striker’s goal, a textbook striker’s goal, and the bicycle kick, wow, perfect and perfect contact with the shin as well, bottom corner, so well done to Cuti.”

At the other end, Vic was assured all night and produced big saves when they mattered to deny Gordon, Lewis Miley and most notably, a superb reaction save down to his left to turn away Tino Livramento’s piledriver through a crowd of players following a corner.

Thomas added: “I must say, normally you really can judge a character by how the person is dealing with a setback, because that shows resilience, and that shows that you've got some inner core that is very strong and can come back, so I think he was very good today.

“I must also say, others that were very good today were our fans, wow, travelling with more than 3,000 on a Tuesday night, long travel, and you could hear them through the game, and it's difficult, by the way, to be an away fan here and be heard because they're loud, so the way we could hear them, the support, and I heard them singing to Vic, that made me extremely proud and happy, and I think that's the togetherness we need from everyone.”

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at St. James Park on Tuesday evening after our 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Here's what he had to say...

Did you expect Cristian Romero to be your striker tonight with two goals?

Thomas: "The perfect bicycle kick, hit with the shin, aiming for that bottom corner. I think let's start praising Cuti. I think he deserved that for an overall top performance, defending, on the ball, coolness, calmness, duels and then getting up there and scoring two goals. I think the bicycle kick will most likely get a little bit more praise, but I think the header is more exceptional, the way he does that is better than many strikers. That said, I really liked the character and the mentality in the team, what they showed after three tough games. To go here, the fourth game in 10 days, the third away game, very difficult place, go down two times and come back, it shows everything about the willingness and the mentality in the team. Also, the second one is very disappointing to concede because for me it's never a penalty. Even speaking to someone from Newcastle, who didn't think it's a penalty. We need the consistency because that penalty would be given two times a game. I think the referee's call on the pitch nailed it and VAR can only be if it's clear and obvious. I want to speak about us, and the mentality coming back. A great point away from home, I'm happy with that. I think our fans, exceptional, travelling, 3,000 up here, the way they supported us throughout the game, singing, we also heard them singing and praising Vic throughout the game. That's togetherness."

How much does that mean to you, to hear them sing as well?

Thomas: "You could hear them here and it's a difficult place to come as away fans and be loud enough so we can hear them. They put so much effort into it, matched the effort from the team and that togetherness drove us forward and it gave us a more than well-deserved point."

Does it make such a difference to have that kind of individual leadership from Romero?

Thomas: "Yeah, of course. I think we can set everything nice tactically up and good principles and all that and try to do it, and that's the foundation and hopefully we can make a great team - but you know sometimes it's decisive actions from key players and Cuti definitely did that today."

How important was it for the team to show that spirit?

Thomas: "I think it's hugely important. I think the PSG performance was good. I think the team gave everything against Fulham. It was just a nightmare game in some ways because you're down 2-0 after six minutes, and then keep going and also get something out of it, but that's the only way forward, we know that. If you're on a tough run, there's only one way, and that is to work hard and keep going and the team did that very well today."

Destiny Udogie seemed to be limping - is he okay?

Thomas: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I haven't heard anything."

Thomas Frank praised the mentality and character of the team after we came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in the Premier League at St. James’ Park on Tuesday night.

Bruno Guimaraes fired the home side in front on 71 minutes only for skipper Cuti Romero to level seven minutes later with a diving header from Mo Kudus’ cross. We were then on the wrong side of a VAR review after Rodrigo Bentancur and Dan Burn tussled in the box from a corner – referee Tom Bramall awarding a penalty, slotted away by Anthony Gordon for 2-1 on 86 minutes.

Speaking to us after the drama at St. James’, Thomas reflected: “The mentality in the group and the character in the team, incredible today after a tough week, results not going our way, the fourth game in 10 days, third away game, going up against Newcastle, St. James' Park, difficult place to go to, suffered the first 25 minutes, which you need to be able to do here because it's a difficult place to go, then last 60 - I really liked that performance.

“I think we were brave, composed on the ball, I think we were a threat. Then, dealing with two setbacks, every good team needs to deal with setbacks and come back from that, and come back twice, I think it's exceptionally good because it's easy... not again... away from home, but that's just so much praise to the players, I think that was really promising.

“You really sense a little bit, I don't know, happiness? You always want to win, but end on a high, getting a good point on a tough day, with the last 60 minutes, many promising things, showing great courage and character, I think that's very promising.”

Returning Cristian Romero produced a two-goal captain’s performance including a stoppage time overhead kick to earn us a dramatic point at St James’ Park on Tuesday evening.

Back in the side after serving a one-game suspension on Saturday, the skipper twice cancelled out Newcastle goals as the game exploded into life in the final 20 minutes.

The Magpies’ own captain, Bruno Guimaraes, came off the bench to open the scoring with a fine strike before Romero’s diving header drew us level. Then, after a controversial penalty was converted by Anthony Gordon with four minutes left, our Argentine international scored a spectacular equaliser five minutes into injury time to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Thomas Frank made four changes to the team that started against Fulham on Saturday, with Romero, Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur coming in for Micky van de Ven, Archie Gray, Joao Palhinha and Richarlison.

As they often are on home soil, Newcastle were quickly out of the blocks and had a couple of half-chances in the opening five minutes, Lewis Hall dragging a shot wide and Nick Woltemade heading well over from a Jacob Murphy cross. The Magpies were bossing possession in the early stages as we struggled to get a foothold in the game and Guglielmo Vicario was called into action for the first time after 17 minutes but he comfortably saved Lewis Miley’s shot from the edge of the area.

They went close again 10 minutes before the break as Joelinton got away down the inside right channel and hit a crisp shot from a narrow angle across Vicario which smacked against the far post. We then went up the other end and carved out our first chance, Mohammed Kudus skipping past Hall and his cross was back-flicked over the bar by Lucas Bergvall. That was a moment that seemed to lift our spirits and we finished the half in positive fashion, much more on the front foot and, although we didn’t test Aaron Ramsdale in the Newcastle goal, it gave us something to build on for the second period.

It was our hosts with the first opening after the break though, Vicario saving well with his legs from Harvey Barnes’ angled drive and, as the ball looped up, Woltemade sent a header goalwards which Kevin Danso cleared off the line with a header of his own. Some determined defending from a couple of corners then kept Newcastle out before another set piece came into the danger zone in the 66th minute which Vicario got a good punch on, the ball falling to Tino Livramento 20 yards out and his clean strike was blocked inside the six-yard box by Johnson.

The pressure was building and eventually told when the home side opened the scoring in the 71st minute. Two substitutes did the damage, Gordon bursting down the left flank before sending over a cross which was cleared away but only as far as Guimaraes and he curled right-footed into the far corner. Shortly after, Vicario got down smartly to his right to deny a Miley effort.

We made a triple change in the 77th minute with Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons and Richarlison replacing Johnson, Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani and within a minute, we’d levelled the scores. Switching the play from left to right through Tel to Pedro Porro to Kudus, the latter then delivered a lovely cross which Romero met with a diving header into the bottom corner past Ramsdale.

But parity was short-lived. At a Newcastle corner with 10 minutes left, Bentancur and Burn fell to the ground and referee Thomas Bramall was advised to check the pitchside monitor for a foul by Bentancur. He duly awarded the penalty and Gordon slammed home from 12 yards. That could have been that, but our captain fantastic had other ideas. Five minutes into stoppage time, Pedro Porro sent over an in-swinging corner which caused havoc in the Newcastle box, players falling to the ground as Ramsdale punched the ball away. One of them was Romero, but he was up quick as a flash to produce a spectacular overhead kick which might have come off his shin, but it bounced through a crowd of players and ended up in the back of the net for an incredible equaliser. We even had time for one more corner as we went for the win, but this Porro cross ended in the arms of Ramsdale as the final whistle blew on a dramatic contest.

Lize Kop continued her strong start to the season on Tuesday night with another clean sheet – this time helping the Netherlands to a thumping 5-0 win over South Korea.

Earning her fourth consecutive start for her nation over the last two international windows, our shot stopper registered her ninth clean sheet of the campaign for Club and country – having preserved seven for us across all competitions.

The home side didn’t take long to break the deadlock in Waalwijk as Viviane Miedema opened the scoring on nine minutes and by the 38th minute, the Dutch forward had netted her fourth of the friendly clash to give them a four-goal lead.

Ella Peddemers then netted the fifth and final goal of the contest just three minutes before the break, wrapping up an excellent night for the Netherlands.

It was a rather quiet night for Lize who had just two shots to contend with to earn her second clean sheet in four games for her nation.

Elsewhere, Martha Thomas was a second half substitute for Scotland in their 3-2 win over China in Spain.

The forward entered the fray just after the hour mark, replacing Kirsty Howat who had netted a brace in the first half.

Kirsty Hanson had also found the back of the net in between Howat’s double to give Scotland a three-goal lead by the 15th-minute mark. Former Spur Zhang Linyan pulled one back for the away side on the half hour mark before Zhang Rui cut the deficit on the hour mark, however, the Scots were able to withstand any late pressure to hold on to the victory.

We can confirm the starting lineups and substitutes for tonight's Premier League encounter against Newcastle United at St James' Park (kick-off 8.15pm).

Thomas Frank has made four changes to the team that started against Fulham last time out on Saturday night.

Cristian Romero returns to captain the side after serving his one-match suspension with Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Brennan Johnson also coming into the team, replacing Micky van de Ven, Joao Palhinha, Archie Gray and Richarlison who are amongst our substitutes.

Here’s our team in full...

Starting XI: Vicario, Danso, Udogie, Bergvall, Romero (c), Kudus, Johnson, Pedro Porro, Sarr, Bentancur, Kolo Muani.

Substitutes: Kinsky, Palhinha, Xavi, Richarlison, Tel, Gray, Spence, Odobert, van de Ven.