Spurs trailed to Bryan Mbeumo's goal and were down to 10 men before Solanke headed in an added-time equaliser.
Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke headed his side level in added time at Old Trafford on Saturday, rescuing a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in the Premier League. Spurs had trailed since Bryan Mbeumo's second-half goal, and were down to 10 men after Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off.
The equaliser came from a floated cross by Sandro Tonali, who joined Spurs from Newcastle in a costly move this summer. Lisandro Martínez should have cleared it, but Solanke outfought him and headed past United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who watched the ball go in. It was only Tottenham's third league goal of the season.
Mbeumo's goal came after Matheus Cunha found him in the box, and he spun and finished. Then came the flashpoint. Bentancur launched a scissor challenge at the ball near Luke Shaw that, had it connected, might have caused the left-back serious injury. Shaw chased him down and shoved him over, and Bentancur pushed his head into Shaw's, sparking a melee involving both benches. Referee Stuart Attwell sent Bentancur off and booked Shaw, who was lucky to escape a red for the push, and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi was surprisingly forgiving of his midfielder. "I think we played very well against a great team," De Zerbi told Sky Sports. He said he had kissed Bentancur and thanked him, adding that "it's clear it's a mistake from Rodrigo, because it's not the right reaction in football."
De Zerbi also made Solanke captain, a decision he said was meant to back a striker who had faced heavy criticism. "Solanke is good enough to play, maybe he is the best striker for us, because of his qualities."
De Zerbi put it this way:
"Today has been the game where, for the first time this season, we showed we are a team."
Spurs remain winless after six league games, only the fourth time in their history, and are still in the relegation zone. The point stopped a fourth defeat. United, under manager Michael Carrick, have six points, their poorest start since 1986, and sit 12th with one win all season, against Ipswich. Both managers still need a victory.
De Zerbi takes his squad to Marbella for warm-weather training, and Carrick's men are at Atlético Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League.
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