Tottenham fell behind in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League after losing 3-0 away to Fulham in matchday 29.
Riding high after thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 in the previous round, Tottenham suffered a setback at Craven Cottage. In-form striker Rodrigo Muniz scored a brace, contributing to a resounding victory for the home side Fulham and preventing Ange Postecoglou's team from returning to the Top 4. This was also the first Premier League match without a goal under the Australian manager.
Forward Rodrigo Muniz (left) opens the scoring for Fulham against Tottenham at Craven Cottage, London, in the 29th round of the Premier League on March 16, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Muniz joined Fulham in the summer of 2021, when the team was still playing in the English Championship. The Brazilian striker only truly shone in the last two months, scoring seven goals in his last seven games. Against Tottenham, the 23-year-old center forward only made four passes, took three shots, scored two goals, and was awarded Man of the Match.
In the 42nd minute, left-back Antonee Robinson advanced and delivered a low cross perfectly for Muniz to strike a low, one-touch shot into the far corner, defying goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's expectations. The striker completed his brace in the 61st minute with a close-range rebound despite being kicked in the leg by defender Radu Dragusin. Muniz was injured and had to leave the field a few minutes later, to applause from the West London crowd.
Muniz cried out in pain after scoring, due to a strong tackle from Dragusin. Photo: Reuters
Sandwiched between Muniz's brace was midfielder Sasa Lukic's first goal for Fulham after 34 matches. The three goals conceded in this match also made Tottenham the team with the worst defense in the Top 6, behind even Aston Villa and Man Utd.
However, Tottenham are still six points ahead of sixth-placed Man Utd and have a superior goal difference, with both teams having played the same number of games. A fifth-place finish also promises Tottenham a return to the Champions League next season, as the Premier League is likely to have five spots when the league expands from 32 to 36 teams.
Xuan Binh
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