Manchester United’s difficult spell rolled on at Old Trafford as Tottenham snatched a 1-1 draw in stoppage time, denying Michael Carrick’s side what would have been a much-needed Premier League win.
United had looked set to take the points after Bryan Mbeumo struck in the 73rd minute and Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off six minutes later. But Dominic Solanke produced an extraordinary late finish to leave the home side 13th, with six points from their opening 18.
Quick facts
- Manchester United have now gone four Premier League matches without a victory.
- Mbeumo put United ahead with 17 minutes remaining.
- Bentancur saw red in the 79th minute after headbutting Luke Shaw.
- Solanke equalised in the 92nd minute for Tottenham.
- Tottenham remain third from bottom on three points.
The draw followed United’s 1-0 derby defeat to Manchester City before the international break, plus draws against Everton and Fulham. Brighton had also knocked them out of the League Cup in a 3-2 defeat, leaving little room for comfort before Atlético Madrid arrive as their next Champions League opponents.
There was little fluency in a scrappy opening half. Senne Lammens kept out Solanke in a one-on-one inside three minutes, while Mohammed Kudus went close after Savinho pulled the ball back in the 21st minute.
United did not manage a shot on target until the 34th minute, when Amad Diallo finished a Bryan Mbeumo-led break with an effort gathered by Antonin Kinsky.
The second half carried more threat, if not much more control. Luke Shaw cleared a Savinho delivery intended for Solanke off the line in the 49th minute, before Solanke sent another Savinho cross over the bar two minutes later.
There was a brief moment of confusion when Cunha reached the byline and Youri Tielemans finished, only for the effort to be ruled out because the ball had already run out of play.
Both sides found chances as the game opened up. Harry Maguire cleared Jan Paul van Hecke’s flicked header from the goal line, while Bruno Fernandes answered with a shot into the side netting.
Carlos Baleba made his United debut in the 59th minute and impressed in his first appearance. Tottenham nevertheless continued to threaten: Destiny Udogie missed a one-on-one after a move begun from a questionable position, and Kobbie Mainoo made a vital block when Savinho had a close-range sight of goal.
United finally found the breakthrough when Cunha fed Mbeumo, who turned and drilled a fine low effort across Kinsky. The goalkeeper later prevented Mbeumo adding a second.
Tottenham’s prospects appeared even slimmer after Bentancur was dismissed for a headbutt on Shaw. Old Trafford responded with a chant aimed at City, telling their neighbours they would “go down to the Championship with City”, but the home mood would not last.
In the 92nd minute, Sandro Tonali sent a fine ball into the area and Solanke, grappling with Lisandro Martínez, managed a remarkable improvised glance into the net.
Carrick turned to Marcus Rashford after the equaliser, but there was no time left to retrieve the lead. Tottenham may be in a worse league position, yet their late point ensured United’s crisis remains firmly on the fixture list.
