De Ligt Snatches Last-gasp Draw For Manchester United In Chaotic Finale At Spurs

How to make consciousness of a lucifer that, truthful debased connected value for nan majority, swung successful each conceivable guidance successful its last 15 minutes? Tottenham were connected nan brink of a perchance transformative triumph for Thomas Frank erstwhile Mathys Tel, who had only been connected nan transportation for 5 minutes, equalised retired of obscurity earlier Richarlison glanced successful an evident clincher early successful added time.

It would person been their first convention triumph astatine location since nan opening time but past Matthijs de Ligt, getting connected nan extremity of a heavy area pinch virtually nan last action, extended Manchester United’s tally of encouraging form. Head scratching was nan only response; from Frank’s constituent of position astatine slightest Bryan Mbeumo, his erstwhile complaint astatine Brentford, had not decided matters pinch his first-half header.

In nan opening half hr this could person been a gathering of past season’s nervous, scratchy sides. There was no Europa League astatine stake this clip and surely obscurity to hide for Senne Lammens when, wrong a minute, he fto De Ligt’s short, backward-aimed free-kick descent nether his footwear for a corner. The set-piece was duly overhit and nan scruffy, correction strewn proceedings that followed were wholly of a piece.

When Xavi Simons, starting successful an outwardly much attack-minded Spurs lineup than had laboured miserably against Chelsea, burst wrong from nan near he spoiled each nan bully activity by falling over. Brennan Johnson, sent disconnected against Copenhagen successful midweek but possibly deployed present pinch his Bilbao heroics successful mind, past threatened connected nan other broadside but ran nan shot out. Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison had been selected successful onslaught but immoderate added intent was seldom matched by cohesion.

Mathys Tel drills location an equaliser for Spurs successful nan 2nd half. Photograph: Martin Dalton/Shutterstock

Nonetheless Johnson chipped complete an enticing transverse successful nan 16th infinitesimal and, successful beforehand of goal, Richarlison should person done amended than brushwood nan shot good wide disconnected his shoulder. Pape Matar Sarr blasted wildly disconnected target soon afterwards and United, possibly spooked by Frank’s boldness astatine nan outset, began to presume wide control.

Matheus Cunha danced through, via a ricochet disconnected Cristian Romero, but his changeable deflected wide. The opener had not precisely been signposted but Mbeumo, whose early efforts had amounted to unsuccessful stabs astatine staying onside, was objective erstwhile his chance came. Tottenham were closed down successful their ain box, doubly fluffing opportunities to simply get rid, and yet recovered themselves retired of style erstwhile Amad Diallo weighted a transportation from nan right. It perfectly located Mbeumo, not a noted aerial threat and wholly unattended, for a precise header past a rooted Guglielmo Vicario.

“Champions of Europe we cognize what we are,” nan location choirs had sung earlier. But now nan grumbling resumed and nan thought occurred that nobody, astatine this point, really knows really today’s loop of Spurs would identify. Johnson, a conundrum of his own, drew sighs erstwhile his adjacent transverse drifted heavy down Lammens’ goal. Pedro Porro caused akin exasperation earlier nan interval and Spurs, concerningly for a recalibrated lineup, looked to beryllium moving retired of ideas already.

Bryan Mbeumo heads successful nan opener for Manchester United astatine Tottenham. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Frank looked to put that correct by introducing Wilson Odobert for nan under-involved Kolo Muani astatine half-time. But United showed first connected nan resumption erstwhile Cunha, twisting wrong nan area, could not find an onrushing teammate and nan visitors had travel to look much precise successful each departments.

That included betwixt nan posts. In nan 54th infinitesimal Spurs, whose expected goals fig had been 0.07 successful nan opening period, yet created a chance worthy of nan name. It was flicked towards extremity connected nan volley by Romero, only six yards out, and someway diverted wide by Lammers utilizing a knee. Soon afterwards a heavy set-piece caused United problems and, from nan 2nd ball, João Palhinha unloaded a tumbling volley that Lammers parried to his left. A glum venue reawoke.

Johnson did negociate to hit Lammers but only aft a emblem had been raised; Richarlison, his provider, would person been amended disconnected uncovering a disappointment Odobert to his left. Next Odobert was fixed Destiny Udogie for institution down that flank; nan Italian’s first enactment was to find a glorious position adjacent nan byline but centre consecutive to Bruno Fernandes arsenic teammates laic successful wait.

Fernandes past lofted complete from an progressively uncommon United foray. Spurs’ little flush of momentum had evaporated, boos greeting a Richarlison walk that was easy intercepted by Diallo. But past Tel, who had replaced Simons, made a debased Udogie transverse instrumentality and turned sharply 8 yards out. The nett bulged, via a snick disconnected De Ligt, and Frank leapt from his bench.

It had thing connected nan celebrations that followed erstwhile Richarlison achieved afloat redemption, glancing successful Odobert’s shot, but De Ligt would person nan last opportunity astatine nan death.