United led through Mbeumo and had a man advantage after Bentancur's red card, but Solanke equalised in the 90th minute. Goals, cards, shape, expected goals and what the draw means.
Manchester United and Tottenham shared the points at Old Trafford on Saturday 10 October. The 1-1 draw in Premier League matchweek 6 turned on three moments in the space of 17 minutes: Bryan Mbeumo's goal in the 73rd minute, Rodrigo Bentancur's red card five minutes later, and Dominic Solanke's equaliser in the 90th minute, scored by a Tottenham side that were down to ten men.
How the teams lined up
Both managers chose a 4-2-3-1. Michael Carrick started with Lammens in goal, a back four of Yoro, Maguire, Martínez and Shaw, Tielemans and Mainoo in midfield, Diallo, Fernandes and Cunha behind Mbeumo. Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham answered with Kinsky; Gray, van Hecke, Senesi and Udogie; Bergvall and Tonali; Kudus, Gallagher and Sávio, with Solanke up front. Stuart Attwell refereed.
A first half with little in it
The first 45 minutes finished goalless. The only incident worth recording came as early as the 4th minute, when Conor Gallagher was booked for a foul, and possession finished level at 50% each.
The change that preceded the goal
The game opened up in the second half. Shortly before the hour a United goal was ruled out by VAR, and the score went back to 0-0. Carrick then made three changes in the 59th minute: Dalot replaced Yoro, Baleba came on for Tielemans and Zirkzee for Diallo. Tottenham changed their own shape from the 66th minute, bringing on Bentancur and Marmoush for Bergvall and Kudus.
United took the lead in the 73rd minute, fourteen minutes after the triple change: Cunha found Mbeumo, who scored.
Bentancur's red card, and a flash point
Five minutes later the match boiled over. Bentancur, on the pitch for only twelve minutes, was sent off in the 78th minute for violent conduct. In the same passage of play, Luke Shaw was booked for arguing and Tottenham's Jan Paul van Hecke for a foul. A numerical advantage and a lead with about twelve minutes plus stoppage time to play looked like a winning position.
It did not stay that way. Tottenham took off a centre-back, Senesi, for M. Fernandes in the 89th minute, a clearly attacking change for a team a man down, and a minute later Solanke equalised from Tonali's pass. The cards that followed told their own story: Bruno Fernandes (84th) and Lisandro Martínez (87th) were both booked for fouls, Diogo Dalot in stoppage time, and Archie Gray for Tottenham. Carrick sent on Heaven and Rashford for Shaw and Cunha in the 90th minute plus five, too late to change the outcome.
What the numbers say
- Shots: 12 each; United had 4 on target, Tottenham 3.
- Expected goals: United 0.80, Tottenham 1.62 (provider figures), a sign that Tottenham created the better chances even in a game United led.
- Passing: 467 passes at 83% for United, 464 at 84% for Tottenham.
- Corners and fouls: 4 corners each; United committed 13 fouls, Tottenham 16.
- Discipline: United 4 yellow cards; Tottenham 3 yellows and the red.
Read together, those numbers describe an even contest in which United were slightly the less dangerous team before they scored. The goal came after changes that added legs and width, and the lead lasted only 17 minutes, partly because the game became stop-start after the red card and partly because United picked up a string of late bookings.
What it means
The draw left United with six points from six league games: one win, three draws and two defeats, with nine goals scored and nine conceded. Three days later they travelled to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. A late equaliser conceded against ten men is the kind of result that Carrick will want to look at, because the lead was there to be defended.
Match facts
- Competition: Premier League, matchweek 6 (Old Trafford)
- Result: Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham (half-time 0-0)
- Goals: Mbeumo 73' (assist Cunha); Solanke 90' (assist Tonali)
- Sent off: Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), 78'
Match data from our football data provider. This is Manchester World's own report; we are an independent fan site, not affiliated with any club.