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Tottenham's impressive aerial prowess under Thomas Frank brought the home side plummeting down to reality at their new ground. Tottenham handed Everton's initial loss at the new stadium thanks to a trio of headers, two from the outstanding defender, to climb to the top three in the top flight and maintain their dominant form on the road.

Dead-Ball Dominance Seals Victory

The disconnect at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is sharply different to the clinical effectiveness of the London club on their travels. Van de Ven converted a pair of set-pieces before replacement the Senegalese midfielder banished all hopes of an comeback with another near-post nod in the 89th minute. Given the glaring absence of a prolific forward in David Moyes’ squad, the chance of an fightback was always remote even with the probings of Iliman Ndiaye, James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. That makes 13 points collected from a possible 15 for Tottenham in away matches so far this campaign.

Game Highlights

The contest was shaped by set-pieces and Van de Ven’s commanding performance at each end of the field. The hosts equalled Spurs for attacking intent but had no answer to the quality of the away team's dead-ball crosses or their captain’s aerial strength. The boos that met the interval were directed firmly at the match official, however.

The winger almost started where he left off last time out at the venue by giving his team ahead from close range. The superb Ndiaye raced past the full-back to set up Beto but, after the unfortunate centre-forward missed the ball, Grealish arrived at the far post and saw a shot on target stopped on the line by Pedro Porro. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sliced the loose ball over the bar.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Xavi Simons both tested the backline as an open, flowing game allowed the respective midfields to shine. But it was a centre-back who stole the show. From a Mohammed Kudus corner swept loftedly to the back post, Bentancur guided the ball into the mixer with his shoulder for Van de Ven to nod in from point-blank range.

It was the first goal the team have conceded from a set piece this term and Spurs’ initial effort on target. They then conceded a second from a corner in added time when the visitors’ precision under Frank punished Moyes’ team again. Pedro Porro was the assister, now from the left flank with a excellent, dangerous corner that cried out for a finish. Van de Ven provided it once the curling cross flew over the centre-half and before Jordan Pickford’s hands could reach it. His first-half double must have come from a combined distance of very close range.

Controversial Decision and Late Strike

Tottenham's next goal arrived during seven minutes of stoppage time mainly for the decision to disallow a towering header by Jake O’Brien moments after Van de Ven’s opener. O'Brien believed he'd scored from another fine corner, delivered by Dewsbury-Hall, and a header that gave the keeper no chance in the Tottenham net. The home fans' joy were cut short when the VAR instructed the referee to inspect the pitch-side monitor.

The joy turned to dismay when the match official deemed that Ndiaye and Grealish were both in an offside position and interfering with Vicario. The pair were clearly in an offside position when O’Brien connected but the extent to which they interfered with the shot-stopper was highly debatable. The official's reasoning was unheard due to the jeers that overwhelmed him.

The home side responded well to the blows, especially after the restart. Beto, who failed to read an excellent delivery along the six-yard box from the attacker in the first half, almost atoned with an overhead kick from the winger's cross. The keeper produced an excellent reflex save to deny the striker. Tottenham's commitment to a clean sheet was exemplified by João Palhinha throwing himself in the way of Idrissa Gueye’s shot late on. Richarlison could have increased the visitors’ lead when a long ball caught out Tarkowski and left him through on goal, but Pickford made himself big to stop the ex-Toffee.

He was key in Tottenham's final strike, though, cushioning a nod from another accurate Porro centre back across goal for Sarr to head beyond the keeper.