The Sun

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn go punch-for-punch once again as both rivals look to make their fathers proud.

The blockbuster rematch takes place at the 62,000-seater Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, November 15.

Eubank Jr narrowly outpointed his bitter foe after 12 brutal rounds in April to secure the bragging rights in what was certainly a Fight of the Year contender.

And the two British superstars will dance once more as Eubank Jr aims to do the double while Benn seeks revenge after suffering a first career loss.

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Ndombele joined from Lyon in 2019 with huge expectations after shattering Tottenham’s transfer record.

But he would go on to play just 91 times for the club, scoring 10 goals and is now set to leave one year before the end of his contract.

Richarlison almost broke the £50m mark when he arrived from Everton in 2022 as Harry Kane’s back-up.

And while his tally of 12 goals this season was a significant increase on the three from his opening Spurs campaign, he is being linked with a departure this summer.

Johnson was signed by Ange Postecoglou last summer and has impressed in patches during his first season in North London.

He scored five goals and 10 assists in 38 games and will look to build on that in the 2024/25 campaign.

Romero initially joined on loan from Atalanta in 2021, before his impressive displays saw him secure a permanent deal the following year.

He is two games shy of 100 for Spurs and, while he can be reckless with his tackling at times, is beginning to form a promising partnership with Micky van de Ven.

Maddison was handed Kane’s No10 shirt after arriving at Spurs and hit the ground running with three goals and five assists in his opening 11 matches.

But after getting injured against Chelsea in October, he failed to return with the same sharpness – managing just five goal contributions in 15 league matches as he missed out on England’s final 26-man squad for the Euros.

Sanchez joined Spurs from Ajax in 2017 and played more than 200 games across a six-year spell.

But he was always considered a somewhat erratic defender who did not play more than 20 games in a Premier League season from 2020 onwards.

Porro was another signing who originally arrived on loan in January 2023, before he signed permanently last summer.

He has 54 appearances for Spurs under his belt, scoring seven goals and impressing under Postecoglou this season.

Rapid Dutch centre-back Van de Ven was named Spurs Player of the Season in his first campaign at the club.

His pace, athleticism, and technical ability on the ball have made him arguably Postecoglou’s best signing to date.

Sissoko came to North London for a substantial fee after being relegated with Newcastle and went on to enjoy five years at Tottenham, playing more than 200 games.

Unfortunately for the French midfielder, he is best-known for giving away a controversial penalty for handball in the first minute of Spurs’ 2-0 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019.

Lo Celso joined on loan from Real Betis in 2019 – a deal that was made permanent the following season.

He has 10 goals and eight assists in 108 games, with some Spurs fans still unsure about the Argentine.

BENJAMIN SESKO will not report for international duty with Slovenia but Manchester United do not believe his knee injury is serious.

Sesko, who came off in the 88th minute of United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday, will continue to be assessed at Carrington this week.

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek has indicated that the national team doctor should have been allowed to assess Sesko before a decision was made.

United manager Ruben Amorim is expected to provide a more specific update on the extent of Sesko’s injury at his pre-match press conference ahead of Everton‘s visit to Old Trafford on November 24.

Sesko will miss Slovenia’s World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Sweden over the next fortnight.

United officials spent hours coordinating with the Slovenian football association to communicate the news of Sesko’s lay-off.

Sesko, who came on in the 58th minute at Spurs, was forced off after spurning an opportunity inside the opponent’s penalty area.

That reduced United to ten men at 1-1 and they went 2-1 down in the 91st minute before Matthijs de Ligt’s last-gasp equaliser.

Amorim confirmed afterwards that Sesko had sustained a knee injury but was unsure as to the severity of it.

“I’m more concerned with an injury (than Sesko’s form), because it’s in the knee,” Amorim said. “And I don’t know, and we need Ben to be a better team.”

Sesko, 23, has not convinced since his £73.62million move from RB Leipzig in August.

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The Slovenia international has scored two goals in 12 appearances and he was dropped at Spurs.

Amorim admitted last week that Sesko is a “control freak” who is “not relaxed” and “struggling”.

Kek indicated he was unsatisfied with the lack of clarity from United on the extent of Sesko’s injury.

He said: “With all due respect to a great club like Man United, we have officially not received anything yet; no papers, no documents.

“We want our medical team to take a look at it. Our doctor is an expert in this field, we don’t have just anyone in this position.

“I cannot comment, of course, I have certain information, and I am also in contact with Beni. I can’t say anything because officially we don’t know anything at all, United hasn’t contacted anyone from our camp.

“Of course, I am concerned about the player; the only thing that matters to me is his well-being. We are prepared to do everything for that, and we have never sent anyone onto the field if there was the slightest risk.

“However, the national team is something very special, and I expect maximum respect from everyone.

“Slovenia deserves that, even if on the other side there is a powerhouse like England, and something as extraordinary as the Premier League.”

Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez has been granted permission to train with the Argentina squad at their training camp in Europe.

The centre-back will not figure in their friendly against Angola as he approaches his return from a nine-month lay-off, having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in February.

SUNDERLAND have earned a new title this season, kings of scoring late.

Brian Brobbey’s spectacular overhead equaliser against Arsenal was the fifth time the Black Cats have struck in added time, underlining their knack for last-gasp drama.

Regis Le Bris’ promoted surprise package have already gained five points in added time from their first 11 matches, thanks to late winners against Brentford and Chelsea, plus Saturday’s dramatic draw at the Emirates.

They’re not alone in benefiting from the extra seconds, though.

The Premier League has seen a surge in stoppage-time goals, up almost 50 per cent this season and Sunderland are leading the charge.

Last season saw 105 goals scored across first and second-half stoppage time, averaging 0.28 goals per game.

This term, there have already been 45 stoppage-time goals in the first 110 matches, most of them in the second half, for an average of 0.41 per game.

Should that trend continue, there will be an extra 51 goals scored after the 90-minute mark over the full campaign.

The rise is no coincidence. Long throws are back and they’re stretching matches by more than a minute on average.

From fewer than two per match last season, there are now around four throws travelling at least 20 metres into the box per game.

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Players are drying the ball with towels and waiting for team-mates to crowd the penalty area, forcing referees to pause their stop-watches to stop time being wasted.

That has had a major effect on the clock. Across last season’s 380 games, refs, following PGMOL guidance to allow 30 seconds for goal celebrations before stopping the watch, played an average of nine minutes and 45 seconds of added time per match.

This season, that has risen by 63 seconds to 10 minutes and 47 seconds.

Officials believe those extra moments are largely down to the delays caused by long-throw routines, and they’re proving decisive.

This weekend alone, Spurs and Manchester United both scored in stoppage time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Nottingham Forest and Brentford also grabbed late winners and Sunderland’s dramatic equaliser denied Arsenal victory.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Brentford have each scored four goals in added time, while Leeds and Newcastle have conceded five.

Chelsea have been breached four times, and Wolves and Leeds have suffered the most frustration both seeing three points slip away in stoppage time.

But when it comes to the dying minutes, Sunderland stand alone at the top, turning extra time into their kingdom.

IN the absence of a striker, a defender bailed Manchester United out.

Matthijs de Ligt’s first goal of the season is only one fewer than Benjamin Sesko’s meagre tally of two goals in 12 games.

Sesko, signed for a costly £73.62million, cost United twice in their 2-2 draw at Tottenham. He spurned opportunities at 1-0 and 1-1, getting injured in a tangle with Micky van de Ven in the process of the second chance.

His premature departure through injury in the 88th minute left United with ten men and, inevitably, they conceded again to Richarlison’s fortuitous ricochet.

De Ligt bailed out Sesko almost as much as Ruben Amorim, defensive of his five substitutions.

Amorim explained that Harry Maguire and Casemiro were hurt. Sesko actually replaced full back Noussair Mazraoui in the first change just before the hour.

The United manager should perhaps know better than to introduce the loose Manuel Ugarte in tight matches. It was Ugarte who played Richarlison onside for his 91st-minute goal.

As much as United’s grandstanding first team operations manager Acacio Valentim celebrated De Ligt’s equaliser in the technical area, it was not a result worth celebrating.

Nottingham Forest was two points dropped for United the week before and Spurs seemed poised to be three points lost until De Ligt met Bruno Fernandes’s inswinging corner in the 96th minute.

United have won one in 11 Premier League away games. Amorim mentioned earlier this month that they are a different team away from Old Trafford and they were seconds away from losing to a fractious Spurs.

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Tottenham fans booed at half-time and again in the second half at Thomas Frank’s decision to substitute Xavi Simons for Mathys Tel.

United were ahead for almost 50 minutes against a side almost mired in mutiny amid their listless home form. Spurs are now unbeaten in eight games against United.

It is reassuring for United supporters that Amorim is hitting the right notes. Unlike Valentim, he did not over-celebrate and remarked afterwards it was a missed opportunity.

Amorim felt United lacked the “bravery” to consolidate their advantage. He unwittingly contributed to that with an outright attacking change.

Sesko for Mazraoui was a substitution brimming with positive intent. Only there is little positive about Sesko.

His failure to get a shot off when played into the Tottenham area on both occasions was, again, reminiscent of Rasmus Hojlund. There are eerie parallels aplenty with those two.

Amorim saw this coming. He benched Sesko away to Spurs and Liverpool and probably would have at Manchester City had Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha not been unavailable through injury.

Director of football Jason Wilcox is quoted in press releases when United confirm a signing. Wilcox cited the “data” behind Sesko’s arrival.

That is about as close as we will get to a hint that Sesko was primarily a club-led recruit.

United needed a striker but the perfect profile – attainable, proven goalscorer, early-mid twenties and not over-priced – did not exist.

Sesko only ticks two of those boxes and his stage fright is a concern, albeit not as much as his knee injury.

Amorim has a tendency to make a mountain out of a molehill. He is so raw at post-match press conferences he can cause press officers to bury their heads in their hands.

Whether the prognosis on Sesko is good or bad, there is ample evidence to suggest Amorim favours a front three minus Sesko, with the attack sharpened by the Premier League proven Mbeumo and Cunha.

The caveat is United’s squad depth is lacking and Mbeumo and Amad could be out of play for up to a month at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which gets underway on December 21.

United have been suckers for mid-season fixes up top in recent years. Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst were unbecoming signings.

Henrik Larsson, another mid-season striker arrival in 2006-07, is remembered wistfully by some United supporters but the truth is his impact was grossly overrated. Ighalo scored more goals for United than Larsson did.

United figures claimed last season that they did not move for a forward in the winter transfer window as they had no interest in a short-term fix.

But Sesko’s injury and AFCON threaten to expose United’s squad frailties. Joshua Zirkzee has not started a game since April but could be ushered in from the cold in winter.

Yet it was at Spurs last season that Amorim suggested Zirkzee was not an outright No.9. He’s right.

Zirkzee has not scored a Premier League goal since December 1.

TOTTENHAM were hit with more than just a late equaliser against Manchester United as Thomas Frank looks set to lose yet another attacker to injury.

Striker Randal Kolo Muani, who started his third straight Premier League game on Saturday, has withdrawn from France’s squad for the upcoming international break.

The 26-year-old was taken off at half-time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with his side a goal down before late drama saw Spurs go ahead and proceed to throw it away.

Richarlison was picked on the left alongside Kolo Muani for the match and looked to have won the game in the 91st minute after diverting Wilson Odobert’s goal-bound shot with his head but Matthijs de Ligt equalised just moments before the full-time whistle.

The result leaves Frank with as many home league wins as he has fit senior strikers, one.

Even that one is debatable with Dane Scarlett, 21, having never started a league fixture for the club.

Richarlison is also a versatile front man but has been selected from wide in recent weeks.

Mathys Tel was a second half sub on for Xavi Simons and can play up front but is likewise preferred on the wing since his January move from Bayern Munich.

It was the Frenchman who got Spurs back into the game and he is now set for a bigger role in the team after Kolo Muani was forced to abandon his country’s international camp before it had even began.

A statement from France confirmed that Florian Thauvin comes in for matches against Ukraine and Azerbaijan in World Cup qualifying.

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Things could get worse for Tottenham with reports that Kolo Muani will be out for at least six weeks with the possibility of surgery meaning he could still be sidelined for months in a worst case.

Frank is already without Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison through injury.

Kolo Muani has failed to score for Tottenham since joining on loan over the summer.

Speaking after the draw, Frank was hopeful that the injury would not be serious.

Frank said: “He actually struggled a little bit, but nothing big.”

The Lilywhites have a defining run of games coming up after the break with a trip to Arsenal next on the agenda.

They then travel to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League as well as going to Newcastle United and hosting Frank’s old employers Brentford before the first week of December ends.

JAMES MADDISON shoved Angry Ginge’s arm away after the YouTuber celebrated a Manchester United equaliser in his face.

Injured Tottenham star Maddison was helpless up in the padded seats as he and his YouTuber pal – whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle – watched Matthijs de Ligt sting Spurs with a 96th-minute header to make it 2-2.

The goal snatched victory away from Maddison’s team-mates, who had turned the game on its head by netting twice in the final 10 minutes on Saturday.

Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half opener was the difference until substitute Mathys Tel levelled with six minutes of normal time to play.

Maddison punched the air as Angry Ginge – a passionate United fan – closed his eyes in frustration.

The celebrations were even wilder when Richarlison put Spurs ahead in the first minute of stoppage time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And Angry Ginge had to put up with fans waving phone cameras in his face to capture his reaction.

But he got his own back five minutes later when De Ligt headed in.

Burtwistle leapt out of his seat and went crazy before putting his phone in Maddison’s face – and the Tottenham playmaker did not look pleased.

As he sat there fuming, Maddison grabbed Angry Ginge’s hand and pushed it down so that his face was no longer in camera view.

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It was all water under the bridge after the full-time whistle as Maddison extended a handshake to his rival supporter.

The pair’s association goes back almost two years to when they collaborated on a “dream 5-a-side” video for EA FC mobile.

Maddison hasn’t played a single minute of football this season and he faces a fight to be back before the end of the campaign.

BRYAN MBEUMO was a diamond in the rough as Manchester United extended their winless run against Tottenham.

Mbeumo’s well-placed header – his sixth goal of the season – looked to have been the difference before United threw away what would have been a first win against Spurs since March 2023 in an eventful finale.

Former Old Trafford target Mathys Tel smashed home a Spurs equaliser in the 84th minute before Richarlison latched onto sub Wilson Odobert’s shot in the 91st minute.

Matthijs De Ligt was left unmarked at the back post to head home a leveller at the death as United finished the game with 10-men after Benjamin Sesko limped off with no subs remaining.

Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Senne Lammens – 6

The away end’s heart sank when the ball rolled under his foot inside the first 45 seconds to concede a corner from De Ligt’s pass back.

But Lammens showed why he’s United’s sweetheart with two excellent saves in quick succession after half-time.

The first to deny Cristian Romero, before getting down to push Joao Palhinha’s strike wide. Couldn’t have done much with the goals.

Noussair Mazraoui – 6

Was treated to a quieter first-half with so much of the ball being played down Mbeumo’s left-hand flank.

But the Moroccan, on his first start since playing well in the Chelsea victory, is a reliable steady-the-ship type player who Amorim can rely on. Understandably hooked to manage his minutes just before the hour.

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Matthijs De Ligt – 7

De Ligt personified the drama. His header rescued a point for the visitors in the 95th minute. But around 10 minutes before his unlikely equaliser, the Netherlands defender was spun by Tel for 2-1.

Before the chaos, the former Bayern star was positive on the ball and in his press before his mistake with Tel. He lost Richarlison for a chance in the opening 15 minutes but made crucial interventions.

Harry Maguire – 6

Just as he did against fellow top-6 side Liverpool, Maguire got the nod ahead of Leny Yoro which underlined Amorim’s reshuffling approach.

After marking Randal Kolo Muani out of the game in the first-half, the No5 stood off Richarlison when Spurs were chasing an equaliser. Perhaps showed by the World Cup might be beyond his recall after again limping off injured with 20 minutes to go.

Patrick Dorgu – 3

The wing-back looked out of his depth as he struggled on his first Prem start of the season. Mbeumo and Amorim were effectively holding his hand play-by-play.

He was sloppy in possession, sent in a comical ‘long throw’ attempt, got the runaround by Brennan Johnson in the first half and couldn’t pick out his target when crossing.

Luke Shaw – 5

Not as strong in his tackles and was beaten by Xavi Simons on several occasions after stepping in the middle.

Shaw’s role in the back-three showed why Thomas Tuchel isn’t bothered about recalling him to solve England’s left-back troubles.

Casemiro – 5

The Brazil international was sloppy in possession and can’t put a ball through like he used to.

Casemiro dropped off from his recent strong showings and lost most of his duels in the second-half.

Bruno Fernandes – 5

Fernandes’ slow start, like his midfield partner, was compounded by his first two awful corners. Often second to the ball in final half.

This was a weak performance from United’s main man before his last inswinging corner was met by De Ligt for the equaliser.

Bryan Mbeumo – 8

Mbeumo was worth every penny of the £71million handed to Spurs’ London neighbours Brentford. United could have done with him in Bilbao.

The Prem player of the month’s expertly placed header broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute.

After pairing so effectively with Amad on the right in the Premier League this season, Mbeumo shifted to the left hand side perhaps to work on his chemistry with Patrick Dorgu.

Everything of note came from the Cameroon star, his curling pass through the lines set Amad on his way in the first-half.

Matheus Cunha – 5

Just like he did against Liverpool, the no-nonsense Brazilian got the nod to lead the line ahead of Sesko.

So he naturally had less influence as the lone striker before his feed into Amad inside the box was crossed into Mbeumo for the opener. Cunha was also loose with his touches.

Amad Diallo – 6

Started at No10 alongside Mbeumo for the first time since the Manchester derby defeat before shifting to right-wing back after Sesko’s introduction.

Amad was part of the beautifully worked goal when his stunning inswinging cross was headed home by Mbeumo in the first 30 minutes.

But his second half was a mixed bag. The 23-year-old undid good moments, with sloppy mistakes the next.

SUBS

Sesko (for Mazraoui ‘58) – 3

Showed naivety and was weak on the ball, spurning two chances that would have cushioned United’s lead.

Mason Mount (for Cunha ‘72) – 5

Worked hard but couldn’t get on the ball to be effective.

Manuel Ugarte (for Casemiro ‘72) – 3

Let Pape Sarr run past him with ease for 1-1 and kept Richarlison onside for what would have been the punch to the gut.

Diogo Dalot (for Dorgu ‘79) – 4

A non-event and unsteadied the already sinking ship.

Leny Yoro (for Maguire ’72) – 5

Did OK after coming on.

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Ruben Amorim fears striker Benjamin Sesko has suffered a serious knee injury that could force the club into the January transfer market.

Sesko, 22, came on in the 58th minute of United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham but was forced off in the 88th minute following a fair tackle by Micky van de Ven.

That forced the visitors to complete the match with ten players as Amorim had already completed his substitutions.

Man Utd extended their unbeaten run to five games through Matthijs de Ligt’s 96th-minute equaliser at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Richarlison appeared to have sealed a late turnaround for Spurs with his 91st-minute ricochet but De Ligt claimed a point for United, with Amorim insisting that was proof his team still has “fire in our belly”.

Amorim dropped Sesko after he fired blanks in the 2-2 stalemate with Nottingham Forest last week and the forward now has only two goals in 12 games for the Red Devils.

United bought Sesko in a £73.62million deal from RB Leipzig in the summer and their only other senior striker is Joshua Zirkzee.

When asked if he was concerned about Sesko’s confidence in front of goal, Amorim replied: “No, I think that is not the biggest concern now.

“That happened in the same way that it was not scoring and then he scored two goals in the next two games so that happens with a striker.

“I’m more concerned with an injury, because it’s in the knee, and I don’t know, and we need Ben to be a better team.”

When pushed on the extent of Sesko’s injury, Amorim added: “I have no idea. Because it’s the knee, we never know.”

United are already set to lose top scorer Bryan Mbeumo and fellow forward Amad Diallo due to the Africa Cup of Nations, which starts on December 21.

Amad and Mbeumo combined for the latter to score his sixth goal of the season a day after he received the Premier League Player of the Month award for October.

Amorim suggested United would be forced into a mid-season signing if Sesko was sidelined for several months.

“We have to check everything,” Amorim replied when asked if United would be active in the winter window. “We have to check what’s happened with Ben.

“So, of course, we are going to have a problem there [with AFCON], but we already knew.

“Then you can prepare that in the summer, but then you have a lot of players that are not going to play because it’s one game per week.

“So the managing of that situation is going to be hard, but let’s see when the window is open, if we can improve the team and trying to repair something that happened. Until then, we have to take the chance. We’ll see.”

Amorim added: “Last year we lost against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham 1-0. Today and also last week you see we have the fire in our belly to fight and get a goal. Even with 10 men. That way I am really proud of the team.”

TOTTENHAM boss Thomas Frank was met with a chorus of boos after making a controversial substitution against Manchester United.

But his bold call helped Spurs to a dramatic 2-2 draw.

The Danish manager sparked fury inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he decided to take off £58million summer signing Xavi Simons as his side chased an equaliser.

Simons, who joined from RB Leipzig in a blockbuster move, has endured a tough start to life in North London and was again struggling to make an impact.

But when his number came up on the board, fans were far from impressed.

Frank’s decision to replace the talented Dutchman with Mathys Tel was met with loud boos and chants of disapproval from the stands.

Tottenham were trailing at the time to a Bryan Mbeumo goal and supporters couldn’t understand why their manager had chosen to remove a big-money signing when chasing the game.

Yet Frank’s move proved to be a masterstroke.

Just minutes after coming on, Tel struck the equaliser, rifling a shot into the top corner to bring Spurs level and breathe new life into the contest.

The goal completely changed the atmosphere inside the ground, lifting the players and turning the crowd’s jeers into cheers.

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It was also a vital moment for Thomas Frank, who has been under growing pressure after last weekend’s 1–0 home defeat to Chelsea.

Spurs fans had been restless throughout the week, demanding a response from their team and they finally got one.

As Tottenham pushed forward, Richarlison looked to have completed the comeback late on, heading home instinctively to send the stadium into raptures.

The Brazilian thought he’d sealed all three points but United are a developing side and showed character with Matthijs de Ligt heading home an equaliser to rescue a point for his side.

For Simons, however, the substitution summed up a frustrating start to his Spurs career.

The £58million man has yet to find his rhythm since arriving in the summer and cut a dejected figure on the bench after the final whistle.

FOR 84 minutes this felt like a rerun of May’s dismal Europa League final… and then all hell broke loose.

Manchester United had taken the lead through former Thomas Frank favourite Bryan Mbeumo’s header just after half hour.

But that goal aside, the chances were few and far between, Frank’s Spurs were once again insipid at home and Ruben Amorim’s United were just happy not to be losing to Tottenham.

It was not as bad as the fare in Bilbao but it was close.

And then it all kicked off.

Mathys Tel, controversially sent on for Xavi Simons, levelled up with a brilliant swivel and blast with six minutes to go.

Things got even better for Spurs a minute into stoppage time as an effort from fellow sub Wilson Odobert was flicked home by Richarlison, who ripped off his shirt in celebration.

But the Brazilian’s ecstasy soon turned to agony as Matthijs De Ligt, who Tel had held off for his equaliser, headed home a corner with 90+6 on the clock.

What the two managers must have been feeling only they can describe.

Frank at one point had looked in danger of emulating Nuno Espirito Santo for his ultra-caution, then he thought he had won it, but then he didn’t.

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Amorim, who lost three times against Spurs last season including that miserable showpiece at the San Mames Stadium, saw his Tottenham curse lifted, descend and then disappear once more.

It was hard enough just catching your breath, let alone making any sense of the mayhem.

Perhaps in the long run it will feel like an acceptable result for both teams, as United extended their unbeaten run to five games and Spurs ensured they did not suffer another confidence-sapping home loss.

But the reality is both teams, managers and sets of fans will be feeling just as much frustration as relief.

At least the action-packed end meant the game in totality ended up being a better watch than it was five months ago in the San Mames Stadium.

Yet that was not the case for the vast majority of the game with both sides cancelling each other out in the middle of the park – as so many Premier League sides do these days – and neither looked to have much of a cutting edge.

Brazilian Richarlison, the embodiment of Spurs fan frustration for how he can produce the ingenious but is horribly inconsistent, missed Tottenham’s only good chance of the first half.

Brennan Johnson had whipped in a delicious cross on his weaker left foot which Richarlison had risen to meet – only to get the tamest of flicks on the ball and the moment was gone.

United, playing with the same four across the midfield that had struggled in Bilbao, looked comfortable.

In fact the most excited the quiet home fans got in the opening 45 was when Micky van de Ven dribbled the ball a few yards in his own half.

It was, of course, in reference to the early Puskas Goal of the Season contender the Dutchman produced against Copenhagen when running the ball all the way from his box to the other end and belting it into the back of the net.

Sadly this time there was to be no thrilling repeat as Van de Ven shifted the ball safely on to a team-mate.

The entertainment was in short supply – save for Patrick Dorgu’s laughable attempt at the campaign’s worst long throw.

But if one side looked like they had more of a clue how to break down the opponents, it was United, and on 32 minutes, they took the lead.

Spurs were the architects of their own downfall because Pape Sarr should have hacked the ball away to stop the move at source.

But he did not and when United had recycled the ball after Spurs thought they had cleared the danger from an initial Dorgu cross, Amad Diallo picked out Mbeumo beautifully for the Cameroon star to head home.

There was a smattering of boos from the home fans at the break as Frank stewed over another insipid home half where his team had registered just 0.07xG.

He knew he had to do something to shake things up and brought on Odobert for Randal Kolo Muani.

Spurs did up the intensity in the second half – they had to – and were rewarded with a flurry of early chances.

Captain Cristian Romero had the first, flicking on an Odobert cross, but was brilliantly repelled by Senne Lammens.

The Belgium keeper was then alive to a hooked effort from Joao Palhinha – a former Amorim favourite at Sporting Lisbon – and produced another fine reactionary stop.

Spurs did have the ball in the net shortly afterwards but Johnson was clearly offside when converting a pass from Richarlison, who really should have picked out the onside Odobert instead.

United began defending deeper and deeper but still looked good for the win.

That was until sub Tel controlled a Destiny Udogie cross in the box, held off De Ligt and smashed home a leveller.

Tel had come on for playmaker Simons which on the face of it looked a risky move from Frank given it was hardly a crowd-pleasing decision.

Yet Spurs looked to have won it when Richarlison flicked in Odobert’s effort on goal and set off on his barmy shirtless celebration.

But amazingly there was still time for United to salvage something thanks to De Ligt rising highest to a corner in the sixth minute of injury time, handing Amorim some Spurs relief at long last.