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Tottenham put their humiliation at Newcastle behind them to come from two down to earn a spirited 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United.
An entertaining clash between the top four rivals looked set to go the way of Erik Ten Hag’s men after first-half efforts from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford lifted United into fourth place in control of pace.
Ryan Mason had endured a nightmare start into his second goalkeeping spell, but his half-time message worked with Pedro Porro reducing the deficit early in the second period before Son Heung-min equalized with 11 minutes remaining to earn a portion of the loot perk.
It was a week of mixed fortunes for the sides with United able to secure another trip to Wembley on Sunday after their FA Cup shoot-out win over Brighton and Tottenham left to regroup after another chaotic few days.
Last weekend’s 6-1 at Newcastle saw Cristian Stellini leave his interim role and Mason, Spurs’ third manager of the season, wasted no time returning to their preferred 3-4-3 system.
While Tottenham were without captain Hugo Lloris with a hip injury, Bruno Fernandes managed to shrug off the ankle problem to eliminate United.
Given their diabolical start at St James’ Park, the hosts were eager to get off to a flying start, but it took the visitors just seven minutes to break the deadlock.
Man United were able to play across the lines with ease and Rashford passed to Sancho, who cut inside and curled into the bottom corner for his sixth goal of the season.
It was another bad goal for Tottenham to concede through Porro and Cristian Romero, two of their most offending players on Sunday, once again conceding an opposition player too much space inside the box.
Spurs fans stayed with the team, but Ten Hag’s side smelled blood and Rashford sent a free kick wide before Sancho should have made it 2–0.
Sancho is still on the left but Ivan Perisic returns to the line to save his deflected shot and prevent the atmosphere from becoming toxic.
He failed to stop the early chants demanding chairman Levy to leave the club moments later and Forster’s unconvincing save from Fernandes’ long-range strike did little to ease the growing unrest.
Tottenham responded by modeling their first real opener when Richarlison was played behind and had his center cut for Porro.
From the resulting corner Perisic tested David De Gea with a header, but more chants from Levy soon followed.
Rashford squandered two chances in the closing moments of the first half to double United’s lead with Forster leveling both tries before Spurs threatened again.
Yet seconds after De Gea had parried Perisic’s powerful shot, the visitors made it 2-0 with a skilful counter-attack.
Fernandes provided a superb crossfield pass to Rashford and the English striker slipped past Eric Dier in the box before shooting past Forster for his 29th goal in a stellar season.
Boos followed at half-time, but Tottenham came out with renewed confidence after the break and reduced the deficit in the 56th minute.
Perisic’s dangerous cross created problems in the United box and while Luke Shaw blocked Harry Kane’s shot, Porro was quick to score home for the first time from 16 yards.
The visitors should have instantly restored their two-goal lead when Fernandes went past Clement Lenglet but chipped off the crossbar and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s subsequent header was well saved by Forster.
He kept alive Tottenham’s hopes of avoiding a third successive defeat and squandered two great chances to equalize soon after.
First Son shot wide after superb forward play by Kane, who beat Shaw and singled South Korea at the far post.
Not long after Son had an opportunity and substitute Dejan Kulusevski sent a shot over the post as Spurs gathered momentum.
Chance’s best chance came when Perisic picked on the unmarked Dier but the centre-back headed wide from six metres.
He brought Mason to his knees but Tottenham’s ensuing attack produced an equalizer with Romero able to find Kane, who turned and set up for Son to go home and restore some pride to the home side.
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