Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 0 Manchester United Premier League Match Review

Ange Postecoglou’s first win in charge sees Spurs get the better of one of their rivals in the race for European Football.

Spurs met Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday in what was Head Coach Ange Postecoglou’s first home Premier League game in charge. Following a draw in their first game, the Lilywhites and Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils had the opportunity to jump into the top six of the table.

Both clubs had come into this match unbeaten. On the opening day, Spurs drew 2 – 2 away from home against Brentford at the GTech Community Stadium. Argentine defender Cristian Romero gave THFC the lead with a powerful header following a well-taken free-kick by summer signing James Maddison (11’).

Bryan Mbeumo equalised from the spot (27’) before Yoane Wissa completed the turnaround for the Bees (36’). In an enthralling first half, Brazilian right-back Emerson Royal made it 2 – 2, restoring parity with a venomous, low strike from outside the penalty area in first-half stoppage time (45+4’).

As for the Red Devils, they began their season with a 1 – 0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford. The game’s only goal came through French defender Raphaël Varane, who managed to beat Wolves ‘keeper José Sá with a powerful close-range header late on in the second half (76’).

So, coming into this game, both sides wanted to remain unbeaten and boost their own chances of European football whilst delivering an early season blow to their rivals. Spurs managed to do just that, beating Manchester United 2 – 0 in an enthralling and highly competitive encounter in North London.

After some early chances came the way of the visitors, Tottenham had their first opportunity to score the opening goal through Pape Matar Sarr, but the Senegalese midfielder could not find the target with a close-range header (16’).

Marcus Rashford then had two chances in quick succession. After twenty minutes had elapsed, the forward’s initial effort on goal was well blocked by the Lilywhites defenders (21’) before a second shot missed the target a couple of minutes later (23’).

Dejan Kulusevski, who made his temporary move to the club from Juventus permanent this summer, had the next significant opportunity for Spurs with almost half an hour gone. The Sweden international managed to force a great save from United ‘keeper André Onana from close range (25’).

It was an end-to-end half, and the action certainly did not end there. Midfielder Sarr had an even better chance to open the scoring with half an hour having elapsed when his shot was well saved by Onana after he received a pinpoint through ball from Son Heung-Min. He then had a second effort blocked well by the United defence (30’).

Antony and Bruno Fernandes had chances to put the visitors ahead before half-time, but neither of them could find the back of Guglielmo Vicario’s net (32’, 36’).

Dejan Kulusevski and Cristian Romero had efforts on goal of their own just before the break, but they too were unable to break the deadlock. It was 0 – 0 at half time, but the opportunity was certainly there for Spurs to take all three points (44’, 45’).

Once the second half had got underway, it did not take long for the breakthrough to come. Pape Matar Sarr, who had chances earlier on in the game, finally found the back of the net after beating Onana with a close-range effort with the half not even five minutes old (49’).

With the deadlock broken, Tottenham grew in confidence, and Postecoglou’s side were in the driving seat and on target for the victory. Destiny Udogie almost made it 2 – 0 moments later with a fantastic effort on goal that forced a great save from Onana (52’).

Spurs were on top and in the ascendency now, and new signing James Maddison was the next Lilywhites player to have a chance to double his side’s advantage. The former Leicester City midfielder had a shot on goal that looked destined for the bottom left corner, only for Onana to come to the Red Devils’ rescue again (53’).

Postecoglou’s side had control, and this continued going into the dying embers of the match. Sarr’s header missed the target (74’) before Casemiro and Ben Davies were unable to score for Manchester United and Tottenham respectively (80’, 83’).

A few seconds later, the game was out of reach for United when Spurs doubled their advantage when the Red Devils defender found the back of his own net to double the home side’s advantage. This secured the victory and all three points for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur side (83’).

The full-time whistle went with Tottenham’s unbeaten streak intact and a big first win for Ange Postecoglou in charge of Spurs against a rival for European Football.

THFC were dominant in possession with 55.7% of the ball compared to the away side’s 44.3%. They both had 6 shots on target, but Spurs were the more clinical team on the day.

After the match, Spurs Head Coach Ange Postecoglou said (via Sky Sports): “The atmosphere was incredible. The supporters were outstanding. The energy they created from the first whistle was brilliant. In the first half, we looked a bit nervous, a bit edgy for the first half hour or so and fortunate to be in the game. We were giving the ball away cheaply. But it’s not surprising, it was a real young team we’re putting out there. But there were encouraging signs at end of first half. We settled them down at half-time. They came out with great energy, scored the goal and didn’t stop from there.

“There were elements in the second half where we showed the kind of team we want to be. But six weeks into my tenure (these first two games) weren’t going to be complete performances but you want sprouts of growth of the team we want to be and there was that and resilience too.”

Tottenham travel to the South Coast to face Bournemouth this weekend before playing London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage in the Carabao Cup the following Tuesday.

The next home Premier League match for Spurs is on 16th September when newly promoted Sheffield United make the trip to North London to face Ange Postecoglou’s Lilywhites at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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