A late 90th-minute goal from Brazilian striker Richarlison secured a 2-1 victory for 10-man Tottenham Hotspur against London rivals Chelsea during a high-stakes pre-season friendly in Sydney. Sandro Tonali, the club’s record signing, also netted his first goal for Spurs during the encounter at Stadium Australia.
Tottenham opened the scoring in the 19th minute through a deflected Tonali strike, though Chelsea responded almost immediately when Estevao headed in an equalizer. The match turned tense after the interval when Tottenham substitute Kevin Danso received a straight red card for a challenge on Joao Pedro, handing Chelsea a numerical advantage for the remainder of the contest.
Despite Chelsea’s dominance and several opportunities, including a strike against the crossbar by Estevao, they could not find a breakthrough. Richarlison’s late winner left Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso with his first defeat since taking charge. Both clubs utilized the friendly to test new acquisitions and adjust their squads ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, with players like Marco Palestra and Andy Robertson making significant appearances.
