Matthijs de Ligt's dramatic 96th-minute goal ensured Manchester United secured a 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Saturday. Both teams were aware that a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would elevate
them to second place in the Premier League standings. However, they had to settle for a point each after a thrilling conclusion.
United dominated the first half and took the lead in the 32nd minute. Bryan Mbeumo headed in Amad Diallo's precise cross from the right side of the penalty area. Despite being booed off at halftime, Spurs showed significant improvement in the second half. Senne Lammens made crucial saves, denying Cristian Romero's flick and Joao Palhinha's volley.
Brennan Johnson was flagged offside after scoring from Richarlison's pass just after the hour mark. However, Spurs eventually equalised in the 84th minute when Mathys Tel, coming off the bench, scored with a deflected shot off De Ligt from Destiny Udogie's pass. This goal brought Spurs back into contention.
Richarlison believed he had secured victory for Spurs when he headed Wilson Odobert's curling shot past Lammens in the 91st minute. Yet, United managed to extend their unbeaten streak to five games with De Ligt's late intervention. He capitalised on Bruno Fernandes' corner to score at the back post.
This match marked United's second consecutive 2-2 draw under Ruben Amorim, with late equalisers in both games. They became the first team since Manchester City in 2012 to score first, fall behind, and still avoid defeat in successive Premier League matches. Tottenham also experienced a unique situation by failing to win after leading beyond the 90th minute for the first time.
Despite not securing victory, Thomas Frank might find some vindication in his decision to substitute Xavi Simons for Tel, despite initial boos from fans. Tel scored just four minutes and 45 seconds after entering as a substitute. His two goals this season match his tally from last season over 13 matches.
The match showcased both teams' determination and resilience as they battled for crucial points in their Premier League campaigns.
