Spurs Secure First Home Win Since November, Edge Past Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur claimed back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time in months, edging out Manchester United 1-0 in a tense encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The win marks Spurs' first home triumph since early November and completes their first league double over United in the competition’s history.

Maddison Marks His Return with the Decisive Goal

With confidence restored after a 2-0 win over Brentford two weeks ago, Spurs started brightly, buoyed by the return of key players. The breakthrough arrived just 13 minutes in, as Lucas Bergvall’s low drive was parried into the path of James Maddison, who instinctively pounced to slot home his first goal since returning from injury.

Manchester United had a golden opportunity to level shortly afterward when Alejandro Garnacho squandered a clear chance, firing over from close range after being teed up by Bruno Fernandes. It was a costly miss in a game where clear-cut opportunities were scarce.

Despite United’s attacking intent in the second half, Guglielmo Vicario proved the difference, making crucial stops to deny Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund as Spurs held firm under pressure.

How the Match Unfolded

United looked dangerous early on, testing Vicario within the opening 10 minutes. Hojlund’s driven shot was well saved, and moments later, Garnacho’s curling effort forced another smart stop from the Italian, making his first start in three months.

However, Spurs capitalized on United’s wastefulness. Maddison’s opener came from a swift counterattack, with Bergvall testing Onana before the rebound fell kindly for the returning midfielder, who made no mistake.

Garnacho should have leveled just 10 minutes later. Fernandes’ clever flick set him up perfectly inside the box, but with time and space, the Argentine blazed over the crossbar, leaving Amorim’s side frustrated.

United pushed hard after the break, with Garnacho the focal point of their attack. The winger forced Vicario into a reflex save from a tight angle before testing him again with a low shot at the near post.

Amorim’s men continued to press, with Joshua Zirkzee nodding wide from a corner and Djed Spence producing a crucial block to deny Hojlund, but Spurs’ defense stood resolute, securing a massive three points.

Postecoglou's Relief as Spurs Reignite Momentum

The victory lifts Spurs to 12th in the table with 30 points, leapfrogging United, who now sit 15th with 29 points. It also brings much-needed respite for Ange Postecoglou, whose side had suffered a miserable week after crashing out of both the EFL Cup and FA Cup.

With the returns of Vicario and Maddison, Tottenham looked far more assured. Vicario’s absence had been keenly felt, and his performance showcased his importance to the team. Maddison, too, was instrumental, not only scoring but dictating play in midfield.

Elsewhere, new signing Mathys Tel was a lively presence on his Premier League debut, troubling the United defense and forcing Onana into action. The young forward was reportedly a target for United before joining Spurs, and his display justified the North London club’s faith in him.

Postecoglou, who remains unbeaten against United in the Premier League, will now look to build on this momentum with a trip to struggling Ipswich Town up next.

Amorim’s United Continue to Struggle in Attack

For United, a second consecutive league defeat raises further questions about their attacking inefficiency. Despite seeing plenty of the ball, they once again failed to make their dominance count.

It was the 19th time this season that United failed to score in the first half of a Premier League match—a worrying statistic for Amorim. Garnacho’s first-half miss epitomized their struggles, while Zirkzee and Hojlund also failed to convert promising opportunities.

To make matters worse, United’s injury problems are piling up. Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Lisandro Martinez were already sidelined, but Amorim admitted pre-match that Amad Diallo’s season could be over due to an ankle injury.

With Victor Lindelof the only senior figure available off the bench, United lacked game-changing options, and despite a second-half rally, they found no way past Vicario.

United’s FA Cup win over Leicester briefly lifted the mood, but back-to-back league defeats have left them in danger of slipping further down the table. A trip to resurgent Everton next Saturday will be another difficult challenge, and Amorim will need to find solutions quickly.

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