Tottenham Hotspur see unbeaten run ended by late blow from Noah Okafor

Leeds United claimed a narrow but deserved victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon. The match looked set for a 0-0 draw until substitute Noah Okafor made it 1-0 ten minutes from time, ending Roberto De Zerbi's side's strong run.

With Dutch players Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke and former Ajax player Mohammed Kudus in the starting XI, Tottenham struggled to get forward in the first half. Only Omar Marmoush and Kudus tested the Leeds goal before the break, neither with any success.

The officials had the busiest moments of the half. Mateus Fernandes appeared to handle the ball in his own penalty area, but the footage gave the video referee no definitive answer. On the stroke of half-time, Jayden Bogle kicked Mathys Tel out of the match, yet the VAR did not intervene. Bogle escaped without a card and Tel had to leave the pitch injured.

After the break, Tottenham needed a change of approach, but Leeds emerged from the dressing room with renewed energy. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ao Tanaka came closest to an opener as Leeds threatened Antonín Kinský's goal.

Sean Longstaff almost gave Leeds the lead, underlining their stronger claim to victory at Elland Road, but Kinský produced a spectacular save. The 1-0 followed shortly afterwards.

Just a minute after coming on, substitute Okafor found a ball from Harry Wilson at his feet in the penalty area. The forward did not hesitate, firing past Kinský into the left corner. Elland Road erupted and Okafor pulled off his shirt in celebration.

Okafor's goal gave Leeds their first win since 14 September. Even a last-gasp header from Van Hecke could not change that. Tottenham's run of four consecutive unbeaten matches, including two clean sheets, came to an end.