Strap your self in Tottenham followers. Life underneath Ange Postecoglou is just not going to be boring. If anybody was questioning what issues had been going to be like at Tottenham Hotspur AH (after Harry), then the reply is – harum scarum. There shall be loads of thrilling, attacking soccer – however boy, will there be some chewed fingernails.
It was Pape Matar Sarr who grabbed the winner final night time on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – simply 24 hours after Harry Kane had opened his account for Bayern – and it rewarded a show that noticed Spurs struggle their manner right into a sport that they had been woeful in to begin with. As for Erik ten Hag’s United, they created loads of probabilities, however missed all of them.
They merely had no Plan B when Tottenham lastly discovered their sport. Mason Mount, all £60million of him, seemed totally misplaced. Round 200 followers protested outdoors the bottom earlier than kick-off towards Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and the elevating of ticket costs, with banners proclaiming “Greed is a alternative” and chants of “I’m Tottenham ‘til I’m skint.” It was the one blot on a positive night for the membership.
Harry Maguire was disregarded of the United squad altogether – and new £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund was dominated out with a hamstring downside. They seem like they’ll want him. Ten Hag’s facet truly took cost early on, as Tottenham began nervously. First Pedro Porro misplaced the ball, and Antony flashed his shot over the bar, after which Alejandro Garnacho noticed his drive saved.
Postecoglou’s facet at instances look very open on the again, and when Antony sped into the field, Marcus Rashford stepped in to shoot, and Guglielmo Vicario needed to pull off a positive save. Spurs merely had not acquired going, and Rashford missed a golden alternative, nodding Bruno Fernandes’ cross over when unmarked. United then thought they could have had a penalty when Garnacho’s shot hit Cristian Romero’s hand, however VAR mentioned no.
Spurs although had been lastly waking up – and when Heung-Min Son poked the ball via, Sarr stole in to drive Onana right into a positive save. However Fernandes ought to have put United forward – nodding vast from six yards when fully unmarked. It was a wonderful likelihood.
Spurs then hit again as Son’s run arrange Porro, who smacked the bar along with his shot from the sting of the field. Sarr’s cross then deflected off Luke Shaw into the put up, and Lisandro Martinez lastly hacked it clear. Instantly United seemed not sure. Postecoglou’s facet had been rising into the sport – although there’s all the time that fear that they’ll drop a clanger on the again.
However three minutes after half time they had been forward. Dejan Kulusevski acquired away on the suitable. His low cross looped up off Martinez – and there was Sarr on the far put up reacting faster than anybody to ram the ball dwelling. Barely used final season, the lanky Senegalese is getting his likelihood underneath Postecoglou.
United may have been degree minutes later, when Fernandes put Antony clear, however he hit the put up with a curling shot. On the again, United had been collapsing, as Future Udogie sneaked via, and Onana needed to save along with his legs. Then Romero was introduced down by Martinez, however referee Michael Oliver waved away claims for a penalty.
And as ever although, there was room for error, as Casemiro discovered house from Fernandes’ free kick, however Vicario brilliantly tipped over his header. He pulled off one other save within the closing minute, pushing Varane’s header onto the bar. Yves Bissouma, who bossed the midfield and stored Spurs ticking in these moments after they wobbled, then dribbled via, solely to poke his shot vast.
Tottenham second purpose summed up United’s worrying decline. Substitute Ivan Perisic crossed low, Ben Davies took a swing and nearly touched the ball, and it flicked in off Martinez. Again to the drafting board, Erik.