SPORTS: Tottenham 1 Man Utd 1 (THE SUN)

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Tottenham 1 Man Utd 1 (THE SUN)

CLINT IN HIS EYE ... Clint Dempsey runs away in delight after stunning Manchester United with his late, late strike

Published: 1 hr ago

CLINT DEMPSEY stunned Manchester United for the second time this season as his late strike nicked a point for Spurs in the snow.

Robin van Persie proved he’s a man for all weathers as he gave the league leaders a first-half lead with his 22nd of the campaign.

David De Gea produced a string of fine saves to keep United ahead and sub Wayne Rooney was denied what looked a certain penalty.

But Dempsey — who scored when Spurs won at Old Trafford in September — tapped in deep into stoppage time to steal a point for Andre Villas-Boas' side.

SNOW JOKE ... Alex Ferguson wraps up at White Hart Lane

Former Arsenal hitman Van Persie was back at White Hart Lane looking to heap misery on his old North London enemies.

And he had an early sighter with a header from a Phil Jones cross.

Then Aaron Lennon forced De Gea into a sharp save with his left-footed strike from the edge of the box.

ROBIN RELIANT ... Robin van Persie heads Man Utd ahead at White Hart Lane

United took the lead in the 25th minute when Cleverley stood up a cross for Van Persie who brilliantly headed past Hugo Lloris.

Spurs immediately hit back with Defoe drawing De Gea into another stop.

And the Spanish keeper was being kept busy with Gareth Bale’s drive forcing him to make a block with his knees.

SNOW WORRIES ... Robin van Persie celebrates his goal

Danny Welbeck was played in by Van Persie just before the break but Lloris was alert.

Tottenham went searching for an equaliser in the second half — Defoe hammering one into the side netting.

And they looked certain to draw level when Mousa Dembele played Dempsey one-on-one with De Gea but the Red Devils stopper somehow saved the Yank’s strike with his ankle.

DEADLY JERM ... Jermain Defoe gets a shot in

Rooney was brought on for Shinji Kagawa and had a good shout for a penalty waved away by Chris Foy when Steven Caulker appeared to bring him down in the box.

At the other end, De Gea was somehow keeping the league leaders ahead with another great save from Dempsey.

BALE OUT ... Gareth goes close for Tottenham

Defoe then looked to be in on goal but his shot was blocked by Rio Ferdinand.

But an equaliser did finally come in the third-minute of injury time.

De Gea punched Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross under pressure from Caulker and it fell to Aaron Lennon who crossed for Dempsey to scramble home.

CLINT'S MINT ... Dempsey taps home a late leveller

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Naughton (Assou-Ekotto 64), Lennon, Parker (Huddlestone 80), Dembele, Bale, Dempsey, Defoe. Subs Not Used: Friedel, Vertonghen, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Townsend.

Booked: Dawson.

Goals: Dempsey 90.

Man Utd: De Gea,Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Jones, Carrick, Cleverley (Valencia 74), Kagawa (Rooney 62), Welbeck, Van Persie. Subs Not Used: Lindegaard, Anderson, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez.

Booked: Carrick, Evra, Da Silva, Rooney.

Goals: Van Persie 25.

Att: 35,956.

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).