Premier League Roundup: Manchester United bottle a 2-0 lead against Spurs
In a thrilling Premier League game on Thursday, Tottenham Hotspur overcame a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Manchester United, who with the gained point consolidated their position in fourth place. With two games in hand and a six-point advantage over fifth-place Spurs, the draw made Tottenham’s chances of making the Champions League for the following season more difficult.
Jadon Sancho’s low shot from the left gave Manchester United the lead after just seven minutes due to their strong start to the game. When Ivan Perisic cleared the ball off the line from the forward’s deflected effort, United’s lead was almost doubled. Marcus Rashford increased United’s advantage just before halftime when he sprinted onto a long ball from Bruno Fernandes, outran Eric Dier, and shot past Fraser Forster.
Tottenham responded in the second half when fullback Pedro Porro skillfully hooked a shot past David De Gea following a blocked shot from Harry Kane. Bruno Fernandes had a chance to give United a two-goal advantage once again, but his effort clanked off the crossbar. Dier missed a good opportunity to draw the game as he headed wide from close range as Tottenham continued to create more chances.
Son Heung-min’s goal off of a pass from Kane in the 79th minute earned Spurs the point for the home club, who were applauded by their supporters for their valiant comeback.
Following the game, Erik ten Hag delivered his verdict on the results: “Of course when you are 2-0 up then you are a little bit disappointed when you draw.”
“We had the chances after 2-1 to score … and we didn’t and we conceded the goal. I think in this week 2-2 is a good draw.”
“Of course (that was frustrating), but don’t blame it on one player,” added Ten Hag. “We weren’t clinical enough and I think we had to score more. The goals we conceded were too easy and we could have avoided them.”
Ryan Mason, on the other hand, was pleased that things did not go bad for Spurs although they hoped for a win.
“(I’m) Pleased with the reaction and in the second half we were outstanding and the character we showed after last Sunday and going two goals down (tonight),” said Ryan Mason after his first game in charge in his second spell as interim boss.
“I hope the fans can see that we were a team today and we ran for each other. In the second half we could have scored a lot more.”
The draw still leaves Manchester United in fourth place with 60 points, six points ahead of their opponents, Spurs. However, the Red Devils have two games in hand, and a victory in those games could send them up to third.
Manchester United will play high-flying Aston Villa on Sunday at home; a game that they need to win if they want Champions League football next season. Spurs will face a much tougher opponent, Liverpool, also on Sunday at Anfield. A win for Liverpool could bring them to fifth while a win for Tottenham will keep their hopes for Champions League football alive.
