LONDON (Interstat) — In a stunning Premier League opener that defied pregame projections, Crystal Palace delivered a commanding 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The visitors capitalized on a first-half red card to dominate proceedings, with substitutes Jørgen Strand Larsen and Ismaïla Sarr providing decisive second-half contributions.

The match began at a frantic pace. Crystal Palace defender Souza received an early yellow card in the 7th minute for a tactical foul, setting a physical tone. Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr and Palace’s Strand Larsen also saw early cautions. The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the 38th minute when Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven was shown a straight red card, reducing the hosts to 10 men for the remainder of the contest.

Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, Crystal Palace struck just before halftime. Forward Dominic Solanke found the net in the 34th minute to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. The goal was assisted by midfielder Yves Bissouma.

The second half became a showcase for Crystal Palace’s bench. In first-half stoppage time, substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen, who had entered the fray earlier, extended the lead with a goal in the 45+1 minute, assisted by defender Souza. Just six minutes later, another substitute, Ismaïla Sarr, put the result beyond doubt, scoring in the 45+7 minute to make it 3-0. Strand Larsen was credited with the assist on Sarr’s goal, completing an impactful performance off the bench.

Tottenham Hotspur managed a lone consolation goal in the second half, finding the net in the 34th minute through a effort assisted by Pape Matar Sarr. The match concluded with further cautions for Tottenham’s Bissouma and Palace substitute Nathaniel Clyne, who also recorded an assist after coming on.

The result marked a perfect start to the Premier League season for Crystal Palace, who begin the campaign with one win and no losses. For Tottenham Hotspur, it was a disappointing home defeat to open their league schedule, leaving them with a record of zero wins and one loss. The final score overturned the pregame simulation from Interstat, which had projected a 1-1 draw, and confirmed its ELO system’s prediction that favored Crystal Palace with a 58.30 percent probability to win.