Okafor celebrates Getty Images

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.

Leeds head into international break with renewed confidence

Daniel Farke post-match interview - Leeds v Spurs

You only had to look at the celebrations inside Elland Road to understand how important this victory was for Leeds.

Okafor's strike takes Leeds into the top half of the table and will help relieve some of the pressure after a peculiar start to the season as they head into the international break.

The Yorkshire outfit had yet to fully appease their supporters so far this term, despite losing just two of their first nine Premier League games.

Their struggles in the final third meant they had won just two matches, with their last victory coming against Newcastle in September, before the visit of a resurgent Tottenham side.

It will not just be the three points that ease any reservations Leeds supporters may have had about their side during the opening months of the campaign, but also the manner in which they completely dominated and outclassed the north Londoners for much of the second half.

In truth, it was a scoreline that flattered Tottenham, with several Leeds players going close as they registered 13 shots during a commanding second-half display.

It is a result that will have the Whites heading into the international break with a spring in their step, while their supporters will already be counting down the days until their team is back in action.

Toothless Spurs showing will worry De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi post-match interview - Leeds v Spurs

It could have been a very different outcome for Spurs had the officiating gone their way in the first half.

Referee Brooks' decision not to send off Bogle was one that could have handed Tottenham a significant advantage.

Instead, De Zerbi's side, who lost Tel to injury as a result of the challenge, were left on the back foot and seemingly unable to recover.

Of course, there was more to Spurs' first defeat in four games than a single decision during a 90-minute match. However, it was a decision that appeared to rile De Zerbi and his players, with the visitors subsequently losing control of the game.

What will concern the Italian more is the fact that his side failed to create any chances of note during a toothless second-half performance, while Leeds looked capable of scoring almost every time they surged forward.

After three consecutive Premier League wins, De Zerbi will certainly be disappointed with how easily his side fell to defeat.

Player of the match

N. Okafor
8.11
19 N. Okafor
8.11
1 J. Trafford
7.76
5 T. Muharemović
7.75
4 E. Ampadu
7.42
22 A. Tanaka
7.34
30 N. Elvedi
7.31
26 M. Bard
7.30
9 D. Calvert-Lewin
7.25
10 H. Wilson
7.16
24 J. Justin
7.11
8 S. Longstaff
7.09
3 G. Gudmundsson
6.95
2 J. Bogle
6.70
6 J. Rodon
6.66
14 L. Nmecha
6.63
44 I. Gruev
6.44
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