Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2

Sunday 14 January 2024 18:30

Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, in a back-and-forth encounter at Old Trafford.

Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring with his second goal in two league games for the Reds after just three minutes, smashing home past Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Ange Postecoglou's side then hit back through Richarlison, with the Brazilian forward rising highest to nod home Pedro Porro's inswinging delivery into the area.

United retook the lead shortly before the interval, with Hojlund and Marcus Rashford combining well, before the latter carefully tucked home to restore our advantage.

The Lilywhites, however, galvanised themselves at the start of the second period and Rodrigo Bentancur smashed home the game's fourth goal, ensuring the spoils were shared.
United's players celebrate with Marcus Rashford, following his goal at the end of the first half in M16.
FIRST HALF - HOJLUND AND RASHFORD ON TARGET

United flew out of the traps and took the lead after just three minutes in M16. Rashford danced around the Spurs' defence before being dispossessed, with Hojlund picking up the ball to smash home past Vicario, grabbing his second Premier League goal of the season in the process.

Spurs almost hit back minutes later, with Brennan Johnson's cross from the right almost flicked into his own net by Jonny Evans. The pressure didn't stop there and the Reds needed Diogo Dalot to clear off the line to prevent Bentancur equalising.

Ange Postecoglou's side did level things up with 18 minutes on the clock, as Porro's corner from the left was nodded home by Richarlison, in what was transpiring to be a frantic opening period.

United could have retaken the lead 10 minutes before the break, with Hojlund picking the pocket of Porro out wide. The Dane teed up captain Bruno Fernandes inside the penalty area, but a last-ditch tackle from Cristian Romero saved the day for the visitors.

Ten Hag's men again upped the ante as the interval approached, this time Rashford's cross from the left was almost nodded into his own net by Destiny Udogie. The Italian defender thanked his lucky stars that the post stood in the way.

The Reds retook the lead just moments later and Rashford was once again instrumental, in what was a wonderfully constructed goal.

Cutting in from out wide, the England international played a neat one-two with Hojlund inside the box, before passing a low effort beyond the reach of Vicario in the Tottenham goal.

Spurs almost levelled in first-half stoppage time and now it was United's turn to show gratitude to the woodwork. Porro's corner was met by the rising Romero, but the Spurs skipper saw his header rebound off the crossbar.

Martinez returns to action as a second-half substitute.
SECOND HALF - SPURS HIT BACK

As the second half began, it was Spurs who immediately responded. Timo Werner's driving run and resulting cut-back was smashed home at the near post by Bentancur, squaring things up once more, much to the delight of the travelling supporters.

With just over half an hour left to play, a welcome sight greeted most inside Old Trafford, with Lisandro Martinez returning to the fold after a mammoth 116 days on the sidelines. Greeted with rapturous applause, it was great to see our popular no.6 back in action.

Udogie and Garnacho found themselves embroiled in something of a tangle as the game continued to teeter on a knife-edge. The Spurs defender cleverly worked his way inside the United area, before colliding with our no.17. Udogie's appeals for a subsequent penalty were quietly waved away by referee John Brooks, though.
Wan-Bissaka fires a cross in.

Postecoglou's men were on top as we headed towards the final knockings, as they enjoyed a succession of corners, but the Reds' backline stood tall to thwart Spurs' advances.

A set-piece from Bruno found its way all the way through to Garnacho as United looked to gather a final head of steam. Our tricky teenage winger attempted a repeat of the antics we saw at Everton, but couldn't quite muster the appropriate connection.

Garnacho then turned provider as we approached the end of added time, picking out Scott McTominay with a wonderful delivery.

The Scotland international rose well but could not steer his headed effort on target and that was virtually the last kick as the game ended all square for just United's second draw in 21 league games this season.

Despite our late advances, the game ended level at the Theatre of Dreams.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans (Martinez 63), Wan-Bissaka; Mainoo, Eriksen (McTominay 58); Garnacho, Fernandes (c), Rashford (Antony 88); Hojlund.

Subs not used: Bayindir, Heaton, Kambwala, Casemiro, Pellistri, Forson.

Goals: Hojlund 3, Rashford 40

Booked: Wan-Bissaka, Hojlund

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero (c), van de Ven (Royal 89), Udogie; Skipp (Dragusin 85), Hojbjerg, Bentancur; Johnson, Werner (Gil 80), Richarlison.

Subs not used: Forster, Austin, Alonso, Donley, Dorrington.

Goals: Richarlison 19, Bentancur 46

Booked: Bentancur

Recommended: