Tottenham's fierce chasing instincts earned them a valuable point in their first game without 'Captain Thorn'.
Tottenham drew 2-2 with Manchester United in the 21st round of the 2023-2024 English Premier League (EPL) at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Sept. 15 (ET). Despite conceding the lead twice, once early in the first half and again in the closing stages, the Red Devils came from behind to take a point from the hosts thanks to a pair of late goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Rodrigo Bentancur. The win puts them on 40 points, level on points with fourth-place Arsenal, who have played one game less. Having watched Heung-min Son score his sixth goal in his last six league games and 'substitute' Timo Werner provide an assist on his debut, Son will be back in action a day later against Bahrain in the first Asian Cup group game of the tournament.
United failed to win their first 'gut' game under new owner Lord Ratcliffe. They picked up a point to move to 32 points and jump two places from ninth to seventh. An income if ever there was one, as the likes of Rasmus Hojelun and Marcus Rashford continued their goal streak.
Spurs boss Enzi Postecoglou has named an unchanged starting lineup with top scorer Son Heung-min and key midfielders Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma away at the Asian Cup and African Cup of Nations, respectively, while James Maddison, Dejan Kulusebski and Giovanni Rosselso have emerged. Werner, who joined on loan from Leipzig, went straight into the starting lineup, with defender Radu Dragucin dropping to the bench. Tottenham lined up Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Rodrigo Bentancur in a trio of midfielders to support the trio of Werner, Hischalisson, and Brennan Johnson. Pedro Foro, Christian Romero, Mickey Van der Penne, and Destiny Udogie are the back four. Guglielmo Vicario pulled on the goalkeeping gloves.
United lined up with Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandez, and Alejandro Garnacho up front with Rasmus Höwilun in the middle, Christian Eriksen and the supernova Kobi Mainu in the center, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, and Diogo Dalot in the back. Andre Onana was in goal. Anthony, Scott McTominay, Casemiro, and Lissandro Martinez were on the bench.
In the third minute of the first half, United struck first. Hooper scored his second league goal of the season after Udogie intercepted Rashford's dribble inside the Tottenham penalty box and recovered the ball to fire a powerful left-footed shot into the top left corner of the goal.
Tottenham fought back. In the eighth minute, Foro's mid-range shot was saved by the keeper. In the 11th minute, Johnson's cross was met with a sensational header by Werner, only to be denied by Evans' header clearance. From the ensuing corner, Bentancur's high header was blocked by Dalot.
After pounding away at the goal, Spurs finally got back on level terms in the 19th minute. A corner kick from Foro was met by a sharp header from the edge of the box. It was an incredible display of concentration from the Frenchman, who has now scored six goals in his last six games.
In the 21st minute, Werner had a golden opportunity to open the scoring as he broke down the left side of the opposition box, 카지노사이트 cut into the middle and swung his right foot. But the ball left Werner's feet and sailed high into the air.
After the opportunity came the crisis. In the 40th minute, United took the lead again. Rashford exchanged one-on-one passes with Hooper before unleashing an incisive right-footed curling shot into the corner of the net. It's a great combination.
In the 45th minute, Werner tried his luck with a left-footed shot, but this time it was off target. Romero's header from a corner in stoppage time hit the crossbar. The first half ended with Tottenham trailing by one goal.
The equalizer came at the start of the second half. Bentancur was the hero. He received a pass from Werner on the left and calmly slotted the ball home. Werner earned an offensive point on his debut.
In the sixth minute, Hischalisson shot straight at the goalkeeper, and in the 12th minute, Werner's volley flew high. The game settled into a lull. United made a change, bringing on Scott McTominay and Martinez. Tottenham also made two changes, bringing on Brian Hill for Werner in the 35th minute and Dragucin for Skip in the 40th minute. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, McTominay's decisive header sailed just over the bar and the game remained tied at 2-2.
