Everton's unbeaten run at their new home stadium was halted in contentious fashion as Tottenham Hotspur secured a 3-0 victory, with Micky van de Ven scoring twice before half-time and Pape Matar Sarr adding a late third. The win, secured despite a disputed VAR decision, lifted Spurs to third place in the Premier League table.
The encounter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium saw Everton's first defeat in six matches, with the hosts undone by a pair of set-piece goals from the visitors. Van de Ven, who has been in fine scoring form this season, opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he headed home Rodrigo Bentancur's corner, leaving Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with no chance. The Dutch defender doubled his tally in added time before the break, rising unmarked to head home Pedro Porro's delivery.
Everton thought they had pulled a goal back when Jake O'Brien powered home a header from a corner, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review. Iliman Ndiaye was adjudged to have been offside and interfering with Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, a decision that sparked debate among fans and pundits alike.
Despite the setback, Everton pushed for an equaliser in the second half, with Beto and Ndiaye both coming close. However, their efforts were in vain as Sarr headed home Richarlison's flick-on in the 89th minute to seal the three points for Tottenham.
The result saw Tottenham move up to third in the Premier League table, five points behind leaders Arsenal. Everton, meanwhile, remain in the lower half of the table, with manager Sean Dyche facing calls to address the team's defensive frailties.
Player ratings reflected the one-sided nature of the match, with Van de Ven named player of the match after his impressive display. Everton's Pickford and O'Brien were among the few bright spots for the hosts, while Tottenham's Vicario and Porro also impressed.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Everton, who had been enjoying a fine run of form at their new home. However, the result serves as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in the Premier League, where no lead is ever safe, and no victory is ever guaranteed.
The match also highlighted the ongoing controversy surrounding VAR, with many questioning the decision to disallow O'Brien's goal. The incident is just the latest in a series of contentious VAR calls that have sparked debate and division among fans and pundits alike.
As the Premier League season continues, both Everton and Tottenham will be looking to build on this result and push for a top-four finish. With a number of key fixtures coming up, both teams will be eager to put this match behind them and focus on the challenges ahead.
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