Clint Dempsey clinches the late equalizer for Spurs
Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK
Starting Lineups (Courtesy of Soccerway.com)
Goals of the Game
Tottenham Hotspur: Dempsey (90+2')
Manchester United: van Persie (25')
Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United dropped their overall lead to just five points after his side weathered a blizzard-esque second-half showing from Andre Villas-Boas' Tottenham as an at-the-ultimate-death Clint Dempsey equalizer made sure both sides shared the spoils in a thrilling game amidst a shivering snowstorm at White Hart Lane.
Match officials decided to give the match a go amidst the snow at White Hart Lane
Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK
The Spurs took hold of the ball for the first ten minutes as they dominated possession. Both had half-chances at goal, to no avail. The first clear chance came from Tottenham in the 13th minute as Lennon made a blistering run followed by shot from the right side of the box. De Gea parried the attack unconvincingly with Defoe attempting to do a rebound from the six-yard box. De Gea managed to save the ball, which was deemed offside ex post facto.
The Red Devils responded magnificently as Welbeck made a run of his own from left to center at the edge of the box. He passed to Cleverley, who brilliantly crossed it to RVP. The prolific Dutchman made no mistakes as he headed the ball in at the 25th minute.
Robin van Persie glances a head on the ball to guide it to the back of the net
Image retrieved from the Official Barclays Premier League Twitter Account
Tom Cleverley provides Robin van Persie the assist for the latter's 25th minute goal
Image retrieved from The Telegraph UK
The home side tried to respond with urgency. At the 28th minute, their lone striker Jermaine Defoe's 30-yard screamer almost beat De Gea. The Spaniard keeper loses control of the ball and managed to give Spurs a corner. United would clear. Twelve minutes later, they were at it again as a Bale shot from the edge of box gets parried by De Gea, who went to the ground. Lennon and Parker scrambled to equalize but the United defense blocked each rebound attempt successfully.
Spurs began the second half in breakneck fashion as Defoe took business at the 46th minute with a shot going just wide. United replied with Evra as he made a run at the wing. He passed to Kagawa, who gave it to Welbeck inside the box. The attempt was blocked by Caulker.
From there, just as the snow stormed in came Tottenham's aggressive and fervent search for the equalizer. In the 50th minute, Dempsey beat United's back line but his shot saved by De Gea. Bale's cross at the 63rd minute was cleared but only as far as Dempsey who once again missed. United tried to stage a counter but Welbeck shot wide a cross from Rooney at 67th minute.
But then, the home side just kept on pressing as United did spectacularly in defense. A Defoe attempt was blocked by an astute Ferdinand tackle at the 77th minute; A Bale right-footed screamer from outside the box went just wide at the 80th. A shot from 30 yards was riskily headed away by Ferdinand at the 85th.
Bale launches in the air as his side pressed on for an equalizer
Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK
The Reds' looked spot-on to defend their lead and regain their seven-point advantage at the top of the table when Clint Dempsey, who has been missing his shots all game long, finally got his goal at the 92nd minute as he beat Ferdinand and Vidic to the ball.
At the end of the 90, Tottenham was grateful to split the points as their blizzard attack finally paid off in a Comeback style usually reserved for their rivals. Sir Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, could be assured of his side's defensive capabilities now as United showed great resoluteness but will now have to look over their shoulders as nearest rivals City edge closer with just five points separating the two sides.
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