João Palhinha opened his Tottenham account in dramatic fashion on Saturday, scoring against Manchester City in the second game of the Premier League season. The Portuguese midfielder seized on a colossal error by James Trafford, City’s new goalkeeper who arrived from Burnley for more than €30 million this summer, to notch his first goal for Spurs.
Palhinha celebrated with gusto as Trafford, back at the club where he developed, appeared stunned by the opportunity. The moment underscored Pep Guardiola’s decision to move Ederson to the bench, at least for the time being, as City trialed a different setup in goal.
A video of the moment circulated quickly, capturing Palhinha’s joy and Trafford’s disbelief. The incident adds a notable storyline early in the campaign: Tottenham profiting from a nervy debut for City’s new shot-stopper while Palhinha confirms his adaptation to life in north London.
In a hopeful note for Spurs, Palhinha’s early goal could be the spark that helps the team build momentum as the season unfolds, signaling a promising start to his spell in London and a potentially tougher challenge for City as they regroup after the setback.
Summary: Palhinha’s first goal for Tottenham came against Manchester City, capitalizing on a major error by City’s new keeper James Trafford, with Guardiola notably keeping Ederson on the bench. The moment injects optimism for Tottenham early in the season and offers City something to address moving forward.