Manchester United tightened their grip on the top-four race with a professional 2-0 victory over a tenacious Tottenham Hotspur side at Old Trafford, a match defined by a pivotal red card and moments of decisive quality.
The first half was a tense, tactical affair with both sides probing for an opening. The breakthrough came seven minutes before the interval from a clever set-piece. A short corner routine found its way to Bryan Mbeumo on the edge of the box, and the Cameroon international drove a low, precise shot through traffic to beat the goalkeeper and send the Stretford End into raptures.
Spurs’ task grew exponentially harder just after the hour mark. A moment of frustration saw a Tottenham defender receive a second yellow card for a reckless challenge, reducing the visitors to ten men and forcing them into a defensive shell.
United patiently controlled possession and sealed the three points with ten minutes remaining. After sustained pressure, the ball broke to Bruno Fernandes just inside the area, and the Portuguese maestro made no mistake, curling a beautiful first-time finish into the far corner to put the result beyond doubt.
The victory solidifies United’s position in the Champions League places, while the result piles significant pressure on Spurs and manager Thomas Frank in the race for European football.
