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Pape Matar Sarr had not scored since netting Metz's opener in a 4-1 Ligue 1 win over Lorient in December 2021Tottenham secured their first win under the management of Ange Postecoglou and in the post-Harry Kane era with a thrilling and deserved victory over Manchester United.
There were pre-match demonstrations against chairman Daniel Levy and owners ENIC, but Postecoglou was given a thunderous reception and once the action got under way Spurs responded with a vivid demonstration of the attacking style that is the Australian's trademark.
Spurs and United created chances throughout a sometimes chaotic encounter before the deadlock was broken by Pape Matar Sarr's goal, drilled high into the net from close range four minutes after the interval.
In a game of numerous chances, Spurs sealed the victory in front of the ecstatic home support after 83 minutes when Ivan Perisic's cross took a touch off Ben Davies before going in via Lisandro Martinez.
The home side hit the woodwork twice in the first half through Pedro Porro and Luke Shaw's deflection, while Antony hit the upright for United, new Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario saved superbly from Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes somehow headed wide of an open goal in the first half.
Both sides also had penalty appeals turned down when Cristian Romero handled and then when the Spurs defender appeared to be bundled to the ground by Martinez at the other end, but ultimately it was Spurs' greater attacking intent that made the difference.
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Spurs send out strong signal
When Postecoglou was appointed by Tottenham, it was with the express desire to move away from the dull fare dished up by Nuno Espirito Santo, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte during a loveless period between Spurs fans and their managers.
And if his first two games are any measure, Spurs will be entertaining to watch come what may this season because this was the perfect illustration of the positive manner in which he wants his teams to play and was the hallmark of his work at Celtic.
It can be a high-risk strategy and will give the opposition chances, as even an off-colour United proved, but such was the quality, energy and sheer attacking intent shown by Spurs that they eventually overpowered Erik ten Hag's side and revelled in a prolonged standing ovation after the final whistle.
Yves Bissouma was outstanding in midfield, looking a player re-born after a first season of struggle following his move from Brighton, while James Maddison strode through the game with a real joy in his play and looked perfectly at home.
No one in their right mind would suggest for one second that a player of Kane's world class standing will not be missed, but Spurs fans can at least take real optimism from the opening salvos delivered by Postecoglou's new-look side.
More to follow.
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Tottenham Hotspur
Squad number13Player nameVicario- Squad number23Player namePorro
- Squad number17Player nameRomero
- Squad number37Player namevan de Ven
- Squad number38Player nameUdogie
- Squad number29Player nameSarr
- Squad number8Player nameBissouma
- Squad number21Player nameKulusevski
- Squad number10Player nameMaddison
Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-min- Squad number9Player nameRicharlison
- Squad number5Player nameHøjbjerg
- Squad number12Player nameEmerson Royal
- Squad number14Player namePerisic
- Squad number27Player nameSolomon
Squad number33Player nameDavies
Manchester United
- Squad number24Player nameOnana
- Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka
- Squad number19Player nameVarane
- Squad number6Player nameLi Martínez
Squad number23Player nameShaw- Squad number18Player nameCasemiro
- Squad number7Player nameMount
- Squad number21Player nameAntony
- Squad number8Player nameBruno Fernandes
- Squad number49Player nameGarnacho
Squad number10Player nameRashford
Squad number9Player nameMartial
Squad number14Player nameEriksen
Squad number20Player nameDiogo Dalot- Squad number25Player nameSancho
- Squad number28Player namePellistri
Line-ups
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Vicario
- 23PorroSubstituted forEmerson Royalat 88'minutes
- 17Romero
- 37van de Ven
- 38UdogieBooked at 63minsSubstituted forDaviesat 70'minutes
- 29SarrSubstituted forHøjbjergat 76'minutes
- 8Bissouma
- 21KulusevskiSubstituted forSolomonat 88'minutes
- 10Maddison
- 7Son Heung-min
- 9RicharlisonSubstituted forPerisicat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Skipp
- 5Højbjerg
- 6D Sánchez
- 12Emerson Royal
- 14Perisic
- 18Lo Celso
- 20Forster
- 27Solomon
- 33Davies
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Onana
- 29Wan-BissakaBooked at 33minsSubstituted forDalotat 66'minutes
- 19Varane
- 6Li Martínez
- 23Shaw
- 18Casemiro
- 7MountSubstituted forPellistriat 85'minutes
- 21AntonyBooked at 38minsSubstituted forEriksenat 66'minutes
- 8Bruno FernandesBooked at 39mins
- 49GarnachoSubstituted forSanchoat 66'minutes
- 10RashfordSubstituted forMartialat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Lindelöf
- 9Martial
- 14Eriksen
- 20Dalot
- 25Sancho
- 26Henderson
- 28Pellistri
- 39McTominay
- 40Vítek
Referee:Michael Oliver
Attendance:61,910
Live Text
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Manchester United 0.
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Manchester United 0.
Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Foul by Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur).
Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, Manchester United. Christian Eriksen tries a through ball, but Raphaël Varane is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Casemiro (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Shaw with a cross.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Ben Davies.
Attempt blocked. Casemiro (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Shaw.
Attempt blocked. Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Perisic.
Attempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Lisandro Martínez.
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United).
Offside, Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes tries a through ball, but Casemiro is caught offside.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Emerson Royal replaces Pedro Porro.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Manor Solomon replaces Dejan Kulusevski.
Attempt blocked. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
Substitution, Manchester United. Anthony Martial replaces Marcus Rashford.
Substitution, Manchester United. Facundo Pellistri replaces Mason Mount.
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