Remembering all six of Tanguy Ndombele’s Spurs goals

When Tanguy Ndombele hits the back of the net, you tend to remember it!

From his debut strike against Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the opening day of the 2019/20 season to Sunday’s audacious effort against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, the talented young Frenchman has produced some stunning moments in front of goal for us so far, in spite of a challenging first season in our colours.

Here’s a look back at the six goals Tanguy has netted for us to date...

1. Debut delight against Villa

What a start it was for Tanguy following his high-profile transfer from Lyon in the summer of 2019.

Thrust straight in to start on the opening day of the season at home to Aston Villa on 10 August, the midfielder scored a stunning debut equaliser as we produced a magnificent second-half comeback to see off the Premier League new boys 3-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

John McGinn had given Villa a ninth-minute lead, but the pressure was building from us throughout the second period and it finally paid off in the 73rd minute.

Tom Heaton made a superb save from Davinson Sanchez’s close-range flick but we recycled the ball through Harry Kane and Lucas Moura, the latter touching it back for Tanguy who curled an exquisite right-foot shot past the Villa keeper from 25 yards out, sending the stadium into delight. It changed the mood of the game and gave us fresh impetus as we went on to win thanks to a late brace from Harry. Tanguy was substituted to a tremendous ovation in added time, replaced by Oliver Skipp.

“To play in this amazing stadium with some great players and to have the opportunity to score my first goal, everything was perfect and we won the game. I couldn't ask for more than that,” beamed Tanguy afterwards.

2. Opener against the Saints

We didn’t have to wait long for Tanguy’s second Spurs goal and again, it was key to us getting a result.

Taking on Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28 September, 2019, the midfielder fired us ahead on 24 minutes.

Christian Eriksen's cross was cleared to Heung-Min Son, he picked out Tanguy and his sweet strike with his left foot from 16 yards flew past Angus Gunn.

Serge Aurier was subsequently sent off but despite Danny Ings levelling it up for the Saints, Harry completed a 2-1 victory two minutes before the break.

Tanguy was withdrawn in the 78th minute, with Eric Dier coming on in his place as we held onto our advantage.

3. Key goal in Bulgaria

Tanguy’s late effort against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Bulgaria was probably the scruffiest of his goals for us to date, but some might argue it was the most important, as not only did it secure our progress in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League, but it could also be identified as the point at which the midfielder’s fortunes began to turn.

Played in the opening midweek of the current season on 17 September, 2020, the knockout tie in the second qualifying round wasn’t going to plan as Georgi Minchev’s 72nd-minute header had given Plovdiv an unlikely lead.

Having struggled for form and game time in the latter parts of last season, Tanguy had come on for fellow countryman Moussa Sissoko just past the hour mark.

And he was at the centre of some late drama as we edged through with a 2-1 win. The Bulgarian side had two players sent off in quick succession, Harry levelled from the spot before Tanguy popped up with the winner five minutes from time. Lucas received the ball out on the right and delivered a low cross which Tanguy met from six yards and the ball crawled across the line into the net, with goalkeeper Martin Lukov wrong-footed.

“When they scored, of course it was a risky situation,” said Head Coach Jose Mourinho. “We took our risks by taking Davinson off and playing with only one defender, one against one, but at that moment I believed the players had the quality and intensity and then with Lucas, (Erik) Lamela, Tanguy, we had fresh players coming from the bench to try to change it.”

4. Dreamland at the Theatre of Dreams

Tanguy’s first league goal of the season set us on our way to a remarkable 6-1 win at Manchester United on 4 October, 2020.

Back in the starting line-up after a rollercoaster start to the campaign, the midfielder equalised just two minutes after Bruno Fernandes’ second-minute penalty for United and that almost immediate response proved vital as we went on to rack up an incredible victory.

Erik pressured Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire inside the area and Tanguy was on hand to lash the loose ball into the net. Son and Harry later bagged two each, with Serge Aurier joining them on the scoresheet in a game that saw Anthony Martial red-carded for United.

Tanguy made way for Dele with just over 20 minutes remaining at Old Trafford, although he’s been virtually ever-present in our starting line-up in the Premier League since that memorable match.

5. Lightning-fast start at Molineux

It was another early goal from the majestic French international as we went to Wolves the day after Boxing Day for another Premier League test.

This time, it took just 57 seconds for Tanguy to provide the opening goal. Son had seen a close-range effort blocked for a corner by Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio and the South Korean star’s resulting set-piece had gone past everyone in the area, but Ben Davies collected the ball at the far post and laid it back to Tanguy who drilled home a low right-footed shot from 22 yards.

That looked to have been enough to give us the victory at Molineux, until Romain Saiss popped up with a header from a corner four minutes from time to level the scores at 1-1, snatching a point for the hosts and leaving us deflated on our way back down to London.

Tanguy had been substituted by the time the goal went in, Moussa coming on in his place with 20 minutes to go.

6. Brilliance at Bramall Lane

And so to Tanguy’s wonder goal on Sunday...

Coincidentally, both of the 24-year-old’s most recent strikes have come in our stylish green away kit, which was only seen in the first team for the first time in a Carabao Cup tie at Stoke City just before Christmas.

This time it was another team in red and white stripes in opposition, as we went to Sheffield United looking to shake off the disappointment of a midweek home draw with Fulham.

And that we did, Serge and Harry giving us a 2-0 lead at the break. David McGoldrick pulled one back for the battling Blades just before the hour mark but three minutes later, Tanguy restored our two-goal lead and killed the game off with a real moment of magic.

Steven Bergwijn clipped a ball over the home side’s defence for Tanguy who, despite being under pressure from two Sheffield United players and moving away from goal, managed to lob right-footed over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and in off the far post, a sublime finish.

The match also marked Tanguy’s first 90 minutes in the Premier League this season and prompted Jose to declare: “Tanguy was really amazing in every aspect of his game.”