Tottenham Hotspur snatched a dramatic late draw against Manchester United on Saturday after Dominic Solanke scored in the 92nd minute to secure a 1-1 result at Old Trafford.

The late equaliser rescued a point for Tottenham despite the visitors being reduced to 10 men following Rodrigo Bentancur’s dismissal in the second half. The result also extended both teams’ difficult starts to the Premier League campaign, with Manchester United unable to protect their lead at home.

Tottenham started brightly and created several promising opportunities in the first half but struggled to convert their chances. Solanke was among those who missed opportunities to put Spurs ahead, leaving the visitors frustrated despite their attacking efforts.

Manchester United gradually improved after the break and took the lead in the 73rd minute. Bryan Mbeumo finished a move created by Matheus Cunha, giving the hosts what appeared to be a decisive advantage.

Tottenham’s task became more difficult five minutes later when Bentancur was sent off for violent conduct following a confrontation with United defender Luke Shaw. The incident triggered a heated exchange involving players from both sides, with Shaw booked for his part in the confrontation.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Spurs refused to give up. They continued pushing forward and found their reward in the second minute of stoppage time, when Sandro Tonali delivered a cross that Solanke headed into the net to level the score.

The goal sparked celebrations among the travelling Tottenham supporters and denied United a victory that had looked within reach. Solanke’s late finish also helped Spurs avoid leaving Old Trafford empty-handed after a match in which their missed chances and Bentancur’s dismissal threatened to cost them dearly.

For Manchester United, the draw represented another frustrating afternoon. Mbeumo’s goal had put them in a strong position, but the team failed to capitalise on its numerical advantage during the closing stages.

The result left United with six points from their opening six league matches, marking their poorest start to a Premier League campaign at that stage since the 1986/87 season. Tottenham also continued their search for a first league victory of the campaign, although the late point lifted them off the bottom of the table.

The outcome will raise further questions about United’s ability to close out matches, while Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi can take encouragement from his players’ determination to fight back after going a man down.

For Solanke, the stoppage-time header was a crucial contribution that prevented Tottenham’s missed opportunities and second-half setback from ending in defeat. For United, it was another reminder that taking the lead is not enough unless a team can see out the result.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia