Manchester United were decimated 3-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in what was a chaotic performance filled with ill-discipline and a series of errors at the back.
Man United were in desperate need of a win against top-drawer opposition, especially after back-to-back disappointing draws against inferior opposition.
Two minutes in and the match was off to a nightmare start. Following some early pressure, Micky van de Ven embarked on a an impressive run from within his own half, dribbling four United players before driving a cross into Brennan Johnson, who slotted the ball into the net from close range. 1-0 to Spurs in front of an infuriated Old Trafford crowd.
Three minutes later, United gave the ball away in their own half, however, Dominic Solanke was unable to take advantage of the error as he was swamped by Lisandro Martinez. A horrible start to the match for United, littered with defensive errors.
Ultimately, it appeared as if United’s tactic of playing out the back has become more harmful than good.
On the stroke of 10 minutes, Marcus Rashford embarked on a promising run, beating the Spurs’ backline and taking a shot that was tipped out for a corner by the goalkeeper. Unfortunately, he was flagged offside.
Seconds later on the opposite end of the pitch, James Maddison performed an effective one-two with Dejan Kulusevski, slipping past Manuel Ugarte and forcing a brave save by Onana from close range.
In the 14th minute, United embarked on a promising counter, with Joshua Zirkzee sprinting through the centre. While Rashford attempted the pass to his striker, his pass was cut out, bringing an end to a promising attack.
Two minutes later, Zirkzee missed a sitter. After receiving the ball from Mainoo, his soft shot was easily saved by Guglielmo Vicario, denying United an equaliser.
Johnson sent a threatening through ball to Timo Werner at the far post, however, Mazraoui heroically made a goal-saving clearance as the last line of defence just metres away from the goalline.
In the 33rd minute, Christian Romero almost scored a breathtaking goal from a corner, taking a scissor kick that veered just inches wide of the post.
A minute later, Noussair Mazraoui was booked for a rough challenge on Destiny Udogie.
In the 36th minute, United got their closest scoring opportunity of the match so far, Rashford’s cross found Alejandro Garnacho, whose shot hit the upright and went out.
Seven minutes from the break, Werner was on the breakaway, cutting into the box and forcing a fine leg save from Onana.
Four minutes before half-time, United’s evening went from bad to worse. Bruno Fernandes received a red card for stamping on James Maddison’s leg. While the challenge did not appear as bad as it first seemed in the replay, the referee refused to reverse his decision.
Before the match restarted, Kobbie Mainoo was withdrawn from the action, replaced by Mason Mount. It remained to be seen whether the youngster had been injured or whether the early substitution was a tactical decision.
Three minutes into five minutes of stoppage time, Mount received a yellow card due to a mistimed challenge. Three yellow card and a red for United in what had been a chaotic first half of football.
The referee drew a close to what was undoubtedly United’s worst first half of football for the entire season to date. Old Trafford was dead silent as the players made their way down the tunnel, signalling the lack of hope that United could turn things around after the break, barring a miracle.
Casemiro made his way onto the pitch for the second half, replacing Zirkzee at half-time.
Two minutes after the break, United hearts were broken yet again. Spurs took advantage of United’s high line, with Johnson sprinting from the half-way line into the box and slotting the ball to Kulusevski, who flicked the ball into the net with ease. 2-0 to the visitors.
Following a careless challenge in the 55th minute, Martinez was shown a yellow card. Three of United’s back four had been booked, with Mazraoui and Dalot also sitting on yellow cards. United were suddenly at a high risk of going down to nine men.
On the hour mark, United won their first corner of the game. Mount stepped up to take it, with Martinez going in for a header that was deflected out. Following the subsequent corner, the ball brushed the arm of Romero, prompting calls for a handball by the United players. Upon VAR review, United’s protests were quashed as no penalty was given.
United kept applying the pressure, with Johnson cutting out a cross in time to stop the ball from falling to Garnacho. While Garnacho’s corner was well-struck, Casemiro’s glancing header drifted wide.
In the 65th minute, Ugarte received a booking for shoving Kulusevski to the ground. That was United’s sixth booking of the match.
Martinez sent a promising long ball to Casemiro, whose shot from the right narrowly whizzed past the far post.
Garnacho used some fancy footwork to cut into the box; however, his shot was deflected out for a corner. Christian Eriksen came on for Ugarte, while Rasmus Hojlund replaced Rashford. Unfortunately, it was another wasted corner that Spurs easily disposed of.
Four minutes later, Solanke got his name on the scoresheet as he slotted a ball from Pape Matar Sarr’s head into the net from close range. That was a poorly defended corner on United’s part.
In the 85th minute, Amad Diallo came on for Mount, who was a substitute himself. It was a cameo to forget for an invisible Mount.
On the stroke of 90 minutes, Solanke slipped through United’s backline and took a shot from the side to force a leg save from Onana. While Sarr followed up with a header, his attempt flew wide.
Six minutes of added time were announced, soon after which Garnacho fired a pass to Hojlund, whose shot came agonisingly close to the net. Goal kick to Spurs.
Teenager Mikey Moore almost grabbed Spurs’ fourth goal when his shot from distance drifted inches wide of the far post.
The curtain came down on a horrific performance by United. One can only wonder how long Erik ten Hag will still be given in his job after yet another disgraceful performance in front of the Old Trafford crowd.
Starting XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Fernandes, Rashford, Zirkzee, Garnacho, Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo
Subs: Mount, Casemiro, Eriksen, Hojlund, Amad
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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