Man Utd vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Bruno Fernandes stunner
Fred and Fernandes scored in a dominant performance from the Red Devils
Manchester United produced arguably its most complete performance under Erik ten Hag by beating Tottenham 2-0 to move within a point of the Premier League’s top four on Wednesday.
Second-half goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes ensured victory in a game that saw Hugo Lloris pull off a string of fine saves to keep the score down.
United now sits one point behind fourth-place Chelsea and four off Tottenham, who have played a game more.
While victory prompted a rapturous response from the crowd — Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to steal the headlines when he walked off to the changing room before the final whistle blew.
The Portugal star was an unused substitute as United impressed without him.
Ten Hag is increasingly making his presence felt at Old Trafford, with standout wins against Liverpool and Premier League leader Arsenal already this season.
And Spurs became the latest big name to fall in front of United’s home fans, who were repeatedly out of their seats in response to some of the slickest football they’ve seen from their team under the new Dutch manager.
If not for Lloris, United would have held a sizeable lead by halftime, with the goalkeeper coming up with a host of impressive saves.
But he was finally beaten by Fred and Fernandes after the break after United’s dominance paid off.
Lloris was almost guilty of gifting United the lead after just six minutes when fumbling Antony’s long-range effort.
But he recovered to produce saves to deny Marcus Rashford, Fernandes and Luke Shaw before the break, while Antony saw another shot clip the outside of the post.
Harry Kane’s effort from a tight angle just before halftime was as close as Tottenham came to taking the lead.
Ten Hag has seen his team fail to make the most of chances in front of goal in recent weeks — most recently the goalless draw with Newcastle on Sunday.
But United was ahead at the start of the second half — even if it relied on a touch of fortune when Fred’s 47th-minute shot from outside the area was diverted past Lloris by the outstretched leg of Ben Davies.
As impressive as United’s performance was, Tottenham provided little in return.
Antonio Conte appeared helpless to coax his team into life as his players were repeatedly forced into errors and struggled to build attacks.
On one of the rare occasions Tottenham did look threatening, United punished the visitors with a rapid break to make it 2-0 after 69 minutes.
Kane had seen a close-range shot blocked by De Gea — and from there United pounced, quickly moving the ball into the Spurs penalty area.
When Fred’s effort was blocked, Fernandes was quick to send a first-time shot curling past Lloris.
Fernandes and Rashford both saw further chances blocked by Lloris as United went in search for more.
Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham
81 mins: Disallowed goal! Marcus Rashford flicks the ball over the top and plays Bruno Fernandes in behind the Spurs defence. He drives into the box, sits Hugo Lloris down then slots the ball into the net only to get flagged offside.
Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham
78 mins: Erik ten Hag makes a change and brings on Scott McTominay to replace Antony. That should give United more control in the middle of the pitch but they’ll lose some attacking momentum on the wing.
Spurs move the ball out to Perisic on the left wing and he floats a cross over to Harry Kane who chests the ball down inside the box to Son. Son checks to the right but Shaw is on hand to poke the ball off him and clear the danger.
Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham
75 mins: Save! Hugo Lloris makes his eighth save of the match after Marcus Rashford twists his way into the left side of the box and rattles an effort at goal.
Lloris drops over to his left and forces the ball wide of the far post! Another good stop from the Frenchman.
Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham
72 mins: Tottenham need to take the shackles off now and have a go at United. They’ve been passive for most of this game and with the visitors two goals in arrears they need to make something happen.
Fernandes has anothr dart from range and forces Lloris into a low stop to his right.
GOAL! Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham (Fernandes, 69’)⚽️
69 mins: Great goal from Manchester United! Harry Kane has a shot stopped by David De Gea at the other end of the pitch but he’s flagged offside.
United break on the counter-attack and the referee lets the game run on. They fly up to the Spurs penalty area and a scramble to clear the ball just knocks it to Bruno Fernandes who curls a beautiful finish into the far top corner!
Hugo Lloris has no chance to stop it.
Man Utd 1-0 Tottenham
65 mins: Casemiro is getting stuck into play in the middle of the park and shoves Perisic off the ball but the referee decides he’s done so too forcefully and Spurs win a free kick.
Still no signs of any changes but Antonio Conte must be thinking of switching things up right now.
Man Utd 1-0 Tottenham
62 mins: Manchester United are in control of this game as they have been since the start. Tottenham have been flat tonight. They’ve defended well and got an unfortunate deflection that led to the goal but offensively they’ve been lacking.
Man Utd 1-0 Tottenham
59 mins: Fred smokes a cross into the box from a long way out and picks out Rashford but the pace of the pass means that the forward can’t control his header and the ball loops into the air allowing Spurs to easily clear their lines.
Man Utd 1-0 Tottenham
56 mins: A kind bounce from an aerial ball in midfield brings it to Bruno Fernandes who threads a decent pass into the penalty area. Marcus Rashford and Eric Dier chase it down with Rashford seemingly clipped by the defender.
He goes to ground but the referee thinks there’s minimal contact and he’s right. United want a penalty but nothing comes from it.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments