Premier League: Manchester United 2 Tottenham 3

29 September 2012 20:49

Tottenham have recorded their first league win at Manchester United in 23 years with a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Andre Villas-Boas' team dominated the first half and were good value for their 2-0 lead at the break, courtesy of goals from Jan Vertonghen and Gareth Bale.

But Sir Alex Ferguson fired up his team at the break, sent on Wayne Rooney and United were transformed after the break.

In a crazy 140-second spell at the start of the second half, Nani finished off Rooney's cross, Clint Dempsey restored Spurs' two-goal advantage and Shinji Kagawa was the calmest man in Manchester as he made the score 3-2.

United were utterly dominant for the rest of the game and carved out a series of excellent chances.

But fortune was not on their side as Rooney's free-kick crashed off the post, Michael Carrick hit the bar and Robin van Persie wasted a golden chance for the equaliser.

It was all Tottenham early on and Vertonghen silenced the Old Trafford faithful with the opener after just two minutes.

Cutting inside, he shared a crisp one-two with Bale before surging into space and giving his side the lead with a deflected effort.

Spurs were dominant and doubled their lead on 32 minutes through Bale.

Moussa Dembele tapped a neat pass to Bale in the middle and he left Rio Ferdinand trailing in his wake with ease as he sped into the penalty area.

On his less favoured right, Bale finished emphatically across goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard to make it 2-0.

The introduction of Rooney paid off almost immediately for United as his brilliant cross from the right was tapped in by Nani six minutes after the break to start a crazy spell of three goals in as many minutes.

A minute later Dempsey restored Tottenham's two-goal advantage.

The American smashed in the rebound after Lindegaard had parried Bale's first-time shot following a reverse pass from Jermain Defoe that had once again left Ferdinand floundering.

United responded as a brilliant van Persie pass put Kagawa through on goal and, after a brilliant turn, the Japanese midfielder made it 3-2.

Rooney smashed a 30-yard free-kick against the post and the ball teetered provocatively in the six-yard box before being cleared and van Persie missed a glorious chance as he drilled a shot wide.

United continued to dominate but were unable to make their possession and opportunities count late on.