The Ange Postecoglou era at Tottenham began with a 2-0 victory against Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United. This marked the former Glasgow Celtic manager’s first Premier League win against a domestic rival.
Tottenham displayed confidence and adapted well to Postecoglou’s tactical approach throughout the entire 90-minute match.
In contrast, Man United struggled, continuing their uninspiring form from the previous match, where they narrowly won against Wolves.
In the opening 15 minutes of the game, United took the initiative and created several chances, with Marcus Rashford having the best opportunity in the 13th minute.
However, he couldn’t find the net from a tight angle, which was a noticeable improvement compared to their previous match against Wolves, where they faced criticism for their lacklustre attacking performance.
Raising the roof at @SpursStadium 😍
🎬 @MonsterEnergy pic.twitter.com/XdgUXtm7uE
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 20, 2023
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In the 23rd minute, Rashford had another clear chance, heading over from a mere six yards after a superb lofted pass from Bruno Fernandes sailed just beyond the reach of Tottenham’s defence.
However, Tottenham eventually found a breakthrough thanks to Son Heung-Min. He managed to get past Aaron Wan-Bissaka, danced around Raphael Varane, and then passed the ball to Pape Matar Sarr.
Sarr, in turn, slid it to Dejan Kulusevski in the right-half space, but his shot lacked power and was comfortably saved by Andre Onana.
Man United found themselves amidst VAR controversy for the second consecutive weekend. This time, it was Erik ten Hag’s team that was denied a penalty kick from 12 yards after Romero was judged not to have committed a handball in the box.
This decision, like the one in the previous game against the Wolves, sparked debate on social media about the quality of officiating and video assistance in English football.
Shortly after this incident, Bruno Fernandes missed a header from six yards out, despite Luke Shaw finding him unmarked in the area with a perfectly timed delivery.
The captain has had his say on yesterday's disappointing result 👇#MUFC || #TOTMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 20, 2023
Despite Spurs’ limited attacking threat, United had been unlucky not to take the lead in the final ten minutes of the first half.
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In the 40th minute, Spurs came close to scoring a goal. Good play from Son and Destiny Udogie down the left led to Pedro Porro’s strike from outside the box, which beat Andre Onana but hit the crossbar.
Their follow-up attempt hit Onana’s near post. This marked the last significant action of the first half as the two rival teams headed to the dressing rooms for halftime.
Spurs were determined to change the course of the game in the second half, and they succeeded four minutes after the break.
Pape Matar Sarr capitalized on a deflected ball from Dejan Kulusevski that crossed the face of the goal, allowing the Senegalese midfielder to slam it home at the near post. This marked Sarr’s first Premier League goal for Spurs in just his third start for the club.
Man United nearly responded immediately, with Antony creating enough space to unleash a powerful shot that beat Guglielmo Vicario but struck the far post and bounced away.
Spurs had another close chance shortly after when James Maddison found Destiny Udogie at the near post, but the young Italian fullback’s low shot was saved by André Onana.
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Vicario came up with a crucial save for Spurs in the 55th minute, denying Casemiro’s powerful header from a corner with an outstanding stop. This save preserved Tottenham’s lead in a match that was becoming more open in the second half.
The icing on the cake at @SpursStadium! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/69STJ09KgJ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 19, 2023
With just seven minutes left in the game, the Spurs extended their lead.
At first, it seemed to be an effort from Ben Davies, as his tame shot at the near post deflected off his left foot and then off Lisandro Martinez, leaving Onana rooted to the ground. However, it was eventually recorded as an own goal.
It was evident that Spurs played with a newfound enthusiasm on the day, which marked a significant improvement compared to their previous performances under Antonio Conte.
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Remarkably, the club seemed to have seamlessly adjusted to life without Harry Kane, who had moved to Bayern Munich.
As the final whistle blew, the scrutiny would undoubtedly continue for United. They had failed to start the season in a manner that matched preseason expectations, where some pundits had even considered them as potential title contenders.
On the other hand, Tottenham fans’ optimism about the future under Postecoglou appeared to be well-founded and justified.
