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 0-0 Tottenham
33 mins: Son Heung-min curls an effort into the box in what could be described as a half shot half cross but it goes wide of the target without causing too much trouble.
A header from midfield then breaks for Fernandes at the opposite end of the pitch but he’s shrugged off the ball by Eric Dier and the shot at goal is hooked well wide.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
30 mins: Close! Manchester United look very dangerous when they move the ball quickly. Antony and Dalot bring the ball down the right side before sending it across to Casemiro.
He links up with Sancho and Shaw before getting the ball back and smoking a good shot inches wide of the left-hand post.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
27 mins: Save! Hugo Lloris is earning his cheddar tonight. Diogo Dalot floats a cross over to the left side of the box where Luke Shaw catches the dropping ball on the volley and smokes a fine effort at goal that Lloris pushes over the crossbar.
Fernandes then picks out Fred with the corner but his attempt at a volley is knocked into the ground and gets kicked out of play.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
24 mins: Save! Bruno Fernandes is the man to take the set piece and he whips a fine effort over the wall and forces another stop out of Lloris.
Fernandes then plays the resultant corner short to Marcus Rashford. He shifts to the right and sees an effort deflected behind for another corner.
Manchester United are knocking on the door here.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
21 mins: Save! Antony gives the ball to Fred who threads a great pass through the lines to play Marcus Rashford in behind the Tottenham defence. He takes a shot and goes across goal but Hugo Lloris leaps to his right and palms the effort wide of the post and out for a corner.
The corner ball is headed away as far as Fred who then gets clattered and United win a free kick about 25-yards out from goal.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
18 mins: Man Utd work the ball nicely around the penalty area but there’s no way into the box for Antony and the home side have to switch the ball out to the opposite wing.
Jadon Sancho has a run at Matt Doherty before pulling the ball back towards Bruno Fernandes. Spurs clear it as far as Luke Shaw but his cross back into the middle comes to Ivan Perisic who chests it down safely to Hugo Lloris.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
15 mins: Ouch. Harry Kane switches the ball over to Matt Doherty on the right wing and the defender whips a cross into the box that Luke Shaw blocks with his face.
The ball flies out for a throw in and Shaw goes down for a breather.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
12 mins: Close! Man Utd work the ball across the pitch to Antony who shifts inside from the right wing with the ball.
Tottenham drop away from him and that gives the winger enough room to curl an effort over to the far post where the ball hits the upright and bounces wide.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
9 mins: A quick move from Man Utd sees them transition the ball beautifully up the pitch with Bruno Fernandes jumping over a pass to leave the ball for Fred. He tries to play a pass through the lines for Marcus Rashford but Cristian Romero intercepts and clears the ball to Antony.
Antony shoots from range and Hugo Lloris spills the ball behind for a corner. The corner is whipped over to Fred who takes a shot from outside the box and forces a sharp save from Lloris who tips the ball over the crossbar.
Man Utd 0-0 Tottenham
6 mins: Man Utd feed to the ball over to Antony who cuts inside and drills an effort from outside the box but sees his shot blocked.
The home side recover the ball and Fred sends it across to Diogo Dalot who rolls the ball onto his left-foot and skews it well wide of the target.
At the other end of the pitch Bentancur is fed into the right side of the box and he smokes a decent shot across the box. David De Gea is beaten but the ball flies wide of the back post.
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