Burnley 2-2 Tottenham Player Ratings: Romero's Late Header Secures A Point for The Spurs

Turf Moor witnessed a breathless Premier League game as Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur played out a thrilling draw.

The match began at a fast pace, with Spurs looking the sharper side early on. Their positive start was rewarded when Micky van de Ven found the net, giving the visitors a deserved lead. Tottenham appeared in control, but a moment of poor defending just before half-time allowed Burnley back into the game.

Axel Tuanzebe’s goal brought the home fans to life and changed the mood inside the stadium. Burnley carried that momentum into the second half. They pressed harder, won their duels, and began to believe they could take something from the game. That belief turned true when substitute Lyle Foster scored, putting Burnley ahead and edging them closer to a memorable home win.

What followed was a tense and physical contest. Spurs threw players forward, while Burnley dug deep to protect their lead. The home side’s goalkeeper produced several important saves, and it seemed like their effort would be enough.

But football can be cruel. In the dying moments, Cristian Romero rose above everyone to head in a late equaliser for Tottenham. The Spurs players celebrated, while Burnley were left devastated, knowing how close they had been to victory.

When the final whistle blew, the draw felt fair, even if it did not feel that way to the players. Tottenham showed attacking quality but lacked composure in front of goal. Burnley showed heart, fight, and discipline, but could not hold on until the end.

Key Takeaways

1. Micky van de Ven gave Tottenham the lead with an early goal after a strong start.
2. Lyle Foster came off the bench to score and put Burnley ahead in the second half.
3. Cristian Romero scored a late header to rescue a point for Spurs at the death.

Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings vs Burnley

Check out Tottenham Hotspur player ratings from the Premier League fixture:

Goalkeeper

Guglielmo Vicario - 6.0: A difficult one to rate. Conceded two goals where he wasn't really at fault for either. He made a key save just moments before Burnley's second, but ultimately, he couldn't keep them out. His distribution was decent enough, but it was a day where he was left exposed by his defence on a couple of crucial occasions. We didn't see anything special, but he didn't make any glaring errors either.

Defenders

Kevin Danso - 7.0: A really solid outing from Danso before he was surprisingly subbed off. He was a beast in the air, winning 7 of his 8 aerial duels. He read the game well and was comfortable on the ball, boasting a high pass completion rate. From our view, he seemed to have the attackers in his pocket for most of his time on the pitch. His substitution felt like a tactical gamble to chase the game.

Cristian Romero - 8.0: A true captain's performance. When his team needed him most, he was there to power home the equalizing header. Beyond the crucial goal, he was a warrior at the back, throwing himself into tackles and winning almost everything. He was aggressive, dominant, and led by example. Without his late intervention, Spurs would have left with nothing. An easy pick for our highest-rated player.

Micky van de Ven - 7.5: Scored the opener with a composed finish you'd expect from a striker. He was a rock defensively for most of the game, using his pace to snuff out danger. He won all of his tackles and looked unflappable for large periods. A goal and a strong defensive showing make for a very good day's work. He and Romero were the standout performers.

Midfielders

Yves Bissouma - 6.5: A typical Bissouma performance. He was tidy in possession and broke up play effectively with 3 interceptions and 4 tackles. What stood out to us was how he kept the midfield ticking over without ever really dominating it. He did his job quietly and efficiently before being substituted as Spurs chased an equalizer. A solid, if unspectacular, shift.

Conor Gallagher - 6.0: The man runs and runs, but the end product was missing today. He missed a big chance in the first half that he really should have buried. His energy is infectious, recovering the ball 9 times, but he couldn't provide that killer pass or goal. It was a frustrating performance to watch; all effort but little reward before he was taken off.

Pedro Porro - 5.5: A very ineffective first half from the Spaniard. He had a few wild shots from distance and just looked a bit off the pace. Defensively, he was caught out a couple of times and it was no surprise to see him hooked at halftime. We expected much more from him, and it felt like the game was passing him by.

Djed Spence - 7.5: He was a constant threat down the flank. He was direct, running at his man, and put in some dangerous crosses. Spence had five successful dribbles and created a couple of decent chances for his teammates. It felt like every time Spurs looked dangerous, he was involved somehow. A very positive and energetic performance that deserved more.

Forwards

Xavi Simons - 6.5: So much talent, but so much frustration. He was a creative spark, creating three chances and was desperately unlucky to see his late shot crash off the crossbar. However, he also lost the ball far too often in dangerous areas. What stood out was his ability to make things happen out of nothing, but he just lacked that final bit of polish. A mixed bag.

Wilson Odobert - 7.5: He was probably Spurs' most consistent attacking threat throughout the 90 minutes. He got the assist for the equalizer and had three shots on target himself, constantly testing the keeper. Odobert looked sharp, tricky, and full of confidence. A very encouraging performance from the young forward who never stopped trying to make an impact.

Dominic Solanke - 5.0: A really tough afternoon for the striker. He was isolated for long periods and lost the physical battle against Burnley's centre-backs, winning just 4 of his 14 duels. He missed a big chance and just couldn't get into the game at all. From our perspective, he looked off the pace and was a passenger for much of the match.

Substitutes

Destiny Udogie - 6.5: Came on at half-time and offered more stability than Porro. Looked solid enough without being spectacular.

Mathys Tel - 6.0: Looked lively and forced a brilliant save from the keeper. Might have made a difference if he'd come on sooner.

Archie Gray - N/A: Not enough time to make a meaningful impact.

Dane Scarlett - N/A: Came on late with little time to influence the game.

Radu Dragusin - N/A: A late cameo to see out the draw.

Manager

T. Frank - 6.5: His team showed great character to fight back for the draw. However, they looked defensively frail and dropped points against a team in the relegation zone. The attacking changes eventually paid off, but you have to question why they were in that position in the first place. A point rescued, but it feels like two lost.

Burnley Player Ratings vs Tottenham Hotspur

Here are Burnley player ratings from the EPL fixture:

Goalkeeper

Martin Dúbravka - 8.5: What a performance. He was absolutely outstanding. The Slovakian made a staggering 9 saves, many of them from point-blank range, to keep his team in the match. Without him, Burnley would have been dead and buried by halftime. He was a colossal presence in goal and can feel very hard done by to have conceded two. An incredible, heroic display.

Defenders

Maxime Estève - 8.0: A defensive masterclass. The man was a brick wall, winning 9 out of his 10 duels. He was strong in the tackle, dominant in his area, and made crucial clearances. He gave Solanke absolutely nothing all game. From our perspective, it was a near-perfect defensive performance that deserved a clean sheet. He was immense.

Axel Tuanzebe - 7.5: Not only was he solid at the back, but he also popped up with a vital goal to get Burnley back in the game. He read the play well, made some important clearances, and showed great composure for his finish. It was a fantastic all-around display from the centre-back, contributing massively at both ends of the pitch.

Bashir Humphreys - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance alongside the brilliant Estève. He did his job without any fuss, making a couple of tackles and interceptions. He wasn't tested as much as his partners but held his position well and didn't make any mistakes. A solid part of a resilient backline.

Midfielders

Kyle Walker - 8.0: The captain led by example. He provided a brilliant assist for the first goal and created another huge chance. His delivery from wide areas was a constant threat. Defensively, he was diligent, and his experience was vital in organizing the team. It was a superb performance, showing his quality and leadership throughout.

Lesley Ugochukwu - 7.0: A real battler in the heart of midfield. He did the dirty work that allowed others to play, breaking up attacks and putting himself about. He won a good number of his duels and kept his passing simple and effective. It wasn't a flashy performance, but it was an incredibly important one for the team's structure.

Florentino - 6.5: Was having a really effective game before he was forced off with an injury. He made 3 interceptions in his time on the pitch and was a disruptive force in midfield. He was breaking up Spurs' rhythm well. It was a real shame to see him substituted, as he was playing a key role.

Lucas Pires - 7.0: A bundle of energy on the flank. What stood out to us was his defensive work rate; he won all five of his attempted tackles. He was a thorn in the side of Spurs' attackers and worked tirelessly for the team. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but his defensive contribution was immense.

Forwards

Marcus Edwards - 6.0: A frustrating day for the former Spurs man. He showed flashes of his quality, creating a couple of chances, but he was also very wasteful in possession. He was dispossessed four times and struggled to make a consistent impact. We noticed he was trying to make things happen, but it just didn't come off for him.

Jaidon Anthony - 7.0: Burnley's most creative spark in the starting eleven. He created two big chances and was always looking to be positive on the ball. His direct running caused problems, and he was unlucky not to get a goal or an assist for his efforts. He was a livewire who carried a lot of Burnley's attacking threat.

Armando Broja - 4.5: A really poor performance. He was completely anonymous. He lost almost every single aerial duel, missed a big chance, and offered no real threat before being substituted. It was a performance to forget for the striker, who looked completely outmatched by the Spurs defence. A very disappointing display.

Substitutes

Lyle Foster - 7.5: What an impact. Came on and scored what looked to be the winner with a great finish. Changed the game completely and gave Burnley a focal point they were sorely lacking.

Josh Laurent - 6.0: Came on and added some steel to the midfield, picking up a yellow card for his troubles. Did the job he was asked to do.

Hannibal Mejbri - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

S. Parker - 7.5: His game plan almost worked to perfection. He set his team up to be solid and hit Spurs on the counter, and they were desperately unlucky not to win. His substitution to bring on Lyle Foster was a masterstroke that changed the game. He'll be devastated by the late equalizer, but he can be proud of his team's fight and organization.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Martin Dúbravka of Burnley.

Worst Performer

Armando Broja failed to perform up to the mark in the Burnley vs Tottenham fixture.