Match report: Tottenham beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford

On Sunday afternoon, Tottenham Hotspur traveled to Old Trafford to face Erik Ten Hag's Manchester United for their sixth game of the 24/25 Premier League season.

Heung Min Son's injury sustained against Qarabag meant this game came too quickly for him. For the task at hand, Ange Postecoglou went with a lineup of; Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van De Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke.

Match report: Tottenham beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford

First half

Just three minutes into the game, Spurs had the lead. Van De Ven ran 50-60 yards from within his own half, getting well inside the box before having to composure to square the ball with a drilled pass towards Johnson at the far post, who could not miss for his fourth goal in four games.

After six minutes, Maddison found Solanke after a high turnover but he could not sort his feet out and Lisandro Martinez nipped in to take the ball off his toes.

A few minutes later, Maddison was player-through on goal after a fantastic one-two with Kulusevski but Onana made a good save from his chipped attempt. 

Spurs went so close again after 20 minutes. Udogie made a superb run down the left, before finding Kulusevski centrally, laying it off to Johnson who saw his shot hit the post.

Midway through the first half, Spurs finally conceded a chance as Joshua Zirkzee’s stretching effort was held by Vicario.

Just a few minutes later, a Porro cross, after the second phase of a set piece, was acrobatically struck from an angle by Romero, going just wide of the United goal.

Seven minutes before halftime, Werner ran through on goal, after Kuluevski poked a ball in behind, but his effort was saved by Onana’s outstretched legs and he was denied his first goal of the season.

Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a foul on Maddison not long before halftime, in a decision that has caused some controversy in the football community. Nevertheless, Spurs were not complaining

At half-time, Spence replaced Udogie who was labouring at times in the first half after being on the end of some physical challenges.

Second half

Just two minutes into the second period, Johnson burst down the right before finding up Kulusevski who scored a deserved goal to make it 2-0. 

After 56 minutes, for the second time in the game, Kulusevski found Werner through on goal, but for a second time he was denied by Onana, and the keeper smothered Solanke from the loose ball. 

Not long after, United began to have a spell of pressure, forcing set-piece situations. Casemiro headed wide after 63 minutes when well placed following a corner.

Midway through the second half, a Martinez ball over the top found Casemiro who drilled a shot just wide on the volley, as Spurs made things harder than they needed to be, as they tried to look to slow the game down and take the sting out of it after that.

With a quarter of an hour left, Moore, Bergvall and Sarr, replaced Johnson, Maddison, and Werner. 

Almost immediately after, a corner was flicked on by Sarr, and Solanke’s eyes lit up and he was there to bundle home from close range. His third goal in as many games and you can now truly say that he has arrived at Tottenham Hotspur.

After 81 minutes, Van De Ven was given some needed and deserved rest, as Dragusin came on to help see the game out.

As the six minutes of stoppage time went up, Solanke went through on goal having been cleverly found by Porro but was denied by a good save from Onana in the United goal.

That was that, and Spurs had come away from Old Trafford with a 3-0 victory, just like in 2018. Spurs had 5.33 xG to their hosts 0.98. Spurs have also created more xG than United at Old Trafford this season. Incredible really.

Barring a strange ten-minute spell in the second half, Spurs were incredible throughout and got a much-deserved victory that makes it four wins in a row for Ange Postecoglu's side. Ange truly outclassed Erik Ten Hag, with the mood around the place in stark contrast to how it was just two weeks ago. Let's keep this momentum going.

Wow, that was enjoyable to write up. Plenty more analysis and breakdown of this game to come soon. COYS.