(Manchester United News)
Manchester United's Old Trafford encounters with Tottenham Hotspur have set high standards down the years, yielding several dramatic affairs riddled with moments of genius and controversy…
Full English - United 4 Tottenham 1, December 1963
Cheered on by pitchside gladiators in ‘Spurtacus’ sashes at White Hart Lane (yes, really), Tottenham established a two-goal lead in the first leg of an epic Cup Winners' Cup tie - European football’s first all-English tie. Back at Old Trafford a week later, however, United made a blistering start and forged ahead through David Herd’s diving header. When Spurs lost Dave Mackay to a broken leg sustained in a 50-50 challenge with Noel Cantwell, the reigning cup holders were reeling. Soldiering on with just 10 men, Spurs responded bravely when Herd flicked in his second shortly after the break, as Jimmy Greaves quickly headed the visitors back into an aggregate lead. Step forward, Bobby Charlton. The England star twice combined with Pat Crerand to deadly effect, firstly powering in the Reds’ third on 77 minutes, then crashing a shot inside Bill Brown’s near post with three minutes of time remaining to book United’s progress from a scorching tie. It was Spurs, however, who took the plaudits from The Daily Herald’s Peter Lorenzo, following “one of the greatest 10-man shows seen at Old Trafford or any other ground in the land.”
Out of keeping - United 3 Tottenham 3, August 1967
A thrilling Charity Shield encounter served up six goals, most notably one which reduced pre-eminent commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme to Alan Partridge-style levels of tentative observation, as goalkeeper Pat Jennings’ hefty punt bounced over Alex Stepney and into the United net. “Oooh… it’s… yes! A fan… tastic effort. Eight minutes gone and Jennings has scored for… Tottenham.” The most rudimentary of goals provoked widespread confusion as every onlooker gradually realised that it was, indeed, legitimate. Jennings’ strike also put the visitors into a two-goal lead, before a pair of Bobby Charlton rockets levelled matters (the second of which Wolstenholme decreed: “Good enough to win the League, the Cup, the Charity Shield, the World Cup and even the Grand National!") Further goals from Denis Law and Spurs’ Frank Saul ensured a 3-3 draw and a shared Shield, before United went on to end the season as European champions. gallery during his legendary United career; few are more cherished than his sumptuous Stretford End lob over Pat Jennings. With the game goalless, Jennings contested a lofted cross with United winger Willie Morgan, from which the ball spun loose to Best, 15 yards out. The winger’s route to goal was blocked by Jennings on his six yard line, two Tottenham defenders on the goal-line and another closing in fast. No matter. The Ulsterman needed just two touches: one for chest control, the other to arc a gentle lob over all his opponents, dipping just in time to comfortably sidle under the crossbar. Mere mortals would have struggled to get a shot off, but Best displayed the rarest serenity to simply bypass every obstacle. While a crowd of helpless players flapped and muddled around in vain attempts to stop the inevitable, George’s only subsequent movement was to lean around the melee to watch his shot drop into the net, before he raised an index finger skywards and walked away, smiling.
A festive feast - United 3 Tottenham 3, December 1986
A pre-Christmas cracker for all to enjoy. Both sides shared relief tinged with disappointment at the end of a pulsating encounter which see-sawed wildly from the opening minute, when Clive Allen stabbed a shot against Chris Turner’s post. A beautifully-worked free-kick routine culminated in Norman Whiteside putting United ahead, before Peter Davenport fired home from a tight angle to give the Reds a comfortable half-time lead. The game’s momentum switched to Spurs, however, when Gary Mabbutt – possibly sporting an invisible jetpack – powered home an incredible diving header shortly after the break. High comedy followed when Turner palmed Glenn Hoddle’s audacious chip straight up in the air and Kevin Moran shanked his clearance into the net, and Allen took advantage of more suspect tending from Turner to nudge Tottenham into the lead. The final twist in the tale came, however, when Bryan Robson was emphatically bundled over by Danny Thomas, giving Davenport the chance to convert a last-minute penalty and ensure a hard-earned point for both sides.
Hot chip - United 4 Tottenham 1, January 1993
On his seventh appearance for the Reds, Eric Cantona turned in the first of many jaw-dropping virtuoso performances at Old Trafford. The Frenchman only opened the scoring with a superbly-judged header, then turned provider with a moment of je ne sais quoi that prompted the BBC’s John Motson to declare: “This man is playing a game of his own.” As Denis Irwin fed Cantona and headed into a packed penalty area, the striker adroitly stabbed an incredible pass over the entire Tottenham defence and into Irwin’s path. The Irishman smashed home his finish to cap a move of utter brilliance. "Absolutely magnificent,” gushed Alex Ferguson, who then watched on in amazement as Brian McClair thundered in a 25-yarder and Paul Parker heaped on the peculiarity by bagging his first United goal with a storming run and finish.
One down, two to go - United 2 Tottenham 1, May 1999
Games don’t come any tenser. A season’s work hinged on 90 minutes as United hosted Spurs on the final day of the 1998/99 Premier League term while protecting a one-point lead over Arsenal. “Let them win,” urged a banner in the visitors’ section – not that Les Ferdinand paid much heed, toe-poking a lob over Peter Schmeichel in horrifying slow-motion. Chances aplenty came and went but, just as nerves were taking a firm grip of Old Trafford, David Beckham steadied himself and crashed in a stunning curling effort, via the inside of Walker's right-hand post. Enter Andy Cole as a half-time substitute. His first three touches won the title as he controlled, set and lobbed home an impish finish to send the home fans into feral joy. “It was nice to score the goal that won the league,” said the striker, “but being in such a great team, it wasn't about individual accolades – it was a massive collective effort.”
In the line of fire - United 0 Tottenham 0, January 2005
“It was clearly over the line. Really, really over.” Pedro Mendes and most people in the Trafford district could see that Roy Carroll had conceded a last-minute goal during 2005’s infamous ‘goalless’ draw. The Portuguese’s gargantuan effort was spilled almost two yards over the line before it was clawed to safety, yet referee’s assistant Ray Lewis was still catching up with play. “I just tried to keep it out and scooped it away,” Carroll recalled. “I got up and the stadium was very quiet afterwards. I thought it was in, but the referee and assistant never gave it. I looked at the linesman to see if it had gone over the line but it was one of those where you just carry on, as the other players did.” For Mendes, being deprived of a last-minute winner at Old Trafford remained a source of understandable regret. “I’ve never seen one so over the line and not given in my career,” he lamented.
2001’s 5-3 thriller at White Hart Lane, United and Spurs combined to serve up another archetypal ‘game of two halves’ at Old Trafford eight years on. Again, the Londoners had established daylight by the break, striking twice in four first-half minutes through Darren Bent and Luka Modric, and again the Reds roared back. The eclectic talents of Dimitar Berbatov, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez merged in an irresistible firing squad – initially aided by Howard Webb’s generous penalty award, but thereafter unstoppable. Ronaldo scored from the spot, Rooney swept a leveller inside Heurelho Gomes’ post and then crossed for a diving header from the Portuguese which rocked Old Trafford to its foundations. Subsequent untidy strikes from Rooney and Berbatov merely took a nail gun to Spurs’ coffin and moved United ever-closer to title number 18.
Play to the whistle - United 2 Tottenham 0, October 2010
“The strangest goal I’ve scored,” admitted Nani, of his bizarre strike to kill off Tottenham in 2010. A curious sequence of events unfolded with the Portuguese joining Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes and referee Mark Clattenburg as the main protagonists. Nani’s surge into the area was curtailed by a blatant trip by Wilson Palacios and the winger clearly handled the ball as he fell, yet no decision was given – not even the phantom free-kick that Gomes prepared to take. With the ball unattended and in open play, Nani checked with Clattenburg that he could proceed and duly placed a finish under Gomes. Cue enragement from the visitors, who undoubtedly didn’t appreciate Nani’s latter declaration that: “It was funny. And clever as well! I think most of the people were angry, but I was clever because I understood the game. I read it quickly.” While we mightn’t see such bizarreness at Old Trafford this Sunday, history has shown that we can at least sit back and prepare to be thrilled by two of the country’s leading entertainers.
