Fulham dealt a significant blow to Tottenham Hotspur’s ambitions of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League with a resounding 3-0 victory on Saturday. Brazilian striker Rodrigo Muniz stole the show, netting a brace to inspire the Cottagers to an impressive triumph over their London rivals.

Tottenham would have leapfrogged Aston Villa into the coveted fourth spot with a win, but apart from a brief spell before halftime, they were lethargic and deservedly punished by the in-form Fulham.

Muniz broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute, and after Sasa Lukic had doubled Fulham’s lead shortly after the interval, the Brazilian struck again just past the hour mark to put the game beyond Spurs’ reach.

The victory completed a notable double for Fulham over Tottenham, having also eliminated them from the League Cup earlier in the season. It marked Fulham’s first league win against the North Londoners in their last 10 meetings.

While Tottenham remain fifth with 53 points from 28 games, Fulham climbed to 12th with 38 points from 29 matches.

“In the second half, we didn’t get to grips with the game. The intensity dropped,” lamented Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, whose side had gained momentum with a 4-0 win at Villa last week.

Fulham manager Marco Silva hailed his team’s performance, stating, “A great win for us. We were the best team on the pitch and deserved the three points against a really good side.”

The hosts started with far more urgency, creating numerous chances in a chance-packed first half, with Andreas Pereira at the heart of their attacking forays. However, Tottenham’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made several smart saves to keep the score level until Muniz’s opener.

After the break, Fulham’s intensity never waned, and they put the game beyond doubt with Lukic’s strike and Muniz’s second, capitalizing on a defensive lapse.

Tottenham’s run of scoring in 38 successive league games came to a disappointing end, and despite late chances for substitutes Richarlison and Timo Werner, they were unable to find a consolation goal.

As Fulham celebrated their ninth home win of the season, Tottenham were left to ponder a costly setback in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.