Richarlison capped off a turbulent week with a heroic cameo as Tottenham Hotspur left it incredibly late to beat Sheffield United 2-1 and prolong their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
A second-half Gustavo Hamer strike would seemingly gift the visitors all three points against the run of play, but Richarlison – who recently admitted to seeking psychological help – levelled in the eighth minute of added time before setting up Dejan Kulusevski’s dramatic winner.
Most of the battles were being fought in midfield during a tense opening to proceedings, although midfield duo Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr were both denied by Wes Foderingham as the hosts began to turn the screw.
The Blades number one then got down low to tip a Son Heung-min curler behind in the 21st minute, only a couple of moments before the foot of Guglielmo Vicario denied returning Blade James McAtee, although the offside flag would have spared Spurs’ blushes either way.
However, it was Vicario’s opposite number Foderingham who was hogging the limelight early doors, and the 32-year-old made his fifth save with just 27 minutes on the clock, holding onto Manor Solomon’s low drive at the second attempt.
The beleaguered Foderingham appeared to tweak his hamstring after that Solomon attempt, but the shot-stopper was fine to carry on and saw a 40th-minute James Maddison attempt flash just wide as the visitors got to half time on level terms, although it could have got better for Paul Heckingbottom’s men had Oli McBurnie not headed straight into the arms of Vicario.
Maddison also had a strong penalty shout waved away in the first 45, and Postecoglou’s side unsurprisingly remained in the ascendancy at the start of the second half, but thanks to a combination of staunch rearguard action and a hint of gamesmanship, the visitors were holding out.
Yellow cards were being brandished left, right and centre by Peter Bankes as Spurs’ frustrations grew, but Foderingham was tested significantly less in the second period, and Ange Postecoglou’s men were made to pay for their wastefulness.
With 73 minutes on the clock, Spurs could only clear a Sheffield United corner for a long throw, which sailed through to Hamer at the back stick, and the former Coventry City man slightly scuffed his shot but nevertheless witnessed his attempt trickle in off the post.
Postecoglou called upon the attacking cavalry as his side desperately searched for a leveller, and debutant Brennan Johnson had the ball in the back of the net with 87 minutes gone, but the Welshman had just gone slightly too early.
Tottenham were granted 12 minutes of additional time to try to spark a miraculous turnaround, and they were on their way to redemption in the eighth, as substitute Richarlison met Ivan Perisic’s corner to head home the equaliser.
There was no hint of celebration from Postecoglou’s players as they began their quest for a winner, which they astonishingly completed with 100 minutes gone, as Richarlison went from goalscorer to provider to tee up Kulusevski’s fine strike into the roof of the net.
Foderingham – whose time-wasting contributed to the three-figure time on the clock – was left rooted to the spot as Kulusevski sent the home crowd into pandemonium, seeing Spurs amass 13 points from their opening five games of a season for the first time since 1965.
Tottenham now have a full week to recover for next weekend’s North London derby away to Arsenal, while the Blades – who remain winless this term – host Newcastle United in eight days’ time
