Manchester United suffer crushing 3-0 defeat against Spurs

Manchester United’s struggles under Erik ten Hag continue to mount after a demoralizing 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening. Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against FC Twente earlier in the week, United’s troubles deepened with a defeat at Old Trafford.

Early Spurs dominance

The match was barely three minutes old when Tottenham broke the deadlock, courtesy of a brilliant play by van de Ven. He intercepted the ball in his own half, embarking on an extraordinary solo run. Skipping past four Manchester United defenders, van de Ven reached the byline and delivered a pinpoint cross to Brennan Johnson, who was left unmarked in the box. Johnson made no mistake, slotting home the opening goal and putting United on the back foot early.

Chances galore in an sction-packed first half

The remainder of the first half saw both teams creating numerous scoring opportunities. Marcus Rashford, though in an offside position, found himself one-on-one with Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario but failed to convert. Johnson, who had already netted for Tottenham, was inches away from his second, only to see his effort crash against the post.

Joshua Zirkzee had a golden chance for United but was denied by the impressive Vicario. Moments later, Spurs defender Cristian Romero nearly extended the lead with an acrobatic effort, while Alejandro Garnacho struck the post for United with a stunning volley. Spurs striker Timo Werner also squandered a clear opportunity when his one-on-one attempt was saved by United goalkeeper André Onana. Despite the frantic pace and multiple close calls, the first half ended with Tottenham holding on to their slender 1-0 advantage.

Bruno Fernandes' red card controversy

Just before the halftime whistle, Manchester United suffered a further blow when captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a red card. Fernandes, in a seemingly unfortunate slip, caught his opponent with a late challenge. Although the tackle appeared accidental, the referee showed no leniency, sending Fernandes off. VAR reviewed the incident but upheld the decision, leaving United to play the entire second half with ten men.

United’s woes deepen as Spurs capitalize

Reduced to ten men, United struggled to regain control in the second half. Tottenham, with the numerical advantage, pressed forward and added two more goals to seal the victory. van de Ven's dynamic play and Johnson’s early goal set the tone for what was a clinical performance from the North London side.

For Erik ten Hag, this result adds to a growing list of problems at Manchester United. With just one point from their last two games, and key players like Fernandes suspended, the pressure is mounting on the Dutch manager to find solutions quickly. Tottenham, meanwhile, continues to show signs of promise under manager Ange Postecoglou, with van de Ven emerging as a standout performer in what was an important victory for Spurs.