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Okafor downs Tottenham to earn Leeds first win since September
Okafor celebrates
Image caption, Noah Okafor scored in Leeds' last Premier League win in September
Keifer MacDonald

BBC Sport journalist

Substitute Noah Okafor scored the only goal of the game as Leeds United defeated Tottenham Hotspur to earn their first Premier League win since September.

Switzerland striker Okafor combined with fellow substitute Harry Wilson 11 minutes from time to smash the ball home less than two minutes after his introduction at Elland Road.

His second goal of the season was enough to earn Leeds three points for the first time in six matches, while simultaneously ending Tottenham's three-game winning streak.

Leeds, though, were arguably fortunate to still have 11 players on the pitch by the time Okafor broke the deadlock late on, following a controversial end to the first half.

Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi was left incensed by Jayden Bogle escaping punishment for a reckless challenge on Mathys Tel, with tempers flaring just after the half-hour mark.

Following a VAR check that lasted more than four minutes, referee John Brooks opted against sending off the Leeds defender, who ultimately escaped without a booking.

De Zerbi's anger was compounded when Tel was subsequently forced off injured and replaced by Dominic Solanke.

Substitute Solanke made his introduction count five minutes into the second half when he was in the right place at the right time to clear Dominic Calvert-Lewin's header off the line from a corner.

But the home side continued to push for an opener during a dominant second-half display, with Ao Tanaka and Sean Longstaff also going close before the breakthrough eventually arrived, sending the home supporters into pandemonium.

After pouncing on a loose ball inside the area and slamming it past Antonin Kinsky, Okafor secured Leeds their first win over Tottenham since May 2021 and lifted them to eighth in the table. Meanwhile, a first defeat in five matches sees Spurs drop to 10th.

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